By Ekta NZ | NEW ZEALAND |

The service started after the Christchurch shooting. The intention was to have an ethnic community meet a gap in the city’s food banks that exists at the weekends and to do it visibly so that the larger New Zealand community could also witness that the migrant communities were equally concerned with the city’s issues and, were contributing to its solutions albeit in a small way.

In doing so we also wanted to create ‘ekta‘ (unity) by sharing the platform with the different faith and ethnic groups.

That is the story of the Guru Nanak Free Kitchen Wellington (GNFKW) which has now reached the one year mark. It is a project undertaken by charitable organisation Ekta New Zealand Inc

In the last 12 months, we have served over 4,000 meals for the needy of the city. The meals have come from people and organisations of various faiths and ethnic groups. The highlight was when we had a Sikh family providing the main meal, a Muslim family providing the dessert and the food was distributed by members of the Christian community.

The service has grown from providing prepacked prepared meals, to providing blankets, warm clothing, footwear, and household needs as the need arises. In addition to meeting the needs of individuals, Ekta NZ is now also contributing to the other main charities of the city.

During lockdown 4 and 3, groceries and vegetables were supplied weekly to Downtown City Mission, the Soup Kitchen, the Night Shelter and City Mission. Over a ton of rice and over few hundred kilos of vegetables and groceries were distributed.

Additionally, along with St Peter’s Church of Willis Street and the Brahma Kumaris of Lower Hutt, Ekta NZ provided meals and Indian grocery items to Indians students/migrant workers and Indian visitors stuck in Wellington daily at the two sites. Save for part of the costs of the meals and groceries distributed at St Peter’s during alert level 3, all the other costs were met by donations from supporters and members.

Our attached video encapsulates the story of the first year of Ekta’s GNFKW.

The plan for year 2 is not only to continue and build on year one but also to grow our range of activities to meet the needs of the vulnerable in Wellington.

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

The current COVID-19 pandemic situation is seen as a blessing that has helped to reinforce the concept of unity among Malaysia’s multi-racial communities, observes an academician.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Rukun Negara Secretariat adviser Prof Sarjit Singh Gill told a local television talkshow that the pandemic had reinforced the importance of living together.

“Before COVID-19, we saw a lot of debates, conflicts, and competitions, indeed there was also co-operation but it was quite limited. But during COVID-19, we see more and more co-operation among communities, conflicts are as if they are non-existent, conflicts in society involving racism are not seen now.

“It is time for the Ministry of National Unity to look into the context of how the people are embracing this moment of unity. I think this is a landscape of change and here I see the strength of the communities such as non-governmental organisations, religious organisations and youths to start using their movement to help society during this crisis,” he was quoted in a report by Malaysian news agency Bernama.

He appeared in the ‘Ruang Bicara’ Programme on Bernama TV titled ‘#KitaJagaKita – Managing National Unity’ in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday (13 May 2020). The other panelists were University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Faculty of Education, Centre of Education and Community Wellness senior lecturer Anuar Ahmad and the Malaysian Youth Council president Jufitri Joha.

By Dr. B.S. Bains | OPINION |

Selfless service to Mankind is embedded in every student of The Great Sikh Gurus, right from Guru Nanak’s Three Principle Teachings, Kirat Karo, Vand Shako & Naam Japoo, (Refer to my article: Guru Nanak’s 3 Basic Teachings: The Three Pillar Principles of Sikhism) to the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the Present Sri Guru Granth Sahib – The Sikh’s Revered Holy Scripture.

The Sikh community in India and around the world has been instrumental in serving mankind during any catastrophe, may it be natural disaster, pandemics or to urban poverty stricken population.

It was Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who accelerated and radiated this spirit into thousands of his Sikhs through just a tap on Bhai Kanhaiya’s shoulder. This spirit has since then dwelled on till date and will go on for generations to come.

Bhai Kanhaiya was born during the time of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (the Sikh’s 9th Guru), in Wazirabad, Sialkot district of undivided India (today in Pakistan), in the mid-1600’s (17th century) to a rich merchant. It was in his very young age, he had a unique nature in helping the poor laborers.

Initially he would purposefully keep coins in his pocket just for the sake of giving away to the poor people in need. As he grew up, he would help the labor class share to carry their burden of physical work, like transporting heavy materials on their back and walk along with them for any distance, short or long. His mother, however, used to be embarrassed, to what would people say of this rich merchant’s child, seen on the streets helping people at this very young age.

As time passed by, after his father’s death, he took over the business and became a successful merchant himself.

He travelled widely but always spared his earnings to help the destitute, the helpless, the travellers and the sick. During his business travels, he made acquaintance with a person called Bhai Nanua who later became his close friend. Bhai Nanua was a devotee of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. As Bhai Kanhaiya got closer to Bhai Nanua, he was attracted to his spiritual growth and his daily recital that he would chant and sing. Bhai Nanua would recite all the major verses that he learnt from Guru Teg bahadur Ji. This mesmerized Bhai Kanhaiya and he then requested Bhai Nanua to take him to visit Guru Ji. Upon his first encounter with Guru Ji, Bhai Kanhaiya was immediately spiritually uplifted. With utter reverence, Bhai Kanhaiya became Guru Ji’s greatest devotee and lived with Guru Ji to serve the congregation (sangat) visiting Guru ji with food and water from the Free Kitchen (Langgar).

Bhai Kanhaiya travelled with Guru Teg Bahadur, while in intervals, still went back home to carry out his business obligations. He would return to serve the Guru often and also during the time of distress caused by the Mogul Kings of the time.

