SASKAAR / CREMATION: 1pm, 21 Dec 2019 (Saturday), Nirvana Shah Alam. Cortege leaves No 22, Jalan Ilham 25/53, Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam, Selangor at 12pm PATH DA BHOG: 5 Jan 2020 (Sunday) at Gurdwara Sahib Guru Nanak Shah Alam (GSGNSA). Asa Di War 6.30am-8.30am; Path Da Bhog: 10am-12pm | Malaysia

HARBANAS SINGH A/L PRITAM SINGH

(5 July 1953 – 20 Dec 2019)

Village: Jeobala Amritsar

Wife: Gurmit Kaur a/p Chanan Singh

Children / Spouses:

Sharenjeet Singh

Sarbjeet Singh / Telvinder Jit Kaur

Sharmila Kaur / Darshan Singh

Sangeeta Kaur / Paramjeet Singh

Grandchildren:

Ravneet Singh
Jaszleen Kaur
Manseerat Kaur
Prizleen Kaur

Saskaar / Cremation: 1pm, 21 Dec 2019 (Saturday), Nirvana Shah Alam

Cortege timing: Cortege leaves No 22, Jalan Ilham 25/53, Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam, Selangor at 12pm, 21 Dec 2019 (Saturday)

Path da Bhog: 5 Jan 2020 (Sunday) at Gurdwara Sahib Guru Nanak Shah Alam (GSGNSA). Asa Di War 6.30am-8.30am; Path Da Bhog: 10am-12pm

Contact: 

Sharenjeet Singh 012-3369037

Sarbjeet Singh 016-2227223

| Entry: 20 Dec 2019 | Source: Family

By Jasrinder Kaur | MALAYSIA |

A Penang-based singer Kamal Chopra became the first Malaysian to land an award at the UK Bhangra Awards 2019.

The lawyer-turned-professional singer caught the attention of the UK award team with her mixed performances of Hindi, Punjabi, English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese songs.

She was crowned ‘Best International Artist’ at the event in Birmingham, United Kingdom, on 30 Nov 2019.

“The organisers looked at my one-year’s work. They also wanted to see what the person has done for the community, what kind of performances the person has been doing,” she told Asia Samachar.

Kamal also performed live at the Birmingham event along with Inderjit London, Subaig Singh and Jin & Seetal.

“It was a joy to perform before the audience,” she said.

The others who performed were K Mohito, Gurdeep Kainth, Khadija Dilnawaz, Pally Matharu, Vinay Bangar, Haripa Dancers, Bhangra Smash Up, Beat Asylum, Dance Bhangra, 4All2 Envy Entertainment and Birmingham Crew DJ’s.

Inspired by the award and spurred by her fans, she now plans to work with a UK-based producer to produce her original bhangra number.

“I’ve been doing covers all the while. It’s about time I come up with some original numbers. Fans have also requested for them,” she said.

Born in Petaling Jaya, Kamal had always enjoyed singing. But her legal profession and commitment to the family meant that she could not devote much attention to it.

“Everything changed about seven years ago, when my husband gave me the push to start singing again,” she said.

Kamal is married to Dr Sunil Chopra, a consultant radiologist and nuclear medicine physician practicing in a private hospital in Penang. The couple has three children aged 17 to 22.

She undertook training was under the Rockschool International Music & Performance Arts.

Kamal sings professionally at corporate events, public shows, charity events and weddings. She has also made pro-bono appearances at fundraising and charity events for the Sikh gurdwaras, the Penang Sikh Association and the Penang Gujarati Association.

In 2014, she performed in a charity musical called Viva La Pinang in aid of Penang Family Health Development Association, directed by Joe Sidek.

Her first experience in singing with a live band came when she became the lead singer for Kasajam, a family based band in Penang made up of a group of doctors, lawyers and other professionals.

She is currently the lead singer of a six-piece rock band in Penang called Vintage Rising, also made up of a group of professionals.

She has also made several song covers and mash-ups on YouTube such as Bulleya/Skyfall (which is a mash up of a Hindi and English song), Tum Hi Ho/Galliyan (a mash up of two Hindi songs) and One Call Away/Neeyum Naanum (which is a mash up of an English and Tamil song). Her latest entry is a cover single of a popular 1980’s Hindi song called Yeh Wada Raha.

By Asia Samachar Team | SINGAPORE |

Sarabjeet Singh should be no stranger to Asia Samachar readers as he has been featured in a number of articles as we showcased the activities of the Young Sikh Association (YSA).

In a recent article, he shared about how he picked up the art of tying the turban.

This time around, the always obliging and ever ready to take on a challenge Sarabjeet has been picked Singapore’s largest newspaper as one of the 11 finalists for the The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2019 award.

One of the finalists the year before was Harbhajan Singh, a veteran nurse who was on the front line battling the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) crisis.

The award seeks to recognise Singaporeans whose extraordinary acts of goodwill have improved their community and the lives of others. It also recognises Singaporeans who have put the country on the world map or persevered to overcome immense adversity.

Two weeks of online public voting for the award will begin on Dec 25.

Below is the article ran by the newspaper on him.

CONNECTING PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS

By Clement Yong | STRAITS TIMES | SINGAPORE |

When Mr Sarabjeet Singh was six years old and frolicking in a swimming pool, two Chinese girls asked him where his top was.

“I wore my hair long in keeping with the teachings of Sikhism and they had mistaken me for a girl,” Mr Singh, now 35, told The Straits Times.

“If only I had explained myself instead of angrily swimming away,” he added, saying the incident was a missed opportunity.

Today, the president of the Young Sikh Association (YSA) heads a YSA initiative called Cultural Community Conversations, which invites non-Sikhs to Sikh temples to help them understand Sikh religion and culture.

In September, Mr Singh and the YSA earned kudos when, instead of lashing out, they invited an Instagram influencer to the Central Sikh Temple after she had posted online that two men with turbans were “obstructions” to her view at the Singapore Grand Prix. The influencer said the visit to the temple helped her better understand other religious practices.

The success of that visit kick-started Cultural Community Conversations.

“I have come to realise that many of these incidents are caused not by malicious intent, but by ignorance. I knew her comments could have been made by any of my former students,” said Mr Singh, who used to teach geography and now works at the Education Ministry.

