SASKAAR / CREMATION: Cortege leaves at 3pm, 17 Nov 2018 (Saturday), from Gurdwara Sahib Kampung Pandan Indian Settlement to Loke Yew crematorium at 4pm | MALAYSIA

PAL KAUR W/O LATE BHAG SINGH (BHADUR)

15/06/1933 – 17/11/2018

Passed away peacefully on the 17 November 2018

Leaving behind:

Children / Spouses:

Joginder Kaur / Prakash

Isher Singh(ex-MAS) / Satinderjeet Kaur

Jaswant Kaur / Retired Sjn Minder Singh (PJ)

Karamjit Singh@Dato K / Dalip Kaur

Grandchildren, great grandchildren and a host of family and friends.

Cortege Timing: Cortege leaves at 3pm, 17 November 2018 (Saturday), from Gurdwara Sahib Kampung Pandan Indian Settlement to Loke Yew crematorium at 4pm

Contact:

Isher Singh: 019-3655662

Karamjit Singh: 019-5575577

Minder Singh: 012-6773064

SASKAAR / CREMATION: 4pm, 18 November 2018 (Sunday), at Pagoh Crematorium, Johor. Cortège leaves from 11, Jalan Tekukor, Batu Pahat at 3pm | MALAYSIA

JEET KAUR W/O LATE SARDAR ASSA SINGH

Born: 13 October 1933

Departed: 16 November 2018

Husband: Late Sardar Assa Singh

Deeply missed by her beloved children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Saskaar / Cremation: 4pm, 18 November 2018 (Sunday), at Pagoh Crematorium

Cortege Timing: Cortège leaves from 11, Jalan Tekukor, Batu Pahat at 3pm, 18 November 2018 (Sunday)

Akhand Path: Akhand Path starts on 19 Nov 2018 (Monday) at Gurdrwara Sahib Batu Pahat, Johor

Contact:

Jasvinder (Pami) 016 5038396

Sharon (Sane) 011 3908 4227

By Manpreet K Singh | SBS PUNJABI |

Spearheading Labor’s campaign for the November 24 elections, Premier Daniel Andrews was at the Blackburn Gurudwara (Sikh temple) over the weekend, where he announced funding of A$1 million for the refurbishment project being undertaken at the premises.

Victoria is home to the biggest Sikh community in Australia. According to the 2016 census, Sikhism is now the fifth largest religion in the nation. With 126,000 followers, 53,000 Sikhs reside in Victoria and both major political parties have been out to woo the community.

The Premier said, “I understand the importance of religious and cultural observances, and the significance of passing on the heritage to our children.”

To that effect, he made a significant announcement about next year’s landmark celebration of Guru Nanak’s birthday.

“We would allocate $200,000 so that in the city, in the heart of Melbourne, we could have the biggest Guru Nanak 550th birthday celebration, outside of India. And I think that is appropriate. It is a special and unique way that we can thank the Sikh community by honouring your founder on that special occasion,” said Mr Andrews.

FOR FULL REPORT (Melbourne should have a permanent landmark in the name of Guru Nanak’, says Victoria’s Premier), GO HERE.

RELATED STORIES:

By Charanbir Singh | ORGANISATION UPDATE |

Sikh Welfare Society Malaysia (SWSM), founded in 1980, has been active in providing financial aid to the poor and needy as well as other activities.

Here are some of the key activities carried out by the Kuala Lumpur-based non-government organisation in the last two years.

MONTHLY FINANCIAL AID: Assisting 41 families throughout Malaysia with monthly financial aid ranging from RM200 to RM500. The total disbursement at this juncture is RM12,150 per month. In 2016 and 2017, the society has disbursed RM212,030 in this segment.

BURN VICTIM, BABY RAVNEET: In February 2018, we received news about nine month old Ranveet Kaur that was badly scalded in a hot water accident at her home in Kuala Lumpur. She was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) on Feb 2.

Sikh Welfare Society Malaysia (SWSM) had joined forces with Santana Riderz Mc and media portal Asia Samachar to raise funds for the surgery. Within a short period of time, they had managed to raise close to RM127,000. SWSM officials were also involved in the monitoring of the baby in the weeks after being admitted to the hospital.