At the heights of cruelty, Guru Teg Bahadur Ji was beheaded by the then Mogul ruler Aurengzeb, in Delhi. His son Gobind Rai Ji was barely 9 years of age. Gobind Rai Ji was already a highly elevated Soul. He took on the cosmic divine capacity and his father’s killing with no sense of animosity. He pleaded to the almighty to give him the strength to wither the grief. It was the heaven that came to act, to manifest a phenomenon of divinity, when the little Gobind Rai spoke to the followers of his father with equal wisdom as that of his father. Everyone bowed to the wisdom of Gobind Rai Ji and in humility, as though it was directed by heavens, with collective cosmic consciousness, they all pronounced him their 10th Guru. Gobind Rai Ji would later be named Gobind Singh Ji.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji faced many moments of distress with continuous warfare and attacks from the Mogul kings and the kings of the hilly provinces around Anandpur, a town in the Eastern Punjab.

In the battle field Bhai Kanhaiya would serve water to everyone who was wounded irrespective of the camp they belonged to. During those times, water was scarce, as Anandpur was on dry hilly planes, and every drop was precious and needed to be preserved. But for Bhai Kanhaiya, preserving water only for the use of the Sikhs was not comprehendible. He would empty the barrels of water to serve the wounded at the battle field, even to the enemies. Later he would fill-up the barrels from the nearby wells.

The Sikh soldiers were very upset and angry with this act of Bhai Kanhaiya serving water to the enemies, and they brought this matter to the attention of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Ji then summoned Bhai Kanhaiya to be brought before him in the presence of a congregation of the Sikhs.

Guru ji then asked Bhai Kanhaiya of the act, as to why he was serving water to the wounded enemies along with the Sikhs who were wounded in the battlefield. Bhai Kanhaiya gave an earnest answer to the Guru Ji with folded hands, that, to him, he saw God in all of them in the battlefield. He said that he saw his Guru Ji in them. For him, he said that everyone was equal. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was so pleased with the answer and told his Congregation that he is the Sikh who has understood the teachings of The Gurus, profoundly. He gave a tap on the shoulder of Bhai Kanhaiya and told him to go ahead, to serve mankind. Bhai Kanhaiya later established many Dharmshala, the first was at Kavha village in the present Attock district of Pakistan which he turned into a Guru’s preaching center. Bhai Kanhaiya died in 1718 listening to Asa Di Waar, the morning Hymns from Sri Guru Granth sahib.

That Magical TAP, on the shoulder of Bhai Kanhaiya was not only meant for him alone, but it was, the tap on the shoulders of all the Sikhs, to-date and for generations to come, to go out there, without fear, without animosity, without bias & selflessly serve every human being coming from any religion, caste or ethnicity during times of distress with food, clothing and shelter.

The Magical TAP of Guru Gobind singh Ji prevails, evergreen and fresh, even today over the shoulders of the Sikhs, to boost and upkeep the Spirit of Langgar (Free Kitchen for all), Spirit of Sewa (Selfless service) and The Spirit of Protection; and that, the Sikhs will uphold this spirit without any reservation serving their neighbors, the society they live in and the country they abide. The tenant of Guru Ji’s teaching is a blueprint of their life.

The teachings of their present Guru Granth Sahib Ji was been personally entrusted to the Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself and to be revered as their 11th and the last Guru, that, all mankind, from every walks and background would seek spiritual guidance to develop their inner and live a just full and honest life.

The Spirit of the Tap on Bhai Kanhaiya’s shoulder Lives on…

Dr Balwant Singh Bains is a Malaysia-based kirtan enthusiast and a practicing physiotherapist with a chain of physiotherapy clinics.

RELATED STORY:

5 things that should always remain a secret… (Asia Samachar, 2 May 2020)

COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS – The Four Yuggas of Life (Asia Samachar, 19 April 2020)

 ਘਲੇ ਆਵਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਦੇ ਉਠੀ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

Sardar Narindar Singh (N Singh)

s/o Late Sardar Banta Singh Teluk Pulai, Klang

(8 June 1952 – 15 May 2020)

It is with a heavy heart that we, the family, regret to inform you that Sardar Narindar Singh (N Singh) of Teluk Pulai Klang s/o Late Sardar Banta Singh Klang has passed away today (15 May 2020) at the age of 68 years old.

He leaves behind his loving Wife.. Balbir Kaur, Children.. Randhir Singh, Balraj Kaur,
Jujhar Singh, Kusum Lama, Kaveldeep Singh, Dr Simardeep Kaur and Grandchildren..Mukatdeep Singh and Mehmadeep Kaur, family members, relatives & friends.

We humbly request that you keep him in your thoughts and prayers and to remember him for the kind person he was, and the fulfiling and joyous life he led.

Given the current situation, the family has decided that it is best for the funeral to be a private event reserved for his immediate family members. We hope you understand our decision during this difficult time and allow us the space and time to grieve and heal from this loss.

We will endeavour to keep you informed on the proceedings and prayers as they happen and hope you will understand our decision.

Thank you and God Bless.

The family of Late Sardar Narindar Singh (N Singh)

Teluk Pulai, Klang

For inquires, please contact Ikbal Singh 019-541 4886 or Kaveldeep Singh 012-211 1917

| Entry: 15 May 2020 | Source: Family

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

Malaysian interfaith leaders are in discussion with the authorities on guidelines for non-Muslim places of worships which are still out of bound for mass prayer programmes in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) is leading the discussion with the National Security Council and Health Ministry to come out with guidelines for places of worship like temples, churches and gurdwaras.

Its deputy president Jagir Singh said the discussions began last week. The guidelines are expected to help the management in these places of worship to conduct prayers or ceremonies and handle its congregants, once it has been deemed fit for them to reopen

“There is no fixed date on when the discussions will conclude, but I hope it will be within the next two weeks,” he told Malay Mail.

Jagir is also president of the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC), an umbrella body for gurdwaras in Malaysia.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic Affairs Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri announced that select mosques and surau in the Federal Territories will be permitted to conduct daily and Friday prayers under strict standard operating procedures, including limiting the number of congregants to a maximum of 30 people.

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

Two Indian tourists housed at a gurdwara complex in Kuala Lumpur on humanitarian grounds have been sent to hospital for observation after testing positive for Covid-19.