So far, a group from the Republic of Singapore Air Force, some teachers, as well as nearly 400 residents living near the Central Sikh Temple have either attended or set up meetings with the YSA.

“Many of those who live in the area tell me they thought the Central Sikh Temple was a mosque. The (influencer) incident has allowed more people to admit they don’t know much about Sikhism and Sikhs,” Mr Singh said.

Cultural Community Conversations is structured as informally as possible so people have greater liberty to steer discussions, an open approach much like the YSA’s work with Sikh groups in universities. YSA encourages Sikh students to take non-Sikh friends to temples.

Mr Singh, whose wife is Chinese, has also sought to convince others that Sikhs need not be defined primarily by their ethnic or religious traits. In Primary 4, he cut his hair short to fit in, telling his conservative father, who was in Canada on business, his decision in a teary phone conversation.

“My mum would tell naysayers that she would gladly eat soup made by my wife and that my wife enjoys her chapati. What matters are the person’s values. As Singaporeans, we have much in common.” – The Straits Times (20 Dec 2019)

1st YEAR BARSI: 28 December 2019 (Saturday) at Gurdwara Sahib Ashby Road, Ipoh, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm followed by Guru ka Langgar | Malaysia

IMERDEEP SINGH SANDU (SMILEY)

Son of Jagdis Singh Sandu (Ipoh) & Ranjit Kaur Sandu (Ipoh)

FIRST YEAR BARSI in loving memory of our beloved Smiley will be held on 28 December 2019 (Saturday) at Gurdwara Sahib Ashby Road, Ipoh, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm followed by Guru ka Langgar.

Please treat this as a special invitation to you and your family and join us on this day to celebrate the loving memory of our dearest Smiley.

Contact:

Raveet Kaur Sandu 012-501 1784

Dr Simmrat Singh Sandu 012-505 1951

| Entry: 21 Dec 2019 | Source: Family

By Sarjit Kaur | MALAYSIA|

Malaysian Gurmit Kaur Deo, wife of respected politician and lawyer Karpal Singh, is featured in the second edition of the Jewels of Punjab book.

It was an honour for Gurmit who had always been in the shadows of her husband who passed away in a car accident in 2014, though she played a key role in the background.

“I’m truly humbled,” she told Asia Samachar after being feted at an event in New Delhi on Friday (20 Dec 2019). “My life was just around Karpal…giving him moral support all the way.”

The coffee-table book, ‘Jewels of Punjab – Leading Global Punjabi Personalities Volume II’, was unveiled by former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. It pays tribute to global Punjabi personalities who have championed causes.

Gurmit’s ‘love and loss’ story is headlined ‘The Iron Lady’. She was born in 1948 in Narathiwat, the southern Thai province, where her parents had migrated from Punjab in the 1930s. She was the ninth of 13 children of Puran Kaur and Sohan Singh Gill. The family moved to Malaya when she was seven.

She married Karpal in 1970, whom she had known since they were kids in the backwaters of the then Penang.

“The story of my life can neither begin nor end without him. Had it not been for him, perhaps I would not have had a life as privileged as I have today,” she says in the book released by World Punjabi Organisation (WPO) in association with Maneesh Media.

WPO badges itself as an international body of Punjabis that is non-political comprising Punjabi industrialists, businessmen, sportsmen, journalists, artists and achievers in various fields from all over the globe.

The mention of Karpal evokes respect and admiration in many Malaysians, even his opponents in politics.

Today, two of Gurmit’s sons are parliamentarians while another is a state assemblyman in Penang, with her daughter also actively involved in politics. After the historic general polls of 2018, the couple’s second-born Gobind Singh Deo became a federal minister, a first for the Sikh community in Malaysia.

RELATED STORY:

Time for Sikh women to join politics, urges lawmaker Ramkarpal (Asia Samachar, 6 Aug 2019)

Karpal Singh’s arrest 31 years ago in Operasi Lalang (Asia Samachar, 28 Oct 2018)

Newly minted minister Gobind Singh Deo visits Sikh gathering in Malacca (Asia Samachar, 25 May 2018)

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Ilhan Omar are trailblazers in their own ways.

Tan Dhesi, as he’s known, became the first turban-wearing Sikh MP after the 2017 UK snap elections. He won again in the recent general elections which were his party unable to oust the Boris Johnson-led Conservative Party.

Ilhan, a Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota, is the first person ever to wear a hijab in Congress.

Tan Dhesi, Labour MP for Slough, understands the law of firsts: the 41-year-old is the first member of parliament to wear a turban and, like Omar, has a reputation for speaking out against anti-Muslim sentiment in government. In September, during prime minister’s questions, Dhesi called on Boris Johnson to apologise for his remarks about Muslim women looking like “letterboxes” which, to cheers from the chamber, he called “derogatory and racist”.

The two politicians meet for the first time in November via Skype – Dhesi from his constituency office, Omar from Washington DC. As minority ethnic members of government, the MP and the congresswoman are both keenly aware of what is at stake in their respective countries’ forthcoming elections, and of what happens when political rhetoric lurches to the right.

These are difficult times and the two politicians seek, in their discussion, to reach across the Atlantic in a spirit of progressive solidarity.

“In our own way, we helped to break a glass ceiling,” says Tanmanjeet in the conversation.

Ilham says: “It’s not that we get elected because we’re different and special and interesting. We get elected because we speak to the heart of the challenges many of our constituents face.”

Read their full conversation, ‘Ilhan Omar meets Tan Dhesi: ‘We helped to break a glass ceiling’ (The Guardian, 21 Dec 2019), here.

By Manjit Kaur (UK) | OPINION | UK |

Raising children in today’s busy materialistic world can be very challenging. There is a popular myth that raising a child should come naturally to a parent. In theory this might be true, but in reality, because of many factors, such as our childhood experiences, family dynamics, cultural attitudes, social norms, technology etc, raising a child is a very complex task.

In this brief post, having raised 2 children who are both now married with their own families, I thought it would be helpful to share 10 key lessons I have learnt about parenting.