REPATRIATION OF INDIAN NATIONAL: SWSM assisted in making arrangements with the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur to send Manjit Singh who had burst his brain nerve and was in comatose state. He had undergone surgery and was sent back to India in February 2018.

PRISON VISITS: SWSM volunteers organise and participate in visits to Kajang and Sungai Buloh prisons. They conduct counselling, religious and motivation sessions and then serve Guru Ka Langgar. They currently assist the prisons department to prepare a standard Sikh module on spiritual guidance, counselling and moral upliftment of Sikh inmates serving time in prisons throughout Malaysia. SWSM is on the lookout for more vounteers keen to join the visits. In total, 10 visits were made to Kajang prison and two to Sungai Buloh in 2017.

FOREIGN PRISONERS: SWSM coordinates with Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on the documentation of Indian citizens serving time in the prisons.

DECEASED FOREIGNERS: Coordinating with the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on deceased Sikhs requiring rites to be performed and repatriated to India. There wre three cases in 2017.

YELLOW RIBBON: SWSM is working with the Ministry of Youth on the yellow ribbon project.

WOMEN’S SEMINAR: SMSW had organised a half-day ‘Women’s Legal Rights in Malaysia’ seminar in Kuala Lumpur on 16 Sept 2017. It featured two speakers: lawyer Ravinder Singh (who had served as chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar) and Jagjit Singh, a former judge and Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) commissioner. The seminar was sponsored by the Malaysian Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and supported by the Malaysian Sikh Union (MSU). Asia Samachar was the event media partner. See here.

SCHOOL GOERS: SWSM provided school children with uniforms, shoes and textbooks.

DISASTER VICTIMS: Provided financial aid and furniture to fire victims in Serdang and also flood victims in Penang.

[Charanbir Singh, the current SWSM secretary, can be contacted at charanbir_niketan@yahoo.com or +6016-2789964]

Baby Ravneet discharged, mum plans to return to India for further treatment (Asia Samachar, 13 April 2016)

Sikh Welfare appoints Malaysian deputy minister as patron (Asia Samachar, 26 Aug 2016)

By Alan Teh Leam Seng | NEW SUNDAY TIMES | MALAYSIA |

GURDWARA Sahib Alor Star is packed with people by the time I arrive at noon. The heightened activity is understandable as the Sikh community will be celebrating the birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the 10 great Sikh Gurus, in less than a week’s time.

Unable to find a suitable parking spot, I stop by the kerb, activate the hazard lights and make a call to my former classmate who I know is already anxiously waiting for my arrival. He appears almost instantly with several others and they proceed to unload the foldable tables from the boot of my car.

After thanking me for the generous loan, he hands me a vintage picture postcard depicting several armed Sikh guards. “This is right up your alley. Hope to hear more about the role of my community in the Malay States Guides when you come and join in the festivities this Friday,” he says before bidding me farewell.

Despite having seen this postcard more than once in the past, I’ve never actually taken the trouble to find out about its historical significance. I guess now is a good time to do so! Without further deliberation, I head off towards Alor Merah, a quiet suburb north of Alor Star, to do some research.

My decision to visit the National Archives library doesn’t disappoint. Accompanied by a sizeable stack of books and historical journals pertaining to the subject matter, I plunge headfirst into the annals of history.

The origins of the Malay States Guides can be traced all the way to Ngah Ibrahim, the influential Perak chieftain who held sway over Larut in the 19th century. Prior to 1872, he used a force of 200 well-armed Malays to maintain order among the Chinese miners from whom he derived revenue. But frequent fighting between the Ghee Hin and Hai San secret society factions during that year quickly diminished the number to just 40 men.

Incapacitated, Ngah Ibrahim persuaded Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy to resign from his Penang Superintendent of Police post and head off to Calcutta to enlist a small force for him. Speedy eventually returned directly to Larut with 110 discharged sepoys comprising Sikhs, Hindus and Pathans. The force had scarcely begun to restore order when the Pangkor Engagement was signed and Ngah Ibrahim’s period of virtual independence came to an abrupt end.