The rest of the Indian passengers, who were stranded at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after India began cancelling in-coming flights in mid-March, tested negative and have been sent to a teacher training facility for a 14-day observation.

The passengers were part of the 73 people tested on 7 May at Wisma Tatt Khalsa, the complex adjoining to Gurdwara Sahib Tatt Khalsa, after the authorities placed the surrounding area under an enhanced movement control order (EMCO). This is done for locations with a high number of Covid-19 cases.

The Indian tourists were some of the 300-odd stranded passengers who were sent to Tatt Khalsa, Gurdwara Sahib Puchong and a number of other places to wait out until they could catch their return flights.

“We are in touch with the authorities as well as the Indian high commission,” a Tatt Khalsa gurdwara official told Asia Samachar.

The passengers at the Puchong gurdwara have taken their flights back to India, according to its gurdwara official.

All gurdwaras in Malaysia, as with the places of worship of the other faiths, have suspended all congregational prayers since 18 March when Malaysia a nation-wide lockdown called the movement control order (MCO).

By Asia Samachar Team | BRITAIN |

The family of Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal have said that they have not heard from him since September 2019.

Jaggi has been imprisoned in India for over 900 days without charge and his family have no idea of state of health during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to The Sikh Press Association in an entry at its Facebook. 

Read more about #FreeJaggiNow at: https://www.sikhpa.com/freejagginow/

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

It took the passing away of his father to spur him into capturing the first draft of the history of Sikhs in Malaysia. Otherwise, Dr Manjit Singh Sidhu may have remained cocooned in his cosen academic field.

The nudge resulted in him capturing the life and times some five dozen Sikhs in a book entitled Pride of Lions: Eminent Sikhs in Malaysia released in 2017.

“The passing away of my father Bhai Kirpal Singh sent a shock wave in me. I had been complacent and had not recorded the family history. With that came the realization that the history of Sikh emigrants from Punjab to South-East Asia would soon be forgotten,” he shares in the book’s introduction.

His father, who passed away in 1975, was no ordinary person, as well. He had participated in the Jaito and Guru-ka-Bagh Morchas in the 1920s, making him one of the freedom fighters for the Indian independence. Morcha refers to an organised march or rally.

Dr Manjit, now well into retirement after years of teaching at institutions of higher learning, is working on the second volume of the book.

“At this juncture, I have a list of some 40 people whom I have already interviewed. They will appear in the next book,” Dr Manjit tells Asia Samachar in a telephone interview.

The 77-year old author lives in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan and frequents Gurdwara Sahib Mantin. He retired as an associate professor from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in 1999. He began his teaching career at University Malaya (UM) in 1975.

Neighbouring Singapore, too, had a similar book. In 2015, Young Sikh Association – Singapore (YSA) published the Singapore at 50 – 50 Sikhs and their Contributions to celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday (SG50).

Launched by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the book featured 50 notable Sikhs who have contributed to Singapore’s development and nation-building across various fields.

CLICK HERE TO READ ENTRIES OF THE SINGAPORE BOOK

As with both books, you can never fit into them all the names that deserve mentioning. The Singapore compendium was the result of a team work while Dr Manjit’s book is a one man’s effort.

“There are still so many Sikhs on whom something should be written about,” said Dr Manjit.

For the second volume, he has interviewed another batch of Sikhs with interesting stories to tell. They include retired Federal Court judge Pajan Singh Gill, Penang Hospital forensic pathologist Dr Bhupinder Singh and Sabah-based senior planter k Jaswant Singh Kler.

Aside from the selection of personalities covered, the book also lacks some robust and in-depth background research.

“Dr Manjit is old-school. He’s not savvy with online research. So, you will detect gaps in the people he has written about,” said one of the persons featured in the book. “However, he has made it up with his persistency in chasing the people he is writing about. He met many of them in person. So, he has presented a great first draft for others to work on.”

Pride of Lions is far from his only work. Dr Manjit is also the author of the Sikhs in Malaysia. Published in 1991, the book is valuable as it has captured for posterity interviews, conducted in 1978 and 1979, of 100 Malaysian Sikhs who were born in India and Pakistan. He had completed similar books for Sikhs in Thailand and Kenya.

TO READ MORE ON DR MANJIT SINGH SIDHU, CLICK HERE

The retired Malaysian university lecturer had also released another book, ‘Sikhs and Sikh Institutions In Pakistan’ in 2017. Subsequently, the book was translated by Dr Kulwinder Kaur Minhas into Punjabi, resulting in the release of Pakistan Vich Sikh Ate Sikh Sansthawan.

HERE ARE THE 57 PERSONS COVERED IN Pride of Lions: Eminent Sikhs in Malaysia:

1. Dr. Ajeet Kaur Gill (nee Sandhu), Australian-trained medical doctor
2. Sardar Ajmer Singh, Tokoh Guru
3. Madam Ajaib Kaur, Social Worker
4. Tan Sri Ajit Singh, Malaysia’s First Sikh Ambassador
5. Sardar Budh Singh, President, MIC

6. Sardar Balwant Singh Sidhu, Senior lawyer
7. Datuk Balwant Singh Kler, Malaysia’s sports official
8. Professor Dr. Chatar Singh, Professor of physics and Queen’s scholar
9. Dato’ Sri Chet Singh, GM, Penang Development Corp
10. Engineer Dalip Singh, Dep GM, Malayan Railways
11. Colonel Dara Singh, Ex Chinese Army Colonel, Protector of Aborigines, Game-warden
12. Sardar Ginder Singh Gill, Negeri Sembilan transport company operator