1. Communication – It is important to engage with your children in an open and honest way. Of course, how you engage will change as they grow older, but most importantly, you have to adjust to their level. Active listening and reading their body language are really the key to effective communication with your children. A good parent by simply looking at their child can know if they are sad, happy, frightened, dishonest, troubled etc.

2. Love and Compassion – do not ever get tired of giving hugs to your children, which make your children feel secure and loved. The amazing thing is that your children will repay that love many times over your life. However, your love should be unconditional, otherwise it could backfire.  Never blackmail your children!

3. Equality – Each child is unique and we should not discriminate at all. In Panjabi culture, sadly there is a lot of discrimination based on gender and appearance. I had a girl and a boy, but I never treated them differently. Treating people equally is a key Sikh principle, but the best way to teach your children this value is to practice it yourself.  If we don’t do this, when the children grow up, they will accuse you of hypocrisy and may even turn against you.

4. Education – In Panjabi families, all we think about is that our children become doctors and lawyers. We see them as trophy’s to display to our friends and relatives. But this is wrong; our children are not property or investments! So, it’s really important for them to make their own educational choices, to realise and follow their own passion and to develop independent thinking. That said, we do have a role in the education our children, most importantly about our Sikh history, language and where we came from. That doesn’t mean we force our children to follow our path or to preach to them, but we should guide them to find their own true path and their own positive identity.

5. Making mistakes – All parents are terrified that their children will go against their wishes and make mistakes. But we must remember, for a child to become a independent rounded person, they need to make mistakes in order to develop self-confidence to make their own decisions. To rebel against parental authority is not only a natural thing, but important for the child to develop into an adult. This rebellion tends to begin around the age of 15/16 years and can last up to the early 20’s. Yes, parents need to set boundaries, but during this stage, we need to have a lot of patience and not be harsh on them.

6. Quality Time – We live very busy lives trying to earn money and please extended family and community. These are important, but not at the expense of neglecting our children. For this reason, it’s important for parents to spend quality time with their children. This can take many forms, from reading together, singing, playing, making things, going for picnics, walks/trips in the countryside, gatka, kirtan and Sikhi camps etc.

7. Freedom – Parents have a responsibility to protect their children but that doesn’t mean we put them in a cage. You have to let them explore the world and face challenges.  These can range from everyday challenges to activities like climbing mountains, cycle rides, camping etc. I believe children are like delicate flowers, but you should let them grow naturally and learn how to survive in the environment around them. I have seen too many parents who have overprotected their children and then suffered later when their children find it difficult to face the world on their own.

8. Ups and down – Life is not a straight journey and everyone has their ups and downs. In life the successful person is somebody who can deal with the challenges. Some challenges are real and we need to have patience and not to overreact. When faced with such challenges our role as parents is to create stability for our children, and often time can be a great healer. Some problems are just in our minds but because we over think they become bigger than they actually are. So, in life you have to be in high spirit (chardhi kala) and remember life is about facing and managing challenges. We may need others to help with our problems sometimes, but we must first try to deal with them ourselves and develop our own inner strength, and we should teach our children to do the same.

9. Knowing when to let go – As I said earlier, our children are nobody’s property. The role of parents is to help them develop so they can cope with life’s challenges. This means learning to let go, especially when they become adults and make their own choices; whether that is to do with career, marriage or even where they live. Parents are fearful that their children might abandon them, but, if you give them unconditional love and respect, then they will definitely not forget their responsibilities to you. Letting go is healthy for parents and children in many ways.

10. Never abandon Guru Granth Sahib – Faith can be a great help in raising a family. I have gained much strength from Guru Granth Sahib ji, as have my children.  Sometimes life can be cruel, but it is important at those moments not to abandon the Guru. Sadly, I have seen other parents, where they have conflict at home, either losing their faith or going to pakandi babas, who simply make things worse! Guru Granth Sahib has all the answers and we can access our guru though mobile phone apps like SikhitotheMax. So, when faced with major challenges I always taken a hukam nama and have encouraged my children to do so as well. I have never forced religion on them, but have encouraged them to develop their own love for Guru.

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

Just weeks after a minor row, Malaysia and India are seemingly headed for another round of a diplomacy spat.

Malaysian envoy in India was summoned for a meeting with the nation’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the second spat between the two countries arising from comments by the Malaysian prime minister.

On Saturday, Malaysia’s acting head of mission was summoned for India to lodge a protest over remarks made by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, reports The Wire.

The summoning of the Malaysian embassy’s charge d’affairs took place a day after India had issued an official statement urging the Malaysian leader to refrain from commenting on India’s internal affairs, “especially without a right understanding of the facts”, the report added.

Mahathir had expressed regret that India as a secular state would take action to “deprive some Muslims of their citizenship”.

“Already people are dying because of this law, so why is there a necessity to do this thing when all this while, for 70 years almost, they have lived together as citizens without any problems,” he added.

Quoting unnamed ‘official’ sources, the newswire reported that the Malaysian envoy was told that “such remarks are neither in keeping with accepted diplomatic practice of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, nor with the state of our bilateral relations”.

“It was also conveyed that such remarks are both ill-informed and insensitive. Malaysia was asked to take a long-term and strategic view of the bilateral relations,” it added.

A day earlier, it reported that India had described Mahathir’s comment were “factually inaccurate” and called upon “Malaysia to refrain from commenting on internal developments in India, especially without a right understanding of the facts.

The relations between the two nations came under watch when Dr Mahathir made pointed remarks in a United Nation’s address on India’s handling of the Kashmir issue.

In his speech during the general debate of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Dr Mahathir said: “The helplessness of the world in stopping atrocities inflicted on the Rohingyas in Myanmar had reduced the regard for the resolution of the UN. Now, despite UN resolution on Jammu and Kashmir, the country has been invaded and occupied. There may be reasons for this action but it is still wrong. The problem must be solved by peaceful means. India should work with Pakistan to resolve this problem. Ignoring the UN would lead to other forms of disregard for the UN and the Rule of Law.”

Following the speech, there had been calls in India for the country to drop Malaysian palm oil.

By Priscilla Tawie | NEW SARAWAK TRIBUNE | MALAYSIA |

India’s oldest athlete was in Kuching for the 21st Asia Masters Athletics Championship. At 103 years old, Sardarni Man Kaur had lived a century and is still living life through her passion for sports.

