By Asia Samachar Team | SINGAPORE |

A 63-year-old India-born Singaporean visits her late father’s home in Punjab, India, for the very first time, hoping to find closure after a lifetime in Singapore. Catch the film trailer, titled Haruwal, here. The film is directed and produced by GurJeevaan Singh Balrose.

Public Service Announcement | WEBINAR |

What actually took place in the run-up to the 1984 attacks upon the Darbar Sahib in Amritsar and Sikhs all over India?Sikh Research Institute (SikhRi) is rolling out a webinar led by Sikh educator and thinker Harinder Singh to tackle the matter.

#1984 is considered the third Ghallughara in Sikh history. Why was Sri Harimandar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib complex attacked? What’s the Sikh historical context? How must the memory be kept alive 36 years on?

This is an opportunity to expand your understanding of Sikh history by looking back at the events of 1984. Click here to sign up.

When: Thursday, Jun 4, 8:30 AM (Malaysia, Singapore Time)

By Asia Samachar Team | CANADA |

As more and more businesses are being asked to reopen, New Democrat Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh has linked the proposal of a two week of paid sick leave for every worker in Canada to a vote on how Parliament would function.

If the government agrees, Jagmeet has promised his party’s support for a proposal to limit full House of Commons sittings and votes on meeting, a change of rules to accommodate social distancing required in view of the gobal Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to the NDP push, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that he would push the provinces to approve the 10 days of paid sick leave idea.

“Every worker should have access to paid sick leave. Workers need to know they have the ability to choose to stay home with pay if they are sick,” said Jagmeet in a statement at the party’s website. “No one should be forced to make the impossible choice between going to work sick or not being able to pay their bills. Workers want to go back to work – we need to make sure they can go back to work safely.”

For the last few weeks, the statement said Singh and New Democrat MPs have been calling for the federal government to make sure all workers have access to two weeks of paid sick leave so they can take the time to heal and stop the spread of any virus or sickness.

Jagmeet made his support for how the House of Commons resumes dependent on introducing two weeks of paid sick leave for all Canadians.

Trudeau’s government, which won 157 seats out of the total 338 seats up for grabs, would need to forge a collaboration with other parties as it does not have an ourright majority in parliament. The opposition is led by the Conservatives with 121 seats. NPD has 24 seats, enough to tilt the balance of power.

“We have been clear from the beginning that the government should make sure every worker has access to paid sick leave. We will keep pushing the government to make sure they deliver on this commitment and that they work with provinces to make sick leave for workers permanent going forward,” added Jagmeet. “Let’s make sure that workers never have to make the choice of losing a day of pay for staying home sick.”

In one interview, Jagmeet outlined workers’ three main concerns as they prepare to return to work after a period of lockdown: safety, sick leave and child care.

By Vishal J. Singh | GURDWARA DESIGN |

“It is the timber of poetry that wears most surely, and there is no timber that has not strong roots among the clay and worms,” – John Millington Synge

In South East Asia, and parts of both the Far East and South India, the primary building material that was used to build buildings such as houses, public halls, gazebos and even palaces were constructed almost entirely of wood. The lush and verdant landscapes of such breathtaking paradises on Planet Earth provided plenty of renewable materials for people to exploit and to establish communities through building, and centuries of architectural tradition allowed us to develop both an appreciation of such structures and the skilled artistry to construct such delightful pieces of design.

It is undeniable that walking into a building made of wood, say a village house built near the shores of some tropical Eden, perhaps in Malaysia or Indonesia, exudes an almost enigmatic yet calming effect on the human soul, and we feel inexplicably yet intrinsically and spiritually comfortable in such designed environments.

Taking inspiration from such a beautiful context, (the usage of wood in our buildings and the rich environment of the jungles of South East Asia) — so intimately linked to both the local culture and architecture of such places — the proposal for this Gurdwara celebrates the majesty of the centuries old tradition of building wooden structures but designed for the modern era of our times.

This proposed Gurdwara, made almost entirely of renewable timber, is imagined to be by the base of a mountain somewhere in the tropics by the edge of a jungle. It  adopts an open feel to allow for free circulation of both people and wind within its premises to take advantage of the cool fresh air that such places naturally provide.

Although this Gurdwara uses renewable timber extensively in its design, the main support structure that allows for the wood to be part of its overall structure is a series of steel beams, columns and platforms shown in white, that provide a minimally built skeletal frame to allow the rest of the complex to be materialized.

The Timber Gurdwara is elevated above its site, much like a village house. Its ground floor is totally open to allow for a complete freedom of movement for the Sanggat within its premises. The Nishan Sahib Plaza is on an elevated timber deck, as well, that seamlessly connects with the rest of the Gurdwara, and the idea behind its elevated platform is to allow for the earth to be minimally disturbed during construction. The main entrance is marked with a ramp that gently slopes upwards onto the elevated platform to allow for disabled people on wheelchairs but also serves as a directional pathway to anyone visiting the Gurdwara.

The Nishan Sahib Plaza located on the left of the entrance and is designed on the same level as the elevated platform of the ground floor of the Gurdwara. The Darbar Sahib and the office is located above while the Langgar Hall is located behind the main structure and can easily be accessed without any hindrances that divide the interiors of the ground floor.

The Darbar Sahib is located on the first floor, and is seen through the cantilevered timber box-like enclosure accessible by either the main staircase or the secondary one, and is ‘protected’ by an installation of steel frames incorporating a series of multi-shaded vertical timber posts that span the entire exterior of the hall. These vertical timber posts, that naturally project a rich texture of wooden grains and warm colours, act as a giant sun-shading device to shade the interiors while allowing wind to naturally pass its spaces, naturally cooling the area o of the first floor.