13. Datuk Gurbakhs Singh Kler, Father of Sabah Sports
14. Sardar Gurchan Singh, Singa, The Lion of Malaya; Aide-de-camp to Malaysia’s first PM Tunku Abdul Rahman
15. Dr. Gurdev Singh, Penang leading veterinary doctor
16. Tan Sri G.S. Gill, Sikh businessman in sports goods
17. Professor Gurdial Singh, UM law professors
18. Mr. Gurmit Singh, Environment crusader
19. Dr. Harbans Kaur Virik, First child specialist in Malaysia
20. Sardar Habhajan Singh, Journalist & newspaper editor
21. Dato Harjit Singh Hullon, TV new editor & RTM news reader
22. Dato Dr. Harjit Singh, Johor Cricket Council president
23. Madam Harwanth Kaur, First Sikh female lawyer & first lady magistrate in Malaysia
24. Sardar Ishar Singh, Accidental zoo keeper
25. The Legendary Jagat Singh of Perlis, Richest Sikh in Southeast Asia in 1950s
26. Sardar Jagdeep Singh Deo, Penang state executive councillor
27. Mr. Joginder Singh, Teacher to lawyer
28. Sardar Jaswant Singh Khosa, Scribe, Guru Granth Sahib
29. Dato Jagjit Singh, Retired Sessions Court judge
30. Dato Dr. Kaka Singh, dental surgeon & social worker
31. Sardar Karamjit Singh, The Flying Sikh & 2002 Sportsman of the Year (rally car driver)
32. Dato’ Karam Singh Walia, TV3 news editor & leading environment issues journalist
33. Mr. Karpal Singh, DAP chairman, Opposition politician, Tiger of Jelutong
34. Dr. Karpal Singh, Pantai Hospital general & pediatric surgeon
35. Madam Kirpal Kaur, Women entrepreneur & Gulati Stores owner
36. Sardar Kartar Singh, Winner of nation’s highest galantry award
37. Madam Kirenjit Kaur, First Rotary lady governor in Malaysia
38. Datuk Dr. Keshmahinder Singh, Opthhalmologist (eye specialist)
39. Prof. Kernial Singh Sandhu, ISEAS Singapore director

40. Sardar Kuldip Singh Sandhu, High ranking Sikh police officer in Singapore
41. Dato’ Lakhbir Singh Chahl, Lawyer, Senior public officer, international diplomat, sportman
42. Sardar Lall Singh, Malaysia’s cricketing legend

43. Sardar Malkit Singh Lopo, Sikhs in Malaysia chronicler, novelist
44. Bhai Mani Singh Ji, An extraordinary saint
45. Datuk Dr. Mohinder Singh Malhotra, Versatile soil scientist, cooperative leader (Koperasi Khalsa)
46. Dato Nashatar Singh Sidhu, National sports coach, javelin champion, Malaysian rugby captain
47. Madam Preetam Kaur Gill, social worker & women’s rights activist
48. Sardar Pritam Singh, First Asian Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Malaysia
49. Major General Datuk Ranjit Singh Ramday, First Sikh major general in Malaysian armed forces
50. Dato Rhina Bhar, Lawyer, politician & first Sikh woman senator in Malaysia
51. Professor Satwant Singh Dhaliwal, Queen’s scholar & genetics professor

52. Tan Sri Sarwan Singh Gill, Court interpreter to chief justice, Malaya
53. Sardar Shamsher Singh, Police officer to rubber planter
54. Sant Sohan Singh Ji, A genuine Sikh saint
55. Dr. Tara Singh Shergill, Negeri Sembilan Father of eye surgery
56. Giani Tirlochan Singh, Editor of Malaya Samachar
57. Dr. Veerinderjeet Singh, Leading tax expert

HOW TO GET A COPY?

Limited copies of PRIDE OF LION are still available. Price: RM50 (add RM10 for postage within Malaysia). Call author at +6017-2291106. For further assistance, Whatsapp to Asia Samachar at +6017-335-1399

By Gurmukh Singh | OPINION |

• What is meant by Sikhi Ik Sresht Dharam?

This topic is discussed on the forums from to time. The expression, Sikhi Ik Sresht Dharam, is used by Sikh scholars to bring out the egalitarian features of the Sikh way of life. Some can take the meaning literally that Sikhi is a superior religion but that cannot be the intended meaning. For a follower of any faith, own chosen path is the best.

Due entirely different approaches, Sikhi was not intended to bridge the almost impossible gulf between Abrahamic and the Vedic traditions, but to offer a third option, the Niara Teesra Panth. As Dr I J Grewal noted, there was hardly anything in politics, society or the religious practices of his time that was acceptable to Guru Nanak Sahib (The Sikhs of the Punjab).

Many bhagats (saints), too, had revolted against the discriminatory and divisive ideologies practised by their background religions. Those practices are condemned by Guru Nanak Sahib in, for example, Asa ki Vaar. The Bani (compositions) of the Bhagats was selectively included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), sometimes with qualifications by the Guru. Thus, the study of Sikhi requires a paradigm shift away from orthodox ideologies.

It was for that reason that scholars like Macauliffe found it difficult to point to a religion of greater originality. Despite the colonial connotation regarding loyalty, Dorothy Field found it little short of a miracle that this faith transformed the outcaste Indian into a fine loyal warrior. (The Religion of the Sikhs).

At interfaith forums, I have often bullet-pointed the main Sikhi characteristics also well set out by Dr I J Singh in his introduction to “Sikhs and Sikhism – A View With a Bias: Uncompromising monotheism; no priesthood or any form of brokerage between God and creation; direct (Khalsa) relationship with the Creator; direct access to the scriptures written in the vernacular; rejection of monasticism and stress on family life and community obligations’; rejection of multi-tiered caste system; demolition of every traditional excuse used to perpetuate gender bias or any form of discrimination; and concept of saint soldier.

Sikhi way of life – the theo-social system – rests on three pillars: constant awareness of the Creator Being, honest work and sharing/charity. Dr I J Singh concludes that all these elements constitute Sikhi as a religion of the people, by the people, for the people.

Provided Sikhs are clear about their way of life, it is not for them to make comparison with earlier systems but for them to continually re-evaluate their own actual performance against the founding principles of Sikhi as above. They do have an authentic original source reference in SGGS to be able to cross check if they are indeed following in the footsteps of the Guru.