As a young girl, Sardarni Man Kaur, 103, did not receive any education. However, her late father taught her to read and write in her mother tongue Punjabi. She also studied the Sikh scripture. Before being a full-time housewife in 1934, Man Kaur served the Queens of King of her hometown, Patiala in the early 30s.

Wanting her to maintain a fit lifestyle, eldest son Gurdev Singh had asked his mother to run the track field. “She had no problems doing so at the age of 93 in 2009,” he said.

Ever since then, she enjoyed running and had quickly improved. Two years later, she joined her first competition.

With three children on board, the centenarian represented India in the World Masters Athletic Championship held in the US where she had won two gold medals in the 100- and 200-metre races. From there, she had broken the existing world record and was declared Athlete of the Year 2011.

Apart from running, she also participates in javelin and shot put. The energetic lady had won more than 80 medals from various countries.

Man Kaur gets up in the wee morning between 5am and 6am. She immediately bathes, and washes her clothes by hand. “As Sikh Scriptures say the Almighty is residing in all human beings, so I serve Him by washing his clothes, offering good food and exercising to keep His house liveable,” the devout said.

When she was 50, Man Kaur started practising a vegan diet lifestyle. Gurdev curated her eating lifestyle according to nutritional needs. Hence, when she wakes up, the first thing she drinks is a glass of 300 millimetres of kefir. “Then I go for training.”

During lunch and dinner, she eats chapatis made from sprouted wheat. When thirsty, she will drink soy milk and tea made from different tree leaves. “I also eat some nuts and seeds.”

“I feel good and thank God for giving me such type of body,” said Man Kaur. However, she is thankful for having lived with her husband until several years ago when he died at the age of 102.

When asked to compare the lifestyle of decades ago to now, Man Kaur simply said that before there were not much to desire. “Whatever we had we felt happy. No ill will against anyone. We lived in harmony with different communities.” She also added that fresh food before was without fertilisers or gardening sprays.

In August this year, Man Kaur was diagnosed with gallbladder sludge. Doctors had recommended the removal of the gallbladder. Being a believer of homoeopathic medicine, Man Kaur was treated and had no problem until today.

“Otherwise she never took any medicine for the last so many years,” said her son, Gurdev. Man Kaur also suffers from spine scoliosis at the lower level. While she feels difficult when walking, she had no problem running. Nonetheless, it is not an obstacle for her to move forward with sports.

Being Man Kaur’s cheerleader, manager, interpreter, trainer Gurdev was a member of the football team and the athletic team of his school and college. Apart from that, he also runs.

To date, Gurdev has more than 80 racing medals won since 1992. After graduating, he served in the Punjab Agricultural University as Senior Technical Assistant but after eight years of service resigned and started a photocopying business.

As his mother’s nutritional advisor, Gurdev, who prepares the food disclosed that he also eats the same diet as his mother.

Story courtesy of the New Sarawak Tribune published on 14 Dec 2019 here.

Marathon Fauja to get British Empire Medal (Asia Samachar, 5 Jan 2015)

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA|

A British engineering graduate is pushing hard to make available low-cost washing machines for the those who need it most: refugees and the poor.

Navjot Sawhney and a band of volunteers under the banner of ‘The Washing Machine Project’ are en-route to sending the first 50 of the newly designed hand-cranked machines to refugee camps in Iraq.

The team led by the Navjot — a 29-year old engineer who is studying for an MSc in Humanitarianism, Conflict and Development — has finished manufacturing 50 of the machines called Divya.

Why Divya? That’s the name of Navjot’s friend in southern India who told him of the physical struggles she and others like her faced when washing clothes without a machine.

The journey involved seven weeks of manufacture involving more than 75 volunteers from all over the country.

In an Facebook update, the University of Bath student said they had interviewed 80 displaced families interviewed – directly feeding into the product design.

“Thousands of hours spent developing these washing machines for the last 12 months. For one cause. To alleviate the burden of unpaid domestic work such as hand washing clothes.

“These machines are now on their way to Oxfam Iraq – we will distribute across refugee camps in January,” he said.

The Washing Machine Project is a social enterprise meant to alleviate the burden of handwashing clothes for everyone, everywhere. It is run by volunteers who each bring unique skills – in engineering, data science and humanitarian action – to bear on the project.

In an interview with British newspaper the Daily Mail, Navjot said: “In March 2019, we were lucky enough to be invited out to Kurdish Iraq by Care International, where we conducted a week-long field trial with two of our prototypes with 79 families in five IDP (internally displaced person) camps.

“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we were given some useful direction on how we could further improve our design. We have developed partnerships with large international NGOs and a funding pipeline.

“What drives us forward is a common goal to make the world a better place with the skills we have. The exciting thing is that we’re only just getting started.”

Hand washing is said to take some people more than 12 hours a week in deprived countries, preventing some women and girls in charge of the task from pursuing education and straining their bodies, leading to chronic back and joint pain, the report added.

The project has launched a fundraising drive to raise £2,000.

By Jagdesh Singh | OPINION |

It was all so familiar. Almost typical. The sanggat in the main darbar of Khalsa Land tucked between the foothills of Kuala Kubu Baru sang as loud, almost in chant like manner, to welcome the new ablakhees (initiates) into the Khalsa fold. The eminent part time lawyer and full time preacher, Harcharanjit Singh @ Raja led this congregation into almost a frenzy, in his usual enigmatic style.

This scene isn’t dissimilar at all to the very same ceremonial part of the Annual Gurmat Parchaar Samelan that have been organized by the Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM) for the past 56 years. Yet, the formulaic template still evokes spine tingling emotions for me every time. The bagpipes, the drums, the lyrics all mashed into a memory that lingers on for days and sometimes even for weeks.

But the same copy and paste approach to the camp over the years is also a double edged sword. At one point, it was considered the true tried and tested approach that other regional Sikh centers decided to emulate. Sydney and Bangkok are prime examples. But these recent days, this template is considered almost unmodern. Sabha has been accused of not keeping up with the times, millennials and the following generations now question everything including what is being preached at these Sikh camps.