The Langgar Hall at the back of the main building carries a similar appearance allowing the entire Gurdwara to look as one cohesive complex, and the incorporation of timber here is also extensively used as part of the overall design of the complex to achieve the same visual and vernacular objective.

The Langgar Hall, is situated behind the main complex where the Darbar Sahib on the first floor is located, and is designed with a series of elevated walkways and platforms as well that lead into the main hall where the Sanggat can perform sewa, and continue to enforce the openness of the Gurdwara’s external and internal spaces.

Here too, the Langgar Hall is protected by a series of vertical timber posts that project a rich, multi shaded visual collection of shades and textures originating from the surface of the timber itself, that both partially protect the privacy of the interiors while allowing wind to pass by unhindered to naturally cool the spaces within. The Langgar Hall and the main building at the back are low rise and project a long, ‘horizontal impression’ mirroring the flat plane of the earth below, much like how a traditional village building was built in the past in such verdant areas, full of magnificent trees and fresh air.

The Timber Gurdwara, has its architectural roots in the design of traditional wooden buildings built in the tropics, but it is built in a contemporary context for the modern era, hence its appearance, construction and aesthetics. The openness of its planned spaces, both externally and internally, allow for a sense of unrestricted movement to flourish for the Sanggat, and such spaces allow for a multitude of creative expressions to take place, where people can gather for whatever purpose they may like.

Such open spaces also allow for future development proposals to take place, so for instance, if a new room or a new hall needs to be built, the structural frame in place already allows for the walls to be built and installed quickly and efficiently, and a suitable enclosure materializes to accommodate a new requirement as and when needed. The timber used here too are sourced from renewable sources, harvested from sustainably managed forests and are therefore eco-friendly and responsible in its employment of the construction of this Gurdwara complex, establishing the complex to be environmentally friendly as well.

Essentially, the Timber Gurdwara seeks to celebrate the honoured long practiced tradition of using wood in architecture but through the lens of a modern design ethos and a contemporary perspective, and from an environmental point of view, a complex that uses renewable sources such as sustainable timber and recyclable steel in its construction is generally considered to be an eco-friendly building, which is very much part of the ‘Green Movement’ sweeping the world currently. Indeed, wood has always been closely connected with the ongoing progress of human civilization, and as it has always been a gift of both material and spiritual value for us in the past, there will always be a place for wood both in our hearts and our architecture well into the future.

Waheguru Bless.

By Asia Samachar Team | UNITED STATES |

Afghanistan’s religious minorities, including Hindus and Sikhs, ‘remained endangered’, declared a United States (US) religious freedom commission.

By Inderjeet Singh | BOOK EXTRACT |

By 1996, the Taliban, a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist group had captured most of Afghanistan and when they captured Kabul in September that year, 90 percent of the country was under them except for the parts of Northern Afghanistan. There is a remarkable anecdote of courage and determination displayed by Afghan Sikhs during this period in Jalalabad⁵.

The original Taliban were from the Kandahar region of Afghanistan. However, they were people from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia within their ranks as well. These Taliban (not the Afghan ones) would spit on the road at the sight of the Sikhs. The Sikhs wore a distinct style of turban and most of them would tie their beard, unlike the natives. The untrimmed moustaches of Sikh men were another distinction. The Sikhs were disgusted at this behaviour but tolerated it as they were the minuscule minority and the Taliban had guns with them.

SEE PART ONE: Afghan Sikhs’ turbulent years

One fine day in late 1996/97 at Tanda Bazaar in Jalalabad, the Sikhs were running their shops (cloth, grocery, Greco-Arabic medicine clinics) when a group of Taliban guards entered the bazaar and as usual one of them spit at a Sikh who was standing outside his cloth shop. Rather than spitting on the ground which was the norm, this Taliban spat on the face of the Sikh shopkeeper. This infuriated the Sikh as this act had crossed all limits of decency. He pulled his metre rod (used to measure cloth) which is made of steel and hit the Taliban on his head. The guard was not expecting such a reaction and after recovering from the shock he and the other guards pulled up their automatic rifles at the Sikh shopkeeper. By this time, the other Sikh traders from nearby shops gathered at the site and they scuffled with the Taliban guards and grabbed their rifles. The Taliban ran away and the Sikhs started shouting the Sikh slogan (known as Jaikara) ‘Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Shri Akaal’⁶.

The matter was reported to the local Taliban chief who was an Afghan. He was aware of the Sikh religion and listened to both sides of the story. The Sikhs told him that they just wanted to run their shops but could not tolerate the humiliations meted out by the Talibanis. They added that though the rifles are the property of the Taliban, they were snatched in self-defence by the Sikhs during the scuffle. The chief disapproved of the spitting and it was decided that the Taliban initiated the fight and the Sikhs defended themselves. The Taliban guard who had spat expressed his ignorance about the Sikh religion.

Although it was not said in so many words, the Hanafi School of Islam allowed non-Muslims to live as Dhimmis (protected status) subject to the payment of Jizya. The Taliban chief asked how his men could differentiate the Sikhs from others. The chief was told about the Sikh religion and the turban but he was only interested to find a way for his men to differentiate between local Muslims and non-Muslims (Sikhs and Hindus). The Afghan Sikhs and Hindus were told that they need to have a Khanda (symbol of Sikh faith) outside their houses. There were about fifty to sixty Afghan Sikh-Hindu families in Jalalabad and they felt that this would lead to ‘target attacks’. This was not taken forward. The Afghan Hindus were asked to wear caps and yellow tilak (mark on the forehead) While the Afghan Hindu and Sikh women were asked to put a bindi (coloured dot in the centre of the forehead) and wear a chador (a cloak which covered the upper part of the body).