It is for other religions to re-confirm that their religious texts are interpreted to meet the headings most relevant to modern human rights and values. It is only when provoked by religious zealots, misrepresenting Sikh ideology and re-writing Sikh history while seeking converts to own religions, that Sikh scholars like Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha have responded by restating the basics of Sikhi.

Unlike the constructive questioning approach of Guru Nanak Sahib, some Sikh scholars, especially those in the interfaith area, have difficulty thinking outside the box. It is more soothing for them to present Sikhi as a faith cobbled together from the good parts of Hinduism and Islam! That sort of conciliatory line is also more acceptable to the establishment wherever the Sikhs live. It is almost a subconscious tactic to promote Sikhi and, sometimes, self! However, such an approach confuses the audience and is not the right approach to show the independence of Sikhi.

Yet, the Guru was less sparing towards the Brahmin and the Mullah when he condemned their practices based on their interpretation of own scriptures. The Guru gave His own interpretation of true Hinduism and Islam.  The situation regarding interpretation of scriptures has not changed today when we look at extremist and violent movements in the name of religion.

Sikhi Ik Sresht Dharam does not mean that Sikhi is a superior religion or that any comparison with other faiths is intended, but that Sikhi is a new approach and a new whole-life system. Sikhs themselves need to fully understand that through the Sikh-ing (learning) path shown by the Guru.

Gurmukh Singh OBE, a retired UK senior civil servant, chairs the Advisory Board of The Sikh Missionary Society UK. Email: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk. The article appeared here.

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

RELATED STORY:

Academic Freedom to Question Basics of Sikhi? (Asia Samachar, 5 May 2020)

How coronavirus can change the world (Asia Samachar, 29 April 2020)

By Asia Samachar Team | SINGAPORE |

Singapore parents Ranjeev Pandey and Melvinder Kaur noticed that their five-year old daughter was attracted to pictorial story books and numeracy-based cartoons.

So, they thought about kick-starting their daughter’s educational journey. For that, they  turned to Singapore Indian Development Association (Sinda) that ran a programme called Literacy and Numeracy (LYNN).

Since attending the pre-school programme, Sonya Kaur Pandey is rarely seen without a book!

This is just one of the many success stories at Sinda that has committed to help Indian students to excel. In 2019, the organisation spent S$11.3 million – that’s half of its total expenditure of $22.5 million – for educational programmes. Its total income for 2019 was S33.6 million.

The self help group established in 1991 believes that it is making a difference. For the whole of last year, its frontline divisions reached out to 24,812 beneficiaries, up 12% from the year before.

“We made special effort to connect with younger audiences such as tertiary-level youth, young working adults and new parents – the generations of tomorrow,” said Sinda president Indranee Rajah in a note in the annual report.

The organisation’s youth and family divisions, for example, has found ‘new and innovative’ ways to reach their audiences by developing niche programmes relevant to them.

Sinda had spent $3.5 million for family services and $1.4 million for youth development programmes in 2019, according to its annual report.

“One such example is the Understanding Early Childhood programme — a pilot initiative to guide first-time parents on promoting their toddler’s cognitive and emotional development and strengthening parent-child bonds through collective and interactive play,” said Indranee, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Other programmes included the newly launched Tamil pre-school programme to strengthen participants’ proficiency in the language in a fun way as well as digital workshops for over 1,100 young ones to equip them with the foundational skills necessary for a technology-driven world.

She noted that Sinda’s Door Knocking Exercise continues to be a good way to connect with Indian households and offer assistance to those in need.

“We worked closely with the respective Grassroots Advisors and Indian Activity Executive Committees [IAECs] to knock on doors, gain access to new beneficiaries and enrol them into our programmes. Many of them required urgent help but did not know who to approach,” she said.

On the impact on the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, Indranee said the organization had temporarily ceased face-to-face programmes, but have instead introduced an e-learning platform to complement the Ministry of Education’s Student Learning Space (SLS).

The platform was piloted in 2019 and offers interactive and real-time video-based lessons conducted online by qualified tutors. Lessons are offered to Primary, Secondary and A-Levels students for various subjects including English, Mathematics and Science.

In view of the novel coronavirus, Sinda has announced a $1.8 million package, which should benefit at least 3,000 families and students.

The new package will supplement the existing $2 million earmarked by the association for financial assistance this year, according to a newspaper report.

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By DJ Bombay Singh (George Town) | LETTER TO EDITOR | MALAYSIA |

Hello Editor,

On a recent Wednesday night (6 May), I watched Lahoriye on RTM’s TV2. The film is about a pair of lovers who, despite having the same ethnicity, differ on their faiths, and to make it worse, belong to countries that have bitter past between their governments.

To be specific, it was about Kikkar Singh, a Sikh-Punjabi and Ameeran, a Muslim-Punjabi, whose respective grandparents had to swap their lands between what was to become the divided Punjab, during the partition of India and creation of Pakistan in 1947.

While both sides of the families had no problems with the marriage, a relative who is a budding politician had to become the spoilsport. What this character in the film imply is that government(s) come in between, often for ego and selfish reasons, even when on ground level, there is already love and acceptance between the families of different faiths.

The poignant and best scene of the film was when Ameeran’s grandfather finally meets and tightly hugs Kikkar’s grandfather, who was responsible for him to be still alive during the mad times of the partition of the country.

All’s well that ends well.

At the end of the film, Kikkar and Ameeran are happily married with a child while Kikkar’s sister has also married to Ameeran’s landlord’s son. The faith of all the characters now was not implied and instead, a typical family day-to-day situations was emphasised.

Now, what was wrong with this ending of the film? Doesn’t a marriage need to have abundance of love, trust, sacrifice and acceptance?

What was so wrong that RTM decided the ending of the film cannot be shown and had to be totally snipped off?