The youth are now believed to be more inquisitive.The internet provides immediate answers at their fingertips. The old ways of preaching and lecturing, that worked miracles for my generation, may be impediments to the current generation. At least this was one of the main theories on the perceived lower attendance for these annual samelans over the past handful of years. But the numbers say otherwise. 760 total participants, including 285 sewadars (as the volunteers are called) tell us that the attendance is as healthy as before. If there was any genuine reason for a dip in the attendance, my first thought would be camp-fatigue for our youth. But I digress.

Having spent the whole week at the annual camp, thoroughly enjoying the company, the rough and tumble of being closest to nature and a jam packed schedule, my views and observations could very well be biased. But here goes.

The lectures were all focused on Guru Nanak and his teachings from his 4 Udasis. The material prepared for both students, participants and the lecturers were of very high quality, printed in color and distributed electronically. But what impressed me more than anything was the activities planned in class and outside of class throughout the day. It was evident that the messages that were being preached or conveyed were realistic and applicable to the daily challenges of the young in school and at home. I remember the messages we got in the good old days were a bit more superficial and prescriptive. As in ‘Thou Shall Keep Hair and strive for being an Amritdharee’. Rather, what was being repeated daily over the last seven days were on applying Baba Nanak’s teachings on being a kinder, more humane caring human being, espousing equality and practicality in all walks of life.

The children resonated with these messages, evidently. And the relevance were further fortified with the new roles of Junior Sewadars being the bridge between the young participants to the more senior organizers of the Samelan. The activities were a breadth of fresh air for many of the returning participants, including myself.

It was indeed a good move by Sabha to empower the younger generation of sewadars to design and plan these creative activities like Shark Tank and Samelan Olympics (just to name a couple) that allowed feedback loops from the participants themselves. This new generation of millennials, more in touch with the their target audience, have proven that Sabha’s future are in good hands based on the smiling faces at the end of the Samelan. The proof, as they say, is in the kheer pudding.

Jagdesh Singh, a Kuala Lumpur-based executive with a US multinational company, is a father of three girls who are as opinionated as their mother

* This is the opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA|

Indian ambassador to the United States Harsh Vardhan Shringla has been named as the next Foreign Secretary, effective 29 Jan 2019. He replaces Vijay Gokhale who will have served his two-year term.

In 2014, he was the Indian ambassador to Bangkok.

During his Thai stint, he was reported to have conducted a major security operation to extricate top Khalistani insurgent Jagtar Singh (Tara).

As part of the secret understanding that Mr. Shringla negotiated, the Thai government launched a nationwide drive that led to Jagtar being caught in Southern Thailand and put on a plane back to India, reports The Hindu.

The foreign secretary, the top diplomat of India who heads MEA’s administrative, is generally held by an IFS officer of the rank of secretary to Government of India.

RELATED STORY:

Modi taps seasoned ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri as minister (Asia Samachar, 3 Sept 2017)

SASKAAR / CREMATION: 12pm, 25 Dec 2019 (Wednesday) at Jalan Siram Butterworth Cemetery. Cortege leaves 38, Solok Tengiri, Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang. PATH DA BHOG: 5 Jan 2020 (Sunday), 2pm-6pm, at Gurdwara Sahib Butterworth | Malaysia

INDERJIT SINGH A/L KEHAR SINGH

(8 May 1958 – 24 Dec 2019)

Village: Verpal, Amritsar

Wife: Kalmeet Kaur a/p Mahinder Singh

Children / Spouses:

Jasmit Kaur
Hasmit Kaur / Balraj Singh
Ashwinjit Singh

Saskaar / Cremation: 12pm, 25 Dec 2019 (Wednesday) at Jalan Siram Butterworth Cemetery

Cortege timing: Cortege leaves 38, Solok Tengiri, Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang.

Path da Bhog: 5 Jan 2020 (Sunday), 2pm-6pm, at Gurdwara Sahib Butterworth

Contact: Ashwinjit Singh 014-6035259

| Entry: 25 Dec 2019 | Source: Family

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA|

A book capturing the memories and experiences of more than four dozen Pakistani Sikhs is now available in Punjabi.

Pakistan Vich Sikh Ate Sikh Sansthawan is the Punjabi translation of the 168-pages ‘Sikhs and Sikh Institutions In Pakistan’ authored by Malaysian-born retired academic Dr Manjit Singh Sidhu.

The book, translated by Dr Kulwinder Kaur Minhas, captured the overall picture of the minorities, especially the Sikhs, in Pakistan after they were uprooted from their homes following the partition of British-India in 1947.

It also captured a detailed account of the lives of some 50 Sikhs drawn from all over Pakistan: Punjab, Sindh and North-West Frontier Province.

“I interviewed them in person, some in Pakistan and some in India, around 2014” he told Asia Samachar. The Sikhs in India were met in a remote area in Jammu as well as in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and New Delhi.

Dr Manjit is author of eight books including Sikhs in Malaysia, Sikhs in Thailand and Pride of Lions: Eminent Sikhs in Malaysia.

Those interested to purchase a copy of the Pakistan Vich Sikh Ate Sikh Sansthawan can contact the author (+60117-2291106) or via the Amritsar-based publisher Singh Brothers.

SASKAAR / CREMATION: 2pm, 27 December 2019 (Friday), at Jalan Loke Yew Crematorium, Kuala Lumpur. Final Respects: Cortege will move from residence to Gurdwara Sahib Tatt Khalsa at 7am. The final ardaas will be at 1pm before cortege leaves to the crematorium | Malaysia

ਜੇਹਾ ਚੀਰੀ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤੇਹਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਘਲੇ ਆਵਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਦੇ ਉਠੀ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

Jayhaa cheeree likhi-aa, tayhaa hukam kamaahi. 

Ghalay aawah naankaa, saday othe jaahi (SGGS, 1239)

AJIT SINGH A/L KAPOOR SINGH (RETIRED ARMY)

Retired from armed forces of Malaysia at the rank Koperal in 1987. Passed away peacefully on 26 December 2019

Son: Jasvinderjit Singh

Daughter: Arvinderjit Kaur

Son-in-law: Paramjit Singh

Daughter-in-law: Ramani Walathan Nagan

Grandchildren: Jasraj Jit Singh, Harleenjit Kaur, Hansraj Singh

Also missed by relatives and friends.