The Afghan Sikhs were not asked to wear a tilak, however they were often asked to convert. The logic was given that they were monotheistic, do not indulge in idol worship and have beards and wore turbans like Muslims. In such situations, the Afghan Sikhs would explain about their faith and tell the Taliban that they were happy and as God is one and all will go to Him after death. When asked why they kept on asking them to convert, the usual answer would be that their Prophet had told them to bring people to the ‘true faith’.

All shopkeepers including Afghan Sikhs and Hindus were strictly told that they should not serve any woman who was not accompanied by an adult male from the family (husband, father or son only). If a woman was seen on the road alone then the Taliban would whip her. The Taliban and their strict and fundamentalist interpretation of Islam meant that local Muslims too were sometimes flogged in public but after this incident, the Taliban guards stopped spitting and largely left the Sikhs and Hindus alone. This identification was also implemented in Kabul and the rest of the country. The Afghan Sikhs and Hindus paid Jizya and were mostly left alone by the Taliban.

The Taliban continued to rule Afghanistan till October 2001. The American Air Force provided strategic support to the Northern Alliance on the ground in October 2001 and they managed to defeat the Taliban in a couple of months.

When the Taliban came to power in 1996 they banned televisions and transmission was stopped. Televisions were publicly smashed and declared un-Islamic. Radio transmission was allowed but for religious programmes and Koranic verses only.

Five years later when the Taliban was defeated in October 2001, television transmission was resumed. The first broadcast after over five years was music and the news was co-presented by two Afghan women. It was a symbolic gesture as women and music were both shunned out of public life in the country under the Taliban. The first lines of the broadcast were, ‘Greetings, viewers, we hope you are all well! We’re glad to have destroyed terrorism and the Taliban and to be able to present this programme to you’⁷.

With international support, Afghanistan started rebuilding its infrastructure and within a few years a number of private channels began airing.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT

Hamid Karzai was elected as Interim Head of the Administration in December 2001 and later the President in 2002 by the grand assembly (Loya Jirga). He won the first Presidential election in 2004 and the second one in 2009. His second term ended in September 2014.

The initial few years of the Karzai administration was peaceful and there was a lot of hope and goodwill among people. About twenty-five Afghan Sikh and Hindu men and five families came back to Afghanistan from India. An Afghan Sikh informs that in 2002/03 he tried selling his house to the illegal occupier who offered him a price which was two-third of the prevailing market price. Ten years later he was still offered only half of the price quoted in 2002/03. A number of ex-warlords had joined the government and the goodwill had evaporated by then. The chance of the government enacting a law to restore the properties of the Afghan Sikhs and Hindus is very remote, hence, the illegal occupiers do not feel the need to pay anything but peanuts.

Pritpal Singh of the Mission Afghanistan documentary fame informed that his Greco-Arabic physician father’s clinic (known as Unani Dawakhana) in Jade Maiwand Bazaar of Kabul is illegally occupied. Another Afghan Sikh told that his orchards and agricultural land outside Kabul city has been occupied by the caretakers themselves and they all belong to the majority community. Almost all the Afghan Sikhs and Hindus now live in Gurdwaras in Afghanistan in the absence of houses.

The Afghan Sikhs who left the country in 2015 and 2016, opine that life under the Taliban regime was ‘not that bad’. The Afghan Sikhs and Hindus paid Jizya and were not bothered. However, under the present government, the locals keep on pestering them about conversion to the ‘true faith’ and their children get bullied in schools too. In every walk of life, they are discriminated against. Law and order has now (2018) deteriorated and cities frequently face suicide attacks and bomb blasts.

At present, there are about 1,000 Sikhs and 100 Hindus in Afghanistan and the majority of them live in and around Kabul and Jalalabad. A few Sikhs also live in Ghazni. There are very few Hindus in Ghazni and only a handful in Jalalabad. The majority of Hindus in Kabul are from the Khost province⁶.

References

1. A major festival in Sikh religion, in 1699 Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs administered Khande di Pahul (similar to baptism) and made Nanakpanthi community into Khalsa. Vaisakhi is celebrated on 13th April.
2. Khajinder S. Khurana. (2001). Kabul de Sangat tee Afghanistan da Sankhep Ithas.New Delhi.
3. Khajinder S. Khurana. (2001). Kabul de Sangat tee Afghanistan da Sankhep Ithas. New Delhi.
4. Pritpal Singh spoke to the son of Gajinder Singh and confirmed this information. All three are based in London.
5. Afghan Sikhs who now live in the UK related this incident to the author. They also informed that the very rich Afghan Hindus and Sikhs left the country in the 1980s, from 1983 onwards.
6. ‘Jo Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akal’is the Sikh slogan or Jaikara (it is a shout of victory, triumph or exultation) which means one will be blessed eternally who says that God is the ultimate truth. It is an integral part of the Sikh religious service and is shouted at the end of Ardas, Sikh prayers and said in Sangat or holy congregation. This is also the war cry of the Sikh regiment (and the Sikh Light Infantry) in the Indian Army.
7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1663414.stm. Accessed on 20 August 2018.
8. Ram Saran Basin from Kabul updated the author during the first week of August 2018. The majority of the Khost community is Pashto-speaking SahajdhariSikhs.

By Asia Samachar Team | UNITED STATES |

From searching a place to call home to flipping burgers, Afghan-born Awnit Singh Marta has been through quite a bit in life.

And now he has hit another milestone for himself and his family. The first generation student from his family has just graduated from Harvard University.