Sir Andrew Clarke, Governor of the Straits Settlements, made Speedy the Assistant Resident and instructed him to first discharge his men and then re-enlist them to serve as the Resident’s Guard.

Speedy made Kota, a small village by the banks of the Larut River near Taiping, his base and billeted the sepoys in Chinese houses. With the help of a non-commissioned officer, Inspector Deen Mohammed, Speedy maintained order among his men and began training local recruits. This expanded group of sepoys and 160 Punjabi, Malay and Chinese conscripts became known as the Larut Police Force.

Read the full story, Guardians of Peace-Keeping (New Sunday Times, 18 Nov 2018), here.

SASKAAR / CREMATION: Cortege leaves at 11:45am on 19 November 2018 (Monday) from residence No. 2A, Jalan Margosa 10/5M, Bandar Sri Damansara 52200, Kuala Lumpur for cremation at Kampung Tunku crematorium at 1:00pm | MALAYSIA

AMREEK SINGH GILL

28/02/1968 – 17/11/2018

Co-head, Global Banking HSBC

Passed away peacefully on 17/11/2018

Parents: Sarjit Singh (ex teacher, ACS Ipoh); Late Mdm. Mahinder Kaur @ Mindo) (ex Teacher, Panglima Kinta)

Parents-in-law: Late Gurcharan Singh Grewal (FRIM) and Mdm. Kalwant Kaur

Wife: Harveen Kaur Grewal (ex Securities Commission)

Sons: Keshvinder Singh Gill and Tevinder Singh Gill

Brother and sister-in-law: Kuljit Singh Gill (Marriott), Surita Kaur (Teacher, SMK Tmn. SEA)

He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and colleagues.

Path Da Bhog: 2 December 2018 (Sunday),  4pm to 6pm, at Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya

Cortege Timing: Cortege leaves at 11:45am on 19 November 2018 (Monday) from residence No. 2A, Jalan Margosa 10/5M, Bandar Sri Damansara 52200, Kuala Lumpur for cremation at Kampung Tunku crematorium at 1:00pm

Contact:

Surita Kaur: 012-7118676

Jasvinjit Singh Grewal: 012-3900766

Innovative and energetic advertising genius Harmandar Singh has been inducted into the International Advertising Association (IAA) Malaysia Hall of Fame.

Ham, as he is better known within the industry circle, has created 400 commercials in his three decades involvement in marketing and brand communications. He is the publisher of the Marketing and ADOI magazine.

Another fellow Malaysian, The Edge Media Group publisher/CEO Ho Kay Tat, was also inducted into IAA Malaysia Hall of Fame as the international body celebrated its 25th anniversary in Malaysia and its 80th year globally on Saturday (17 Nov 2018).

Both has served as past presidents of IIA Malaysia. Ho was the president from 2005 to 2006, while Harmandar from 2011 and 2012.

Harmandar and Ho were inducted in a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (17 Nov 2018) attended by IAA world president Srinivasan K Swamy and IAA Malaysia president John Chacko.

By Sharon Sarwant Kaur | MALAYSIA |

Penang Sikh ladies took time off last week to join 200 residents and staff of Silver Jubilee Home for lunch.

The team from Istri Satsang Sabha Wadda Gurdwara Penang led by their president Manjit Kaur Jessy had also spent the afternoon mingling with the elderly home residents. It was a joyful moment for everyone involved.

[Sharon Sarwant Kaur is the assistant secretary of the Istri Satsang Sabha Wadda Gudwara Penang]

SASKAAR / CREMATION: 20 November 2018 (Tuesday) at 2pm at Gui Yuan Crematorium, Jalan 229 T51A, Petaling Jaya. Cortège will leave 24 Jalan 14/58, Petaling Jaya at 1pm | MALAYSIA

JASPAL KAUR D/O SARJA SINGH

06/10/1946 – 19/11/2018

Wife of the late Sardar Sarjit Singh Dhillon (Kuala Kangsar) 

She fought the good fight with great chardikala and a beautiful smile on her face. Having lived a glorious and fulfilled life, she has now been called home to our beloved Akal Purakh, leaving us behind not in sadness, but in joyous celebration that she is merging into our Akal Purakh. She passed away peacefully with her her family and loved ones by her side on 19/11/2018, leaving behind

Sons:

Sukhbir Singh (spouse  Kiran Kaur)

The late Vivindar Singh (spouse Jasminder Kaur)

Daughters:

Shalinder Kaur (spouse Hasmukhpinder Singh)

Jaslinder Kaur (spouse Daniel Philip)

As well as grandchildren, family and friends.