Saskar/Cremation: 2pm, 27 December 2019 (Friday), at Jalan Loke Yew Crematorium, Kuala Lumpur,

Final Respects: The final ardaas for Ajit Singh’s will be held at Gurdwara Sahib Tatt Khalsa, Kuala Lumpur, at 1pm,27 December 2019 (Friday) before the cortege leaves to the crematorium.

Note: Ajit Singh will be brought to Tatt Khalsa Gurdwara at 7am, 27 December 2019, for shower and thereafter for relatives and friends to pay their last respects.

Ajit Singh home address: 505, Block B7, Section 2, Wangsa Maju, 53300 Kuala Lumpur.

Contact:

• Jasvinderjit Singh 016-978 8222
• Paramjit Singh 012-390 0051

| Entry: 27 Dec 2019 | Source: Family

By Vishal J.Singh  | GURDWARA DESIGN |

Concrete is a remarkable material.

Although we think that concrete is a relatively modern material, throughout the ages in the ancient world from Egypt to China, concrete was already used to build monumental jaw-dropping structures such as temples, stadiums, walls, cathedrals, aqueducts and so forth that impressively still stand till today, centuries after it was completed, testifying to the ingenuity of engineers back then. And although the Ancient Romans weren’t the first to create concrete, they were first to use this material extensively in their buildings and infrastructure resulting in magnificent buildings that can be still be gazed at today. Indeed, concrete has had a long relationship with humanity, as evident from the thousands of structures built all over the world through the centuries from one corner of the globe to another.

Concrete itself basically is concocted from 4 basic ‘ingredients’ which consist of cement (the bonding agent that holds it all together), water (the mixing agent), fine aggregates (such as sand and gravel) and coarse aggregates (such as stones and pebbles). When mixed together, they harden over time and form solid shapes. The forms then go on to become the skeletal frame or ‘envelope’ of a structure or a building.

It has been noted that architects, particularly modern architects, have arguably, always had an affection of sorts for concrete, due to its versatility, plasticity and even its raw, unrefined appearance. Concrete can be made to have a smooth, light shade in its veneer, or made to have a dark, rough texture to give a more brutish, coarse look, depending on the aesthetic requirements of the design, although the general public may not have a similar liking for its unfinished appearance.

Like it or hate it, concrete is here to stay.

Having studied modern architecture, I too find myself having an understated appreciation for concrete as a building material, which can be left unfurnished once a building is complete, depending on the texture and colour of the concrete itself. And so for the next conceptual design for a modern gurdwara, concrete was the main choice of material that was used to imagine its form and appearance as presented in the following visuals. As always, these visuals are purely conceptual and are simply the result of my mind having a little bit of fun with the possibility of designing a concrete gurdwara and experimenting with this ubiquitous building material.

The Concrete Gurdwara consists of the usual main spaces that constitute a gurdwara complex, typically an entrance into the Langgar Hall of the ground floor that leads to the Kitchen as well, and the Darbar Sahib located on the first floor. The outside has a single storey block that houses the administration block and the Nishan Sahib Plaza is located in front of the said administration block.  The arrangement of spaces is a relatively standard design, but in this conceptual proposal, the focus is not on how the spaces are arranged but on the extensive usage of concrete that makes up the entire complex giving it a rough, hard and textured look.

The façade is most clearly established by the presence of unevenly shaded concrete vent blocks that are built in front of the Darbar Sahib on the first floor that facilitate air flow, and act as a unique visual feature for the entire Gurdwara. Both sides of the Darbar Sahib have walls that seem to ‘float’ above the ground floor that provide protection from the elements for the structure behind them, and are, of themselves, built of exposed concrete as well.

The entrance is located on the left side of the Gurdwara, encased in glass walls to shelter the entrance and staircases going up to the Darbar Sahib. In between the main block where the Darbar Sahib, the Langgar Hall and the Kitchen is located and the Administration block where the offices are located is a free and open corridor, covered by a series of metal louvres above and marked with frames in black. This corridor allows for an unhindered flow of people to walk from once place to another, and to allow natural ventilation to freely pass its passages to help naturally cool the environment within the complex. The Nishan Sahib Plaza is defined by a group of numerous square concrete slabs on the grass that demarcate the area for assembly for the Sanggat when the need arises.

The right side of the Gurdwara where the Administration Block is located, is protected by a series of white metal screens that provide shade to the buildings exterior.  The Darbar Sahib and Langgar Hall are next to the Administration block and connected with an open corridor, covered by a series of metal louvers above.

The left side of the Gurdwara is where an additional block is located, and this block houses private accommodation for members of the Sanggat should they need rooms for personal reasons. Just like the rest of the Gurdwara complex, this block meant for accommodation is made of exposed concrete in line with everything else, and incorporates a series of metal screens on the ground floor to create a sense of external demarcation. The grass here is also partially covered by the laying of square concrete slabs from where the Nishan Sahib is, so as to create a continuous avenue for walking from one side of the Gurdwara complex to the other on the opposite end.

The design for this Gurdwara celebrates the widespread usage of concrete in the modern era that we live in, and highlights the inherent show of ‘strength’ and solidity that concrete visually and structurally projects in architecture. It pays homage to the versatility of this material that starts out as a malleable clay-like component in our hands that eventually solidifies into something much stronger over time to create powerful monolithic buildings that are commanding in its presence, especially in the past 100 years or so.

Undoubtedly, the appeal of unrefined, exposed concrete in its raw and brutal form can be initially difficult for people to appreciate at first, but like so many good things, there is usually an allowance for some time to pass in letting people appreciate the raw appeal of concrete, both as a low-maintenance, low-cost building material and as an unusually interesting aesthetic component in modern architecture.  As seen, concrete has been with us for a long time, and will undoubtedly remain with us for a long time as well.

Waheguru Bless.

 This is the last article in 2019. The next proposal design in 2020 will center on the idea of building a Gurdwara that vividly expresses its structure as its primary design feature and concept, creating a striking ‘marriage of ideas and form’ between architecture and engineering.

Vishal J.Singh, an aspiring architect, holds a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur and enjoys engaging in architecture and its theories as his first love.