Does this mean that it is okay to show the love between different faiths but not when they are happily married?

When a man marries a woman, what is the most important thing between them? Love or religion? If it is the latter, then why do we have so many divorce cases despite the couple being of the same faith?

The message of the film was love triumphs over anything else in the world. (Of course, they should both be 18 years old and above)

If RTM could not get the message and purpose of the film, then what was the point in screening of such stories?

If the station was not going to show the positive scenes of humanity at the end of the movie, then why even bother to screen the film in the first place?

It is so bizarre to note that a movie was censored not for negativity, but for showing positivity!

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

AN attempt by Punjabi Christians to brazenly attract Sikhs into their fold in Ipoh, Perak, five years ago saw a vigorous pushback from the Sikh community leaders. What is the situation today? Are Sikhs still being targeted by other faith groups in this former tin mining valley?

“They’re still around but they’ve gone stealth,” one community leader told Asia Samachar when asked about the activities of the Christian groups.

“These is some reverse in the flow. I know of some who have come back to the Sikh fold,” said Santokh Singh who heads the Ipoh-based Khalsa Diwan Malaysia (KDM).

On the other hand, Sikh activists on the ground in Perak – one-time home to the largest Sikh population in this part of the world – say the Sikh preaching front may not have improved over the years, either.

“At this point, it is mostly gurdwara-based programmes. Apart from that, you have some chat groups, confined mostly to forwarded messages,” said Daaljit Singh, a former president of Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM) Perak.

Flashback. Exactly five years ago, Sikhs in Ipoh had raised an alarm on alleged intensified moves by Punjabi Christians in luring Sikhs, especially from poorer neighbourhoods, to a Christian worship programme.

The trigger came following widespread invites to Sikh families — through printed cards, WhatsApp messages and word of mouth — to attend church in Ipoh to celebrate ‘Khusian Da Mela’. Initially, one source said the programme was badged ‘Vaisakhi Da Mela’, but changed after an initial Sikh protest.

In response, SNSM Perak, a Sikh youth organisation, had sent a group of observers to the programme held at the Church of Praise at Perindustrian Ringan Sri Rapat, Ipoh.

When spoken to then, SNSM Perak Jathedar Jaswant Singh told Asia Samachar: “We felt that they had gone overboard with the invites, giving them openly to Sikhs. We just wanted to ensure that if Sikhs did turn up, we can advise them what the programme is all about.”

Five years down the road, when contacted again, Jaswant said the Punjabi Christian groups were no longer openly targeting Sikhs, but they were still going about their activities.

On Sikh parchaar (preaching), he said it has not increased in any significant manner.

“Sanggat attandence at Satsang programmes have dwindled so much. Some 15-20 years ago, we used to make one thela (25kg) of rotia (bread). Nowadays, 7-8 kg won’t finish,” he said.

At the same time, he believes the Sikh population in Kinta Valley – the larger area surrounding Ipoh – has increased. “We see many of them attending programmes like Vaisakhi or the New Year,” he said.

SAVING GRACE

One saving grace is the weekend Punjabi schools held all over the country. Perak has 12 Punjabi Education Centres (PECs), as they are known, under the care of KDM and local gurdwaras.

“Apart from academic lessons, we also have Sikhi lessons. We have Sikhi books for these classes. That could be one reason. That could have provided some basic grounding on Sikhi to the students,” said KDM’s Santokh.

At these Punjabi classes, aside from learning basic Sikhi, children also a get chance to mingle.

“They go for outings. There is some sort of togetherness…community coming together. It keeps them together. Otherwise, they will be easy pick [for conversion],” he said.

The PEC has reached even the smaller towns where the Sikh population may have dwindled further due to migration to cities.

He said Punjabi students from smaller towns like Teluk Intan and Sungkai are transported to Bidor for combined Punjabi classes.

“We used to have centres there at one time. But when the number of students drop, we find it more efficient to provide transport and get them to the nearest town. We will open a centre even with five students,” he said.

MISSING YOUTH

Santokh noted that the the parchaar in gurdwaras was geared towards the adults. Hence, the case of the missing youth.

“I don’t blame them [youth]..What is spoken on the stages is geared towards the adults. Sometimes, even the adults don’t understand it. In that respect, what we teach – in classes is more effective.

“I’ve been advocating that gurdwaras must have parallel programmes for the young during major programmes. Programmes for kids in gurdwaras is lacking. You have them in some gurdwaras, but we don’t have enough of it. We need to pay more attention to the children,” he said.

On this, one Ipoh-based Sikh activist said that school going children usually have packed schedules on the weekend, with tuition consuming a good part of their time.

“Parents are very focussed on ensuring that their children do well in schools. I don’t blame them. They see education as a way out for them. After school and tuition, they have very little time left for other acvities, gurdwara included,” he said.

He also noted a significant drop in the number of Sikh youth taking part in Gurmat camps or other Gurmat-related gatherings.

“Our kids’ mindset has changed. They turn to IT to get answers and don’t feel the need to be physically present at a camp or gurdwara,” he said.

However, he observed that the Buddhist youth have seemed to overcome the challenge, as their youth camps are well attended.

“The Buddhist groups have been able to attract the youth. They have made it interesting and exciting. I attended one of their camps and noticed the kids eagerly taking part,” he said.

By Asia Samachar Team | NEW YORK |

Kawal Preet, who joined FedEx Express in 1997 as an associate engineer in Singapore, is one of the top women leaders in the world of logistics.

FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company and a subsidiary of New York-listed FedEx Corp, has appointed her as the new president of Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region, effective June 1, 2020.

With this latest promotion, Karan will manage nearly 40,000 team members across 103 markets and territories that make up the AMEA region, accounting for nearly half of the destinations FedEx Express serves.

“Kawal is an industry veteran and brings a wealth of experience working at FedEx. She has proven to be a strong leader repeatedly over the years and has helped take Asia Pacific operations to new heights,” FedEx Express CEO Don Colleran in a statement.