In an update on his Facebook page, the electrical engineering graduate writes:

“My parents left Afghanistan when I was less than a month old, seeking refuge in The Netherlands. They moved from one country to another to another so that their children could get the education they never received.

I worked three jobs freshman fall, my mental health tumbling alongside my GPA. I’ve delivered laundry, flipped burgers, cleaned dorms, stocked shelves, ushered for events.

I am a Sikh. I am an Afghan. I am a refugee. I am a first gen student.

And from today, I am a graduate of Harvard.”

The news comes at a time when Sikhs in Afghanistan are faced with peril. In March, gunmen stormed a gurdwara in Kabul and killed 26 people. The incident was yet another attack on the minority community. The incident also sparked efforts to get the Afghan Sikhs out of Afghanistan as their lives were at stake.

Awnit is not ordinary student. As he writes, his parents left Afghanistan when he just a month old. They fled Afghanistan for the Netherlands, where they lived for eight years until they moved to England.

At Harvard, Awnit did not sit idle, too. He was active in the US university’s bhangra team which he helped to revitalise.

When he first joined Harvard Bhangra, the group was struggling — a low participation rate combined with inadequate leadership. Marta stepped in as a sophomore and helped to create a board for Bhangra, hoping that, with more structure, the group would survive and grow, reports The Harvard Crimpson. That’s not all. The magazine also reported that he had resurrected the Harvard British Club and assumed the role of Prime Minister.

RELATED STORY:

Life under the Taliban (Asia Samachar, 28 May 2020)

First Afghan Sikh lawyer in England chose law. Here’s why. (Asia Samachar, 12 March 2020)

By Kirat Kaur | MALAYSIA |

Brelveenraj Kaur Rajwant Singh has always been a curious admirer of the wonders of space, but little did she know that she would one day represent the country as the National Point of Contact (NPoC) to the United Nations-backed Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)!

The 25-year-old, who was born in Kuantan, is one of the 13 young volunteers appointed to the council in May, which is in support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications.

SGAC is a global non-governmental, non-profit organisation headquartered in Vienna, Austria, with over 15, 000 members representing more than 150 countries across the globe.

Brel – as she’s known by friends and family – will be part of the prestigious global network of university students and young space professionals represented to the United Nations, space agencies, industry, and academia.

As Malaysia’s NPoC, she will be communicating with other NPoCs across Asia Pacific on future space activities in our region, which include events, national newsletters, national scholarships, policy discussions and contributions to national space policy activities.

She will also be in touch with local space agencies and space enthusiasts and work closely with them with regards to the space activities in Malaysia.

Naturally, Brel is thrilled by the appointment, telling us that she came across the programme while attending the Young Professionals in Space Conference (YPinSpace) in Dubai last year. There, she met dozens of SGAC representatives from across the world and was inspired by their achievements.

“I wanted to take the challenge of a new responsibility – as long as I can inspire more people to join space-based events for the betterment of Malaysia’s space exploration in the future,” she said.

See full story, Malaysian Girl Among 13 Selected Globally To Represent Country In UN-Backed Space Programme (The Rakyat Post, 29 May 2020), here.

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

They have served the nation, but they don’t intend to fade away. The Sikh veterans from the Malaysian armed forces stepped forward to chip in their support for the on-going efforts to assist those impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The newly registered Persatuan Veteran Sikh (PVS) donated close to RM10,000 to Gurdwara Sahib Pulapol, a gurdwara based in the Kuala Lumpur police training ground.

The gurdwara has been actively preparing meals for residents affected by a number of total lockdowns under the nation’s movement control order (MCO), including Selayang and Selangor Mansion.

“This was our little contribution back to society. It went towards preparing Langgar distributed to the needy during the MCO,” PVS president Awtar Singh Jagir Singh told Asia Samachar.

Though they began their activies in 2003, the association was duly registered with the authorities in 2019. Aside from ex-servicemen, members from the police and prison department can joins as associate members.

Among others, he said among its annual events are their prayers, family trips overseas and family day.

“We also assist with seva (service) wherever required,” he added

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

A bridegroom was among three men slapped with a RM1,000 compound fine each for flouting the conditional movement control order (CMCO) for organising a wedding ceremony in a Selangor district last Sunday.

Serdang district police chief Ismadi Borhan said police had completed investigations into the case and recorded statements from all parties involved in the wedding, reports Malaysian news agency Bernama.

In a statement, the police officer said the investigation paper was referred to the Selangor public prosecutor’s office on Wednesday and police received the order to compound the offence for the temple chairman, bridegroom and priest on Saturday.

On Sunday, a video, shared widely on social media, showed the temple in Serdang flooded with 100 individuals. They were believed to be there for a wedding ceremony even though the government had prohibited gatherings, including at temples, following the implementation of CMCO to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the report.

By Asia Samachar Team | BRITAIN |

British Sikh armed forces men and women shared the message of their faith with fellow soldiers. The Defence Sikh Network (DSN) held its first ever Chabeel event in commemoration of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib.

The event at the HQ Montgomery House, Aldershot, was focused internally and followed all government guidance on social distancing.

Despite access to the building also being restricted, it had a great turnout with over 100 people attending, including General Eastman GOC SJC(UK) who is leading the military response to COVID-19, according to an entry at DSN Facebook page.

DSN intends to make it an annual event, run by Sikhs across the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in their own area of work.

Chabeel Day commemorates the martyrdom of the 5th Sikh Guru in 1606. Instead of mourning, Sikhs honour the Guru by serving others Chabeel, a cold, sweet drink.

Today, staff at Standing Joint Command, Aldershot, have been treated to Chabeel by two members of the Defence Sikh Network.