* This is the opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.

SASKAAR / CREMATION: 2pm, 29 Dec 2019 (Sunday), at Jalan Loke Yew crematorium, Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia ਜੇਹਾ ਚੀਰੀ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤੇਹਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਘਲੇ ਆਵਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਦੇ ਉਠੀ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

Jayhaa cheeree likhi-aa, tayhaa hukam kamaahi. 

Ghalay aawah naankaa, saday othe jaahi (SGGS, 1239)

KALDEEP SINGH S/O RATTAN SINGH (Formerly Rawang)

Age 52, Batu 5 Office (Moneylender)

It is with immense sadness to inform you that my husband, Kaldeep Singh has passed away on 26 December 2019.

Saskaar / Cremation: 2pm, 29 Dec 2019 (Sunday), at Jalan Loke Yew crematorium, Kuala Lumpur

Path Da Bhog: 5 January 2020, from 5.30 to 7.30 pm, at Gurudwara Sahib Sentul

Contact:

• Malkeet  016-3277777
• Baldeep  019-6072991 / 016-6664651
• Jasmeen 0133226651

| Entry: 28 Dec 2019 | Source: Family

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA|

On 26 Dec 2004, a tsunami struck Aceh. A 30m wall of water hit the Indonesian island triggered by a 9.1 magnitude quake which had struck undersea 160km off Sumatra’s coast. It flattened buildings and killed some 170,000 people in Aceh.

In Malaysia, the incident brought together a group of Sikhs, mostly volunteers of a Kuala Lumpur-headquartered youth-based Sikh youth organisation.

Volunteerism was already in their blood. Most of them were hardened volunteers of the Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM) which ran camps and other activities for the Sikh community in Malaysia and in the region.

In no time, they mobilised themselves into a humanitarian relief outfit. Calling themselves the Global Sikhs, they worked with Langkawi-based sailors who called themselves Waves of Mercy, Buddhist organisations and others — all with the common end of helping the victims of the massive tsunami.

With the working relationship with Waves of Mercy, they began sending volunteers and much-needed relief material to Aceh. The volunteers included medical and people with other expertise. In all, they had dispatched more than a dozen missions carrying volunteers and no less than RM27 million worth of goods.

“It was such a heart warming feeling to see strangers who didn’t know each other came together to help humanity. That was the greatest thing that came out of it,” Harwindar Singh, the then jathedar (president) of SNSM, told Asia Samachar.

“We had just returned after our annual one-week camp. The Samelan theme was ‘Vich Duniya Sev Kamaiye’. And then this happened. The next two to three months, our lives were put on hold for this, literally.”

SNSM headquarters, then at Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, was buzzing with activity. And it also acted as the command centre for the mission.

“I was touched to see the people and organisations that came together. The organisations had different objectives of their own, but we all came together to save lives and help deal with the impact.

“That experience had changed me for life. The fire is still burning,” he said, 15 years after the incident.

Entrepreneur Harvinder Singh, the mission’s first operations director, recalls the event as if it had just happened yesterday.

“I was impressed with the humanitarian aspect of the whole thing. The way everybody came together to help… We asked and somebody would show up. No one could imagine so many people from around the world came so quickly to help,” he said.

In Aceh, Global Sikhs had setup their headquarters at Sabang Port on Pulau Weh. At that time, they were probably the few NGO relief teams with ships, allowing them to scout the west coast of the island for survivors.

“We avoided going to Bandar Aceh as it was already crowded with the other groups. In our discussions with the UN agency then, they told us to take care of the island,” he said.

Malaysian television station NTV7 had also hopped on one of the Global Sikhs-Waves of Mercy mission. You can catch a clip of their documentary here. The documentary clip ends with this: “Find someone who is worse off that you, serve him, and you will be alright.”

In the years to come, Global Sikhs had sprung into action, but none of its missions could compare to the depth and breath involved in the Aceh mission. They had tied-up with United Sikhs to assist Myanmar flooding victims in 2008 and had also gone to Nepal.

Their latest humanitarian work was to assist Punjab, India, after the recent flooding incidents. They are provided blankets to needy villagers in view of the severe winter.

By Dya Singh | OPINION | 

I have just one ‘wish’ for our global Sikh Quom for the new year. I try to keep out of ‘quomi‘ squabbles and scholarly debates and issues as I am not qualified or learned enough to chip in, nor am I inclined. But I do have one wish and prayer for ‘us’.

As a Quom, and as a religion, we face multiple challenges from the exterior but more dangerously, from within. Let me firstly express a maxim which I first heard from our living legend – IJ Singh of USA, who needs no introduction: “Let us agree to disagree without becoming disagreeable.”

Besides all the other issues, some big, some small – and some small which blow out of proportions, there is one which was almost settled two decades ago – agreement to accept the Nanakshahi calender globally.

For those who do not know about the issue…

About a century back a Sikh historian S. Karam Singh corrected our (Sikh) prominent dates based on solar calendar and research to supersede the Hindu astrology based (Vikrami) calendar. A few decades ago S. Pal Singh Purewal carried out further in depth research and further corrected the dates of S. Karam Singh Ji.

In brief, S. Purewal, after decades of painstaking research, was able to establish the most important Sikh dates of interest like Gurpurabs, Sangrandh, Shahidhis of Guru Sahibs, Sahibjadays and other prominent Sikhs etc. to the western universally accepted Gregorian calender.

There was general universal acceptance from Sikhs for these calender. A decision to accept this calender called the Nanakshahi calender was accepted by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) at the turn of the last century (20 years ago) with some exceptions. Then after pressure from others, who for their own interests preferred the Hindu calender dates, SGPC overturned the decision.

To move into this upcoming decade and beyond, we Sikhs have to work towards our universal identity – as Global Sikhs, wherever we live, whether in Punjab or other parts of India or any other part of the globe. Our numbers beyond Punjab and India are increasing. We are gaining prominence globally not only as a religion but as a global community (Quom) which contributes positively towards life in the countries we live in.