She was previously FedEx Express senior vice president of operations, North and South Pacific regions.

She succeeds Karen Reddington, who served as president of Asia Pacific region since January 2015, and will now be the regional president of Europe and CEO of TNT.

Kawal is an example of someone who has risen through the organisation, with more than half of FedEx global management team have risen through the ranks of the company.

She joined FedEx Express in 1997 as an associate engineer in Singapore. Following a steady series of promotions and roles spanning service quality assurance, ground operations, and planning and engineering for the air and ground network, she has demonstrated a keen passion to create greater access to the global marketplace and connecting businesses with possibilities, according to the statement.

“I am humbled and honored to be leading this talented and experienced leadership team and a new region that is bursting with opportunities for global trade and businesses,” she said.

Kawal was in Penang, Malaysia, in January 2019 for the FedEx Penang Gateway launched which saw the presence of Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow. She was then a senior vice president operations of FedEx Express. She also sits on the board of the US-ASEAN Business Council.

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

DSP (Rtd) Jaswant Singh Sran, one of the first Sikhs to become an international football referee, passed away today (19 May) at a quarantine centre after several residents of Wisma Tatt Khalsa were found positive for Covid-19.

Jaswant, 80, was one of the residents at the complex in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, which had also placed on humanitarian grounds some six dozen Indian passengers who were stranded at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) earlier.

“We are still waiting for the autopsy report to find out the actual cause of death as the deceased was found to be negative in all three tests. Two tests were done before, while the last one was done this morning,” his younger brother Dr Kalwant Singh told Bernama.

Jawant, a certified FIFA referee, was managing a car park at Wisma Tatt Khalsa.

Among others, Jaswant had refereed top football matches in Malaysia including those involving Malaysian legends like Soh Chin Aun and Mokhtar Dahari in the 1970s and 1980s, according to an entry at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) social media platform.

“He was stickler for fitness and a no nonsense coach,” Malaysian sports commentator Tony Mariadas, who had known him personally known since the late 1970s said in a blog post.

On May 15, Asia Samachar had reported that two Indian tourists housed at a gurdwara complex in Kuala Lumpur on humanitarian grounds have been sent to hospital for observation after testing positive for Covid-19.

The rest of the Indian passengers, who were stranded at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after India began cancelling in-coming flights in mid-March, tested negative and have been sent to a teacher training facility for a 14-day observation.

The passengers were part of the 73 people tested on 7 May at Wisma Tatt Khalsa, the complex adjoining to Gurdwara Sahib Tatt Khalsa, after the authorities placed the surrounding area under an enhanced movement control order (EMCO). This is done for locations with a high number of Covid-19 cases.

The Indian tourists were some of the 300-odd stranded passengers who were sent to Tatt Khalsa, Gurdwara Sahib Puchong and a number of other places to wait out until they could catch their return flights.

RELATED STORY:

Two stranded Indian passengers housed at Tatt Khalsa test positive for Covid-19 (Asia Samachar, 15 May 2020)

KL gurdwara to house some Indian passengers stranded at KLIA (Asia Samachar, 21 March 2020)

By Gurnam Singh | OPINION |

[Gurnam Singh is an academic activist dedicated to human rights, liberty, equality, social and environmental justice. He is an Associate Professor of Sociology at University of Warwick, UK. He can be contacted at Gurnam.singh.1@warwick.ac.uk]

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

 

RELATED STORY:

Time to flip some prevailing ideas (Asia Samachar, 24 April 2020)

Sohan Singh Bhakna: Founder of revolutionary Ghadr Party (Asia Samachar, 21 Jan 2019)

ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

D.S.P. (R) JESWANT SINGH SRAN

(6 Sept 1939 – 19 May 2020)

With deep sorrow, we wish to inform that D.S.P. (R) Jeswant Singh Sran passed away peacefully today, 19/5/2020, aged 80, leaving behind his beloved daughters, sons-in-law, 4 beautiful grandchildren, brother, sisters, brothers-in-law and a host of nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces and friends to mourn his loss.

A 34 year veteran of the Malaysian police force (PDRM), he was assigned to the field force in the 1960’s where as a Sub-Inspector, he had engaged the communists in firefights and was also deployed into the jungles of Johore on missions during the Confrontation. He went on to serve the country as investigating officer, prosecuting officer, and was also OCPD of Cheras, lastly serving in Bukit Aman before his retirement.

An avid reader and a sportsman all his life (starting at the Anglo Chinese School Klang), he was also an international FIFA referee during the Mokhtar Dahari/Soh Chin Aun generation, later to be the first recipient of the Golden Whistle Award by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). He was involved with the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) when they lifted the Malaysia Cup for 3 consecutive years. In November 2019, he was awarded the ‘Pingat Jasa Pahlawan’ for his contributions to the country.

A larger than life personality, this hero of our nation and of our hearts will be sorely missed.

Please send any condolence messages to rememberingjeswant@gmail.com in place of a Condolence Book. We would love to hear from his friends for all to remember him by.

FAMILY BIODATA

Father: Late Sucha Singh, Banting

Mother: Late Gurdev Kaur, Banting

Wife: Late Madam Mahindar Kaur d/o Sadu Singh Chahl (Sentul)

Daughter & Spouse:

Dr Devender Kaur & Richard Charles Roberts (Liverpool)
Sarinder Kaur (Sheila) & Arvinder Singh (Delhi)

Grandchildren:

Maya Josephine Roberts & Maxwell Thomas Roberts

Gauravdeep Singh & Ganeev Kaur

Brothers & Spouses:

Late Mindar Singh Sran, Seremban (ex-Sime Darby) & Madam Balbir Kaur Malhi

Dr. Kalwant Singh Sran (Poliklinik Sran) & Dr. K. Inthirany

Sisters & Spouses:

Madam Kalwant Kaur Sran & Late Gurcharan Singh Grewal (F.R.I.M., Kepong)

Puan Jagdish Kaur Sran (SK Subang Jaya) & Captain Paramjit Singh Dhesi (Ex-MAS/Asiana Airlines)

Brothers in law & Spouses:

Dato’ Paduka Lakhbir Singh Chahl & Datin Dr. Harinder Kaur

Manjit Singh Chahl & Harjap Kaur (Florida)

Late Jasbir Singh Chahl & Devinder Kaur

Funeral arrangements will be announced later. However, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we regret to inform that only a small number of immediate family members are allowed to attend. We would like to thank all relatives and friends for their heartfelt condolences.