“It’s a great honour to be here serving Chabeel to not only my Army colleagues but to my Royal Navy and Royal Air Force colleagues as well. It feels good to be helping our community,” said Corporal Pardeep Kaur in an update shared at the MOD Facebook page.

ਘਲੇ ਆਵਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਦੇ ਉਠੀ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

In Loving Memory Of

LATE PRITAM KAUR DHILLON D/O LATE BERSAVA SINGH

W/O LATE PRITAM SINGH

PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY ON 25TH MAY 2020

Deeply missed by

Children & Spouse:

Ranjit Kaur & Jaswant Singh

Akbal Singh & Amarjit Kaur

Charan Kaur & Sarjit Singh

P. Sarjit Singh & Rakbir Kaur

Kaldeep Singh & Kashminder Kaur

Grandchildren, Relatives and Friends

MESSAGE FROM FAMILY: Due to Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), we have been advised to keep the Path da Bhog as a small affair. Hence, this announcement is meant to inform relatives and friends of her demise. We appreciate the love and support that we have received during our bereavement.

Contact: Akbal 012-4310176 & Ranjit 012-5063878

| Entry: 30 May 2020 | Source: Family

By Taranjit Kaur | MALAYSIA |

How safe are we with this virus lingering around and what about going to the gurdwara? A flood of questions come to the mind.

The first quarter of this year has witnessed a steep slowdown in global economics, the superpowers included. Many dimensions of our day-to-day lives have also changed, for one – restricted movements as they call in Malaysia, or circuit break in Singapore – something we likely never anticipated in a highly connected and fast moving world. The onset of Covid-19 has surely made 2020 memorable in many ways!

In Malaysia, the gurdwaras have been inaccessible for some months now, after the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into force on 18 March. Even if we could eventually visit the gurdwara as some are set to reopen on 10 June, will it be the same?

Asia Samachar spoke to Prof Dr Balwant Singh Gendeh – a professor and senior consultant surgeon with 36 years of experience in the field of ear, nose and throat (ENT) to better understand the novel coronavirus and that within is within our means to prevent the further spread of the virus. Here are excepts of the interview.

What is COVID-19? What should we look out for?

The origin source of Covid-19 is said to originate from animals to humans in the initial phase and subsequently, from humans to humans – implying that mutation is likely.

The Covid-19 viral particles affects the upper airways and the lungs with shorter incubation period, and the symptoms are multifactorial. It generally depends on the viral load. There are several phases, so to speak, though it varies by individuals. Let’s just say one has nasally inhaled the virus, the first 72 hours are usually vital.  Should the virus replicate further, it goes down to the throat where it multiplies faster – then comes the fever and sore throat. The fever gets higher and accompanied by early respiratory indicators if the virus spreads to the airways. Should the situation worsen further, serious respiratory problems and lung infection (pneumonia) may kick in – which possibly require non-invasive ventilation. If the need for intubation arises, then it is an indication of progression of the disease.

Covid-19 viral particles may also enter the swallowing tract which gives rise to gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients may have diarrhea. Its presence in the GI tract may explain why viral samples can be detected via fecal samples. Again, symptoms and criticality varies by individual type – of course there are other factors to consider such as underlying medical condition.  Usually, the elderly are more susceptible to risk, but it discount others of contracting the virus or experiencing more intense symptoms.

Other method of spread can be via the eyes which like the nose and mouth is exposed to the external environment. This is why the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) stress on the need for good hand hygiene and avoid touching ones face (e.g. mouth, eyes and nose) to reduce the risk of transmission.

The daily cases trajectory is a situational update of sorts – is it reducing or increasing?

Regardless, any improvement is not a pass for letting our guard down. The situation is fluid and any resurgence warrants attention. In Malaysia, the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced with the intention to flatten the curve and prevent our health services from being overwhelmed. The MCO is vital to control spread of the virus, and as we transcend into its several phases – the need is for us all to be equally responsible in playing our part. The easiest way out is, stay home if there is no essential need to go out. Evaluate any risk of contracting the virus – for example, when considering any form of travelling in confined environments.

Is it okay to metha theek at a Gurdwara Sahib in Malaysia during this period of time?

Any decision must abide by regulatory requirements and the necessary approved government standard operating procedures (SOPs). A more conservative approach in implementing the approved government SOPs is, however, advisable, and it should start from the entrance gate itself. Any person with a temperature above 37.4 degrees Celsius shouldn’t be permitted into the gurdwara premise. The sangat (congregation) should be granted entry in batches with a stipulated 30 minutes duration, not exceeding 20 preferably at any one time. A mask should be worn and hands sanitised at the point of entry, observing a distance of 1 metre at all times. Hands should be washed as regularly as possible. Age is another point of consideration – where those belonging to the riskier age groups should refrain from stepping out over concerns of higher vulnerability levels.

Some Covid-19 cases are asymptomatic. What does that mean? What precautions should be taken in a gurdwara?

This means that some individuals with Covid-19 may not necessarily display any symptoms and so, could be infecting otherwise unknowingly. Studies have shown that patients affected by Covid-19 my show no symptoms up to 12 to 14 days, but during this period they are at risk of spreading it to others. The need to manage any exposure to potentially asymptomatic individuals is necessary anywhere, and in a gurdwara, going back to what I said earlier – temperature taking, mask, sanitizers, hand washing, social distancing as well as time spent in a location are all important precautionary measures.

In a place like a gurdwara, what are the most susceptible exposure areas to Covid-19?

Specific to the Gurdwara Sahib – locations where people gather, confined spaces, surfaces touched, restrooms and food are areas warrant attention.