Besides preserving and practising our own religion, ‘way of life’ and our spiritual language Punjabi/Gurmukhi, we need to upgrade to other universal norms. We read, write and speak the languages of the countries we live in. Even in India, most Sikhs with a global outlook do at least read, speak and write the global language English. We have gurdwaras throughout the world! We have langgar throughout the world! We have kirtan throughout the world! And we have Sikhs in leadership roles in politics, industry, science, IT, commerce, other research and even in governments.

We might not agree on all aspects of our religion and ‘way of life’ and that debate will always be ongoing. Changes which some advocate and some try to force, rightly or wrongly, take time and only if the majority agree. For example, there appears to be a strong case for changing our Nishaan Sahibs to dark blue. (Saffron, kesari, is not a Sikh colour. It is a Hindu colour and it represents the Hindu religion on the Indian flag.) There are those who wish to stop the singing of ‘Deh Shiva’ as our National (International?) Anthem. There are those who advocate what is being coined as a ‘Nanakian Philosophy’, which wants to put greater stress on what they believe Nanak stood for and perhaps less for what Guru Gobind Singh Ji advocated. Some believe there is a great deal of hearsay about what Guru Gobind Singh Ji ‘intended’ or ‘advocated’ and some even cast aspersions and doubts about Guru Ji’s bani basically because it is not within the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the eternal Sikh Guru. Some want to change the Ardaas as we know it because the 1st. paudi of the Ardaas comes from a bani credited to Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Some want parkash of Dasam Granth. Some want to do away with it. And so on and so forth.

Change takes time (decades) and debate – rational debate, otherwise the ‘status quo’ should exist.

Apparently, to switch from ‘oil-divas’ to electricity at the Darbar Sahib, took 11 (eleven) years of debate, arguments and disagreements! That should give us an indication of the ‘time’ needed to bring about change – responsible change, hopefully.

BUT I DO BELIEVE, THAT WE SIKHS HAVE SPENT ENOUGH TIME WRANGLING OVER THE NANAKSHAHI CALENDER. 20 YEARS!

We need this change simply because it is the right thing to do. Our auspicious dates need to be aligned to the western globally accepted calender. Mainly, we need this so that every year (Gregorian year) we should know our dates in advance.

If due to very strong (self-interests) and pressure from certain quarters we are unable to fix our beloved founder, Baba Nanak Ji’s Gurpurab to Vesakhi, on 15 April, as has been authenticated, it does not matter. But let us at least fix it to one date in November. (Gurbani does teach us that every day is auspicious if we spend it in Naam!) So, if the majority Sikh World wishes to celebrate Baba Ji’s Gurpurab in November, so be it, but let us, at least have a fixed date in November.

I read a story written by one S. Ajit Singh which makes a great point.

About 25 years ago World Sikh News from California published his article about “Monthly Sangrand celebrations” in his village in the foothills of Shivalik. In old days all the people in the village were illiterate and each month they used to refer to the village Pandit about the “Sangrand” day. The Pandit was their calender so to speak.

Pandit ji kept a goat in his courtyard for milk. Each day Pandit Ji would deposit one ‘maingan‘ (goat droppings pellet) in a ‘kujja‘ (a small earthen pot). When the villagers come to him closer to the day, to ask about the Sangrand Day, Pandit Ji would count the number of ‘maingan’ to tell the villagers the correct day (according to him). One day the goat’s tether rope broke and it started roaming about in the pandit’s courtyard. She inevitably overturned the ‘kujja’ resulting in the spilling of the ‘maingans’.

When the villagers came to Pandit Ji to ask about the Sangrand date, the pandit was in a fix. But, true to his wily nature, he cleverly maneuvered the illiterate villagers that there had been a bad luck eclipse during the night. So, he needed to focus his rituals etc. on that for the day. He asked them to come back the next day for the Sangrand date. That evening Pandit ji slipped away and went to the Pandit in the next village to get the date of Sangrand.

Even today, we as an international ‘quom’ are dependent on some ‘pandits’ to give us ‘OUR’ correct dates! We need our dates fixed and not at the beck, call and whim of some pandits either in Banares or even in Jalandhar.

I urge all Sikhs to get hold of the Nanakshahi calender and let us start following fixed dates as per the Gregorian Calender. Nanakshahi calenders are now available on internet.

I wish and pray for a fulfilling new year to all my brothers and sisters. I also wish and pray that all of us, and collectively the global Sikh Quom wherever we live on the planet will have a 2020 vision in the upcoming decade.

Guru dhi meher &  Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki fateh.

[Hard Copies of Nanakshahi calender will be available for distribution into the new year. Any one who wants to receive a copy may email S. Ajit Singh Ji at  ajit@ajitsingh.ca  OR S. Irwin Preet Singh at irwin.p.singh@gmail.com]

This short article is inspired by S.Ajit Singh Ji’s emails. I have difficulty in sharing the exact wordings he uses especially what he thinks of our dharam-dhe-thekedar, the Brahminic-minded Sikhs, Sikh political leaders especially in Punjab, and the pandits who still control Sikh affairs. But I salute his general views!

Malaysian-born Dya Singh, who now resides in Australia, is an accomplished musician and a roving Sikh preacher. The Dya Singh World Music Group performs full-scale concerts on ‘music for the soul’ based on North Indian classical and semi-classical styles of music with hymns from mainly the Sikh, Hindu and Sufi ‘faiths’. He is also the author of SIKH-ING: Success and Happiness. He can be contacted at dyasingh@khalsa.com

* This is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

A skill or two can make a huge difference in our lives. That’s what three ladies from the Klang Valley found when they took part in a single mother empowerment programme not too long ago.

Three Sikh single mothers took part in a two-month training where they were exposed to parenting, IT, communication and social media marketing skills.

Kuldeep Kaur, who had to make alternate arrangements for her daughter for the day, appreciated the learnings from the social marketing classes. “Now I can even teach my daughter a thing or two,” she said in a note shared with Asia Samachar.

Another participant said they were greatly motivated by the EKTA Club of Kuala Lumpur & Selangor volunteers to take part in the programme. “Otherwise, we may not have enrolled,” she said.

EKTA Club, a Kuala Lumpur-based NGO, comprises some 50 lady members from different professions and age groups.

(For singles mothers who would like to enrol in short courses, please contact Bobby from Ekta’s welfare wing at +6012-3055708)