For more information kindly contact:

Dr. Kalwant Singh Sran 019-2378402

Captain Paramjit Singh 012-3795777

Puan Jagdish 012-2018870

| Entry: 20 May 2020 | Source: Family

By Asia Samachar Team | INDIA |

Joginder Paul’s iconic Urdu novel “Ek Boond Lahoo Ki” has been translated into English.

A Drop of Blood, as translated by Snehal Shingavi, was recently as an ebook was released by Penguin Random House India.

Paul is regarded as one of the greatest Urdu novelists of the 20th century and wrote the book in Nairobi in the late fifties when Nehruvian socialism was very much in the air in India and the author was greatly affected by class inequalities witnessed in Kenya, reports PTI.

The book has been described as a powerful satire about institutional corruption and greed cleverly exploring the insidious ways in which the mighty habitually prey upon the vulnerable. He was a penniless refugee when he migrated to Kenya after the Partition of 1947.

The book was published in 1962 at the dying end of the Nehruvian era, but expressed some of its most deeply held pieties: a socialist dispensation for India, tolerance of all religious expression, a hope for the uplift of women, and modernised and educated life for all of its citizens, the report added.

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

Sohan Singh was no simple granthi. No wonder that the former Malacca gurdwara granthi went on to become one of the most famous Sikhs in Southeast Asia.

Since his death in 1972, Sikhs in Malaysia and Singapore have converged annually for a prayer event in his memory. This year, for the first time since it kicked-off in 1973, the programme could not be held as usual due to the novel coronavirus threat.

So, what has been billed as the largest annual gathering of Sikhs will not be happening, not physically, at least. There are some attempts to do online programmes.

Movie production house Sri Saheb Production has released a 9-minute documentary on the respected granthi which carries interviews of a few people who had met Baba Sohan in person.

Saran Singh Sidhu, who wrote a book on Baba Sohan, said the former granthi and parcharak (preacher) was well grounded in Sikh ethos and Gurbani as well as in ayuvedic and gatka.

Saran said he placed great emphasis on ‘naam japo’. To those who could not do so, he urged them to set aside time to listen to Gurbani.

“Mere reading is not enough. Now, you need to understand it. Understand what are the messages contained in Gurbani. Do good. That was his first lesson,” he said.

His second lesson was to earn an honest living, said the author of the book ‘Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji of Malacca (1902-1972) – His Life and Times‘.

Dr Kulwant Singh Gill, a former Gurdwara Sahib Malacca committee president, noted that Baba Sohan was a unifying factor for Sikhs in Malaysia.

“He has been an instrumental forces in combining the Sikh Sanggat of Malaysia and Singapore,” he said.

Baba Sohan, easily the most respected granthi and parcharak in Southeast Asia, had always placed importance on proper training and education to become an effective granthi. This was clearly illustrated in his life as captured in Saran’s 425-page book.

Sohan, earlier known as Kaka Ooday Singh (Kaka), came to Malaya in 1926 when he was 24 years old.

At that point of time, he was already well versed and proficient in Punjabi folk songs (lok bolian/geet) and kavisheri (a type of traditional poetry). He was also a practicing akhand pathi and a trained in the Sikh martial art of gatka, according to the book.

After a one-year stint at Gurdwara Sahib Seremban, Sohan was then appointed as a granthi at Gurdwara Sahib Malacca.

In 1932, Sohan applied for an open-dated leave from the sangat and the Malacca gurdwara management committee to return to Punjab.

“He informed the sangat that though he was returning to his village Chathewala to visit his family, his main intention was to further his studies on Sikhism. This knowledge would then enable him to do Gurmat parchaar,” according to the book.

Sohan did the Giani (an academic qualification equivalent to B.A. Honours conducted in the Punjabi language) and the Maha Giani (an academics qualification equivalent to M.A. Honours) courses. He had also studied Sanskrit.

On 10 June 1934, Sohan took over the duties of Granthi at the Malacca gurdwara. He passed away in Ipoh on 24 May 1972 after a short illness.

To view the documentary, click here.

By Asia Samachar Team | UNITED STATES |

Officer Jujhar Singh makes history as the first turban-bearing Sikh officer in Alameda County, the seventh most populous county in the state of California.

He joins the Hayward Police Department after graduating from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Basic Police Academy on 18 May.

The police academy was described as one of the most difficult academies in California,  according to the US-based Sikh Coalition in a social media entry.

Local television crime reporter Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) tweeted: “Ofc. Jujhar Singh of @HaywardPD, fresh out of the @ACSOSheriffs academy, is the 1st Sikh officer in Alameda County wearing a turban. When Singh was 10, then-Capt. Darryl McAllister, who later became @UnionCityPD_CA top cop, helped plant the seed.”

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

Looking good! Two Sikh pilots in a cockpit of a Malaysian airliner has created some turbulence on the social media.

Commercial pilot Capt Hargobind Singh, a popular Malaysian Sikh youth leader, posted a photo of him in the cockpit with a fellow Sikh pilot Amritpal Singh – both turbanned and spotting beard.

“After many years of friendship and 12 years of being colleagues, we finally got to share the flight deck and serve Malaysia alongside one another. My first ever flight with a fellow Khalsa!,” he penned in an update on his personal social media account.

They flew an Airbus 330 on a ‘rescue’ mission to bring back the Malaysian students stranded in Cairo, Egypt. A job well done!