Where feasible, congregations should be carried out virtually. This includes Punjabi schools lessons, where such classes take place in a gurdwara. In terms of hand-bound activities such as preparation and serving of food e.g. Degh and Langgar, including chaur sewa – these required unparalleled levels of hand hygiene, preferably by using hand gloves; a fresh pair each time and thereafter carefully discarded.

On the other hand, lifts may accommodate 4 people – while for smaller ones, best to keep the number at 2. For restrooms, regardless on the number of available cubicles, it should be limited to 1 or 2 persons at any given time. More frequent cleaning of these areas is also advised.

What about the serving of Langgar or Degh for that matter?

Any activity using the hand is an exposure point. To mitigate an impending risk, the use of mask and gloves at every point of preparing and serving Langgar as well as Degh would to some extent contribute in reducing the risk of transmission. A feasible solution is packed langgar, this also minimises risk on sewadars (usually a reference to volunteers or paid workers). Packed food will also prevent congregation as the act of sitting down and eating in the gurdwara may predispose to socialisation. If eating is allowed in the Langgar hall then social distancing must be followed with marked areas to sit. The same social distances should be maintained for the sit in prayers/sangat, too.

As for the serving of Degh, it should avoid the use of bare hands. In fact, any activity using the bare hand in the gurdwara should be reevaluated, with the underlying reason being to uphold the wellbeing of every person in the gurdwara – of the Sangat, Sewadars and Parbandaks, alike.

What are the key non-negligible precautions one should take – especially in a Gurdwara Sahib that’s also applicable elsewhere?

Covid-19 is an invisible threat and if I was to outline the general precautions – here they are: (1) temperature screening (2) social distancing, (3) use of mask and (4) hand hygiene.

Specific to our Gurdwara Sahibs, in addition to these four, stricter practices at the entry point of the Gurdwara Sahib, coupled with any activity using the bare hand should be carefully carried out. Placing a stronger emphasis on the wellbeing of respective granthis and dedicated sewadars is also worth a thought.

Any personal sharing as a frontliner (observation, new learning) which you wish to impart?

We all have to role to play, at every level of the society. Even at a community level, it is important to be adequately informed and aware of what Covid-19 really is, appreciate its risk points as well as diligently deploy prevention measures. The pursuit of everything should be aligned with government initiatives and policies. And most importantly, front liners (e.g. medical practitioners, enforcement officers) are sacrificing themselves to keep us all safe.

In summing up, it is time we fought fear with facts and the calling to be socially responsible at a community level is a SEWA in itself. As members of the Sikh community, undertaking coordinated, concerted and cooperative actions in the face of Covid-19 is not only our responsibility, also an investment for a brighter future. As some gurdwaras will reopen soon, let’s stand together and ensure every action taken weights people, their safety, health and wellbeing.

Note: This article merely expresses individual viewpoints in good faith as means to raise awareness, based on personal understanding of COVID-19 and the applicable mitigations – which may differ from others. Reader discretion and evaluation is advised.

RELATED STORY:

8 Malaysian gurdwaras set to restart prayers under strict conditions (Asia Samachar, 22 May 2020)

Father-son surgeon duo Vaisakhi at hospital (Asia Samachar, 20 April 2020)

Private medical specialists urged to step forward (Asia Samachar, 30 March 2020)

READER’S PICK | ‘Living as a minority in Pakistan: Nankana Sahib Vlog’ captures some beautiful scenes at Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak. Lahore-based blogger Miss Chatter uploaded this vlog in July 2018. It is definitely worth a peek. The blogger is a management consultant. Click here.

Some of the 66 members of the 5th Bn, 11th Sikh Regt, who were freed by US forces from a PoW camp. They had been captured after the fall of Singapore and refused to join Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA. They were moved to New Guinea as slave labour with other PoWs. The Sikh soldiers are playing bridge at the New Guinea Details Depot, awaiting repatriation to India. Port Moresby, New Guinea. 31st May 1944. – Photo: Australian War Memorial

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

Many gurdwaras in Malaysia and Singapore saw their regular income stream disrupted by measures deployed to break the spread of Covid-19, forcing them to resort to their savings to keep things going.

For smaller gurdwaras with little reserves, they have had to call upon local well-wishers to fill the gap.

Asia Samachar spoke to a number of gurdwara management committee members in both the neigbouring countries to take stock of the situation as countries globally respond to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Our funding has been affected. There has been no income from golak, mehta thek, karah parshad and other donations from the Sangat,” said Kota Kinabalu gurdwara secretary Amarjit Kaur. “We had to use our existing reserve funds to manage the gurdwara.”

Sri Guru Singh Sabha (SGSS) Singapore treasurer Gurmukh said that Covid-19 has also impacted the finances of the gurdwara.

“Various programmes booked by member’s had to be cancelled. That had greatly affected our finances as that is the main source of revenue for the gurdwara. Weekly Sangat donations were surely affected,” he said.

The situation is pretty similar for other gurdwaras.

Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC) president Jagir Singh said he had spoken to more than a dozen gurdwara committee presidents who confirmed that the gurdwara income from individual offerings have more or less dried up.

“There was some collection when someone came to matha tekh. This matha tekh money amounted to less than 5 percent of the average gurdwara charava (collection) earlier on a monthly basis,” he said.

Malaysia rolled out a movement control order (MCO) on 18 March that required all places of religious worship, including gurdwaras, to cease all prayer gatherings. Singapore implemented its set of preventive measures called a “circuit breaker” since 7 April which also placed restrictions on gurdwara programmes.

Malaysia will allow selected places of worship to operate under strict conditions 10 June onwards.

In neigbouring Singapore, gurdwaras will be allowed to operate under strict conditions starting Tuesday (2 June). Gurdwaras will be open from 8am to 6pm and only up to five households will be allowed in for private worship and to ‘mehta tekh’ (pay respects to Guru Granth Sahib).