Saskaar / Cremation: 20th November  2018 (Tuesday) at 2pm at Gui Yuan Crematorium, Jalan 229 T51A, Petaling Jaya.

Cortège will leave  24 Jalan 14/58, Petaling Jaya at 1pm.

Akhand path commences 23 November (Friday) 4 pm  at Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya. Path da bhog on 25 November (Sunday), 4pm to 6pm.

Pawan mei pawan samaya, jyoti mei jyot ral jayeya. May Waheguru’s Blessings continue to be with on her  journey. 

Contact:

Shalinder 0123950286

Jaslinder 0122785117

Corporate strategist and banker Gurdip Singh Sidhu has promoted to group chief strategy and design officer at CIMB Group, making him a key member among the top management of the Kuala Lumpur based financial institution.

The 44-year old banker was one of the five changes and appointments announced in a statement yesterday (19 Nov 2018) in what was described as part of CIMB’s long-term strategy to ensure that its franchise as a leading universal bank in Asean will continue to remain strong against a fast-evolving operational landscape.

He also carries additional responsibilities in customer experience, customer journey, sustainability and branding.

Gurdip previously was the strategy and business development head within the Group Strategy and Strategic Investments division of the group.

The acounting and finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

In the new position, Gurdip oversees key strategic initiatives across the firm and manages the group’s corporate strategy and planning, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships as well as all programme management office functions.

He works alongside the Group CEO and senior management in setting the strategic direction of the group and supports the execution of key transformational and growth initiatives. He also works closely with the key business pillars and geographies to ensure business strategies are fully aligned group wide, according his profile at the bank website.

In his earlier role, Gurdip had led key strategic and investment initiatives including the group’s streamlining of its insurance businesses, development of the private equity business as well as creation of the group’s medium term strategic roadmap.

Founder and captain of the university bhangra team. Winner of a teen beauty pageant. And a twenty-something who aspires to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Now, Serena Kaur Singh adds another awesome feat to her string of achievements. The University of Colorado in Boulder, US, graduate has just landed a 2019 Rhodes Scholarship.

This is no ordinary feat. The coveted scholarship selects students worldwide to study at the University of Oxford in the UK on fully-funded scholarships.

“For the past 24 hours I have been shaking, crying, laughing, screaming, and jumping all at once. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of joining the Rhodes family. Although that dream felt far-reaching and insane, I sit here today feeling SUCH immense gratitude for this opportunity and for the people in my life,” she writes, excitedly, on her Facebook.

Serena is the 20th Rhodes Scholarship recipient from CU Boulder and the first in 25 years. She’s also the first woman from the campus to win the scholarship, reports The Gazette.

She holds the titles of Miss Colorado Teen 2016 and America’s Junior Miss. She also won a Boettcher Scholarship and a Truman Scholarship. She started a nonprofit, the Serenity Project, Brave Enough to Fly, to empower at-risk women through skills she’s gained in pageantry.

Serena, the daughter of G.B. Singh and Nitu Singh, aspires to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Nearly half of this year’s 32 recipients are immigrants or first-generation Americans.

The scholarship pays all college fees, provides a stipend and transportation to and from England, for an award of up to $70,000 per year for up to four years.

Commercial disputes specialist Amarjit Kaur has joined international law firm Withers in an effort to strengthen its dispute resolution capabilities in Asia.

Amarjit joins Withers KhattarWong in Singapore as a dispute resolution partner from Morgan Lewis Stamford, where she developed and headed its employment and global mobility practice.