Here are the responses by some gurdwaras contacted by Asia Samachar.

Dr Kalwinder Singh,
PRESIDENT, GURDWARA SAHIB KUCHING

Funding has definitely been affected by the MCO and CMCO as the gurdwara closed and no functions were held.

For us, our car park which generates income was also closed. Luckily it has reopened with the opening of businesses. We also get income from rental (though we expect it to be reduced) and fixed deposit intetest. So, we will be able to manage for the near future.

Even when gurdwaras reopen, incomes will still be low as Sangat attendance will be restricted and programmes reduced. This I suppose will go on for a while. Having said that, expenditure is also reduced but not by much as fixed expenditures like utilities and salaries still need to be paid.

We have not done any request or canvassing for donation for our gurdwara. However, individual members of sangat have donated or have been encouraged to donate to worthy causes here and also in Kuala Lumpur to those who are helping those more affected during these trying times. I think they need it more than us at this time.

MCO has brought up new ideas and norms which we will need to incorparate in the future. For example, langgar hall sitting, distancing, serving of langgar and cleanliness.
We will have to relook at them when the time comes to restart.

In Kuching, the MCO will delay gurdwara expansion plans. We will hold on and only start at a later date once the situation is safe.

Our Punjabi school on Saturdays has not been running. We’re not sure when it will restart.

Gurmukh Singh
TREASURER, SGSS SINGAPORE

COVID-19 certainly has impacted the finances of the gurdwara. Various programmes booked by member’s had to be cancelled. That had greatly affected our finances as that is the main source of revenue for the gurdwara. Weekly Sangat donations were surely affected.

We has also just completed the Darbar Sahib renovations and donations were still coming in. That had stopped, too, whilst some outstanding works will resume after Covid-19.

We still have to pay for our expenses: salaries, utilities charges and food for the staff. This has caused some strain our finances as we have to draw on our “reserves”.

Whilst we have tried our best to keep the Sangat connected to the gurdwara, we feel the moral of the staff, especially the granthi, has been affected. A gurdwaras without Sadh Sangat is really baron. There really is no certainty that things be as normal as pre-covid.

To keep the Sangat connected with gurdwara, we broadcast daily live streaming prayers. We are improving the equipment to be able to provide better coverage to Sangat. This has incurred some substantial cost. We feel its money well spent to reach out to Sangat, especially the elderly, which make up a huge percentage of our Sangat.

At the same time, we have ramped up housekeeping and maintaining cleaniness of the premises.

Sourjan Singh
PRESIDENT, GURDWARA SAHIB KUANTAN

The gurdwara income stream has completely stopped since MCO started. We had to depend on our saving and the goodwill of the Sangat. Some have come forward to support with donations when needed.

The main concern now is how can we keep the Sangat safe when we reopen.

Gurcharan Singh
PRESIDENT, GURDWARA SAHIB SUNGAI PETANI

The gurdwara was affected funding wise but many sewadars came forward to help out.

We had broadcast messages to all Sangat members to help out the needy families here. The gurdwara has been providing food ration to the underprivileged and families effected by the pandemic. Some members have contributed daswand via golak while others bank in directly into the gurdwara account.

Our major challenge was the three deaths within two weeks in this area. It was tough for everyone. With Waheguru ji’s blessing, volunteers came forward to assist.

Amrick Singh
PRESIDENT, GURDWARA SAHIB SUBANG

Due to the MCO, Gurdwara Sahib Subang has not conducted any Sanggati programmes. Due to the its absence, the golak has been seriously impacted. We had to postpone payments of the friendly loans until sufficient funds are available. We have paid salaries of the sevadars (gurdwara staff) in full but the cash flow is drying up. Hence, we have appealed for donations to ensure we are able to meet our financial obligations.

We carried out the daily obligatory ceremonies. The gurdwara was not under lock down, so members of the Sanggat were allowed to visit for matha tek and such. Only parshad was available. No tea or langgar.

The gurdwara has also been conducting e-satsangs on Fridays (7 – 8pm) and Sundays (9.30 to 10.30am). The e-istrisatsang will commence weekly on Wednesdays from 2 to 3pm. Such e-prayers will be continued upon request.

Ranjit Singh
PRESIDENT, GURDWARA SAHIB KAJANG

We are fine with cashflow mainly due to fixed monthly rental of RM3,500 coming in which is sufficent to cover all expenses of the gurdwara.

We continued to request donations for purchase of groceries and we have helped a number of Punjabi families with providing them groceries through our energetic PECK team.

The only impact is on our collection for the building fund which has reduced a lot. We were lucky are the bank has deferred the RM20,000 monthly installments due to the MCO. However, we continue to accumulate the interest.

Amarjit Kaur
SECRETARY, KINABALY SINGH SABHA ASSOCIATION

The MCO measures have definitely affected our funding. No income from golak, mehta thek, karah parshad and other donations from the Sangat. We need to pay the Granthi and other monthly expenses. We are using existing reserve fund to manage the gurdwara.

The cancellation of the various programmes, including Vaisakhi, has affected the Sangat bonding and interaction.

In the future, we have to be prepared for such eventualities. We need to look into other income streams for the gurdwara.

The Kota Kinabalu Gurdwara Sahib did its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by making donations to the Society for the Blind, Red Crescent, Volunteer Police, Luyang Police Station, Jabatan Bekalan Air Sabah and other needy families and organisations.

Sabah Sikh Club (SSC) also did their CSR by making donations to Sabah Society for the Blind and Red Crescent Society who assisted to donate to 50 needy families.

By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

She is just 12 years old but she can sew! Student Preisha Kaur Jammu jumped at the chance of helping the medical frontliners in their battle with the novel coronavirus.

Her school teacher Ann Yeoh, who knew Preisha can sew, invited her to be part of a team to sew personal protection equipments (PPEs). In less than a fortnight, she had put sewn 25 sets.

“I’m aware from the news how bad the [Covid-19] situation is and how important it is for healthcare workers to be adequately protected. I felt I needed to do something to help,” she told Asia Samachar via a short video clip.

Dr Kiren Kaur Sidhu, an obstetrics and gynaecology at a Kuala Lumpur private hospital, said that her daughter loves sewing. “She has her own sewing machine and she loves sewing,” she said.

Those taking part in the PPE making project were given the different parts of the PPE and asked to sew them together.

“I know its not a big contribution but this is my contribution,” said Preisha. “I was very happy when I heard that the hospital where my Massi (aunt) works at will be receiving the PPS that were part of the project that she had participated in.”

By Jatinder Kaur | PUNJAB, INDIA |

On 6 May 2020, in the midst of the nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic, Sumedh Singh Saini, who served as an Indian Police Service officer for 36 years, was booked in a case from 29 years ago. Saini served as a director general of police in the state of Punjab for three years, between 2012 and 2015.

The first-information report against Saini was filed at the Mattaur police station in Mohali by Palwinder Singh Multani regarding the alleged abduction and disappearance of Palwinder’s brother, Balwant Singh Multani, in December 1991. Saini was charged under six sections of the Indian Penal Code which pertain to kidnapping or abducting in order to murder; causing disappearance of evidence of offence; wrongful confinement for ten or more days; voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession; a public servant who corruptly or maliciously makes or pronounces in any stage of a judicial proceeding, any report, order, verdict, or decision which he knows to be contrary to law; and criminal conspiracy.

As a senior police officer in Punjab during the eighties and nineties, Saini was heavily involved in counter-insurgency and later, anti-corruption drives. He is said to have enjoyed the patronage of KPS Gill—a former DGP of the state, credited with neutralising the Khalistani movement—who reportedly gave him a free hand. Gill, who served as DGP of Punjab twice, has faced severe criticism over the years for the tactics employed by his forces to curb the insurgency, ranging from gross human-rights violations to accusations of false encounters and extra-judicial killings.

At the time of Saini’s appointment as the DGP, Punjab, in 2012, he was the youngest ever to be given the rank. According to news reports, four senior officers had been superseded to promote Saini; and the Shiromani Akali Dal and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party had just come to power in the state.

Saini’s rise in the forces aside, his tenure was marked by extreme polarisation of opinion over his approach to law enforcement.

In October 2015, Gurmeet Singh, commonly referred to as Pinky, a former senior police officer from Punjab, gave an interview to the Outlook magazine. Pinky, who was known as an “encounter specialist,” implicated Saini in multiple instances of forced disappearances, torture, and extra-judicial killings, including that of Balwant, who Pinky said was tortured and murdered in police custody.

Read full story, ‘His modus-operandi was to create a fear psychosis: Ex-Punjab DGP Sumedh Saini’s shadowy career’ (The Caravan, 1 june 2020), here.

By National Sikh Campaign | US |

This weekend we saw protests around the country calling attention to the systemic racism our black brothers and sisters face every day. The horrific murders, discrimination, and harrassment they endure needs to stop. We are so proud of all the Sikhs who stood in protest this weekend, and all those who are actively working to promote equality as Guru Nanak did.

Sikhs know that every person is equal. We are taught that all people, regardless of race, religion, caste, or gender, are made from the same clay and molded by a perfect Potter who does not make mistakes. An injustice to one is an injustice to us all, and we need to do our part to heal the wound racism has left on the United States.

Please, join us in praying for our law enforcement to work justly and with the good of the people they serve in mind. May any injustice performed by their hands be duly punished and corrected. May our elected officials enact laws that protect and benefit all who face harassment, discrimination, and racism. May the hearts and minds of all Americans be convinced that each person they see (regardless of race, gender, or creed) is their brother, their sister, their friend.

Stay safe if you protest. Stay generous if you donate. Stay convicted when you advocate.

(The article and photo was published at the National Sikh Campaign Facebook page in the aftermath of the killing of black American George Floyd who was pinned down by a white police officer)

By Asia Samachar Team | SINGAPORE |

A group of Malaysian investors, including two Sikh entrepreneurs, are set to exit the Singapore-listed Axington Inc, formerly known as Axcelasia, which they founded five years ago.

The move comes on the heels of the sale of its Malaysian operations to Tricor Group in April.

Malaysian tax expert Dr Veerinderjeet Singh and audit expert Ranjit Singh, together with Peter Tang Swee Guan, were the key promoters of Axcelasia which gained listing on the Singapore Exchange Catalist Board on 27 Nov 2015.

With the April transaction, Axcelasia’s corporate services and business support services merged into Tricor Malaysia, making Tricor one of Malaysia’s largest provider of corporate services to international and Malaysian corporations.

Axcelasia, as it was known earlier, was an integrated professional services firm delivering governance, risk & compliance (GRC) solutions, corporate, business and tax services.

On 1 June, DORR Global Healthcare International, a provider of management consultancy services for healthcare organisations led by two entrerprising cousins, made an unconditional cash offer for the company.

Dorr is offering S$0.208 in cash for each share, in a deal that values the company at S$33.3 million. The offer price represents a premium of 43.45% to Axington’s last traded price of S$0.145 on May 26.

“This latest deal just happen to fall in place after the earlier deal,” Ranjit told Asia Samachar.