She is a commercial disputes lawyer who has acted in high-value and complex litigation and international arbitration matters, according to a statement dated 16 Oct 2018 from Withers.

She has represented Fortune 500 companies and ultra-high net worth individuals in shareholder, corporate insolvency, employment, and large-scale professional negligence, as well as construction disputes. In 2017, she was recognised by the Singapore Business Review as one of Singapore’s most influential lawyers aged 40 and under, the statement added.

Lawyer Rupinder Bains first Asian to join English football’s governing body (Asia Samachar, 23 Nov 2017)

SASKAAR / CREMATION: 5pm, 22 November 2018 (Thursday), at Templer Crematorium (Address: 15, Jalan Bijih Timah 4, Taman Templer, 70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan). Cortege Timing: Cortège leaves from 812, Taman Marida Senawang at 4.15pm | MALAYSIA

MAHINDER KAUR A/P GIANI LABH SINGH (KUALA PILAH)

27/2/1936 – 21/11/2018

Husband: Pritam Singh A/L Mal Singh 

Deeply missed by her beloved children and grandchildren.

Parents: Late Giani Labh Singh & Bebeh Gurdial Kaur (Kuala Pilah)

Brothers & Sisters-in-Law:

Late Sardar Pritam Singh Sekhon & Late Sardarni Harbhajan Kaur

Sardar Jagjeet Singh Sekhon & Sardarni Amarjit Kaur

Late Dr. Sardar Harpal Singh Sekhon

Sister: Late Ajit Kaur

Children & Spouse:

Simran Singh Rattol & Karishma Saigal Rattol

Hardeep Kaur & Dalbir Singh

Grandchildren:

Parvither Preet Kaur

Dr. Nirmal Preet Kaur

Amret Preet Kaur

Kharan Singh

Aryan Saigal Rattol

Amithpal Singh Rattol

Rhea Preet Kaur Rattol

SASKAAR / CREMATION: 5pm, 22 November 2018 (Thursday), at Templer Crematorium (Address: 15, Jalan Bijih Timah 4, Taman Templer, 70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan)

Cortege Timing: Cortège leaves from 812, Taman Marida Senawang at 4.15pm, 22 November 2018 (Thursday)

Path Da Bhog: To be announced

Contact:

Dalbir Singh ( 018 9797668)

Hardeep Kaur (012 9164696)

Parvither Preet Kaur (016 3039636)

By Harbans Lal and Ek Onkaar Kaur Khalsa Michaud | Seeking Wisdom | OPINION |

Through much of Sikh history and the Sikh world, Vaisakhi (April 1469) has been recognized as the Day of Celebration for Guru Nanak’s birth. On this day, Nanak was born to his parents, his father Kalyan Chand Das Bedi, popularly shortened to Pita Kalu and his mother, Mata Tripta.

There has been no eye-witness record of the date of Guru Nanak’s birthday. However, Gyan Ratnavali (1712) of Bhai Mani Singh and Mehma Parkash (1776) of Sarup Das Bhalla, recorded April as his date of birth. Further, recent historians have calculated Guru Nanak’s birthday from his death records.

The date of Guru Nanak’s passing is inscribed on the stone memorializing his death, and it was recorded in other historical documents. The number of days Guru Nanak lived on this earth is also known. Bhai Santokh Singh, a highly learned Sikh biographer, recorded the total age of Guru Nanak as 70 years, five months and 7 days. From this data, the distinguished contemporary Sikh historian, Karam Singh, calculated Guru Nanak’s age from the date of his death and established mid- April as Guru Nanak’s birthday.

Presently, prominent historians such as Giyani M.A. Macauliffe, Hew McLeod, Kahn Singh Nabha, Indu Bhushan Banerji, Khushwant Singh, Kirpal Singh, Ganda Singh, Harbans Singh, H.R. Gupta, Principal Satbir Singh, and others accept April as the date of the birth of Guru Nanak. Thus, April 2019 will be Guru Nanak’s 550^th birth anniversary. The global Sikh community is preparing in various ways to celebrate this auspicious day.

However, Guru Nanak’s birth day is not the same as his Prakash day.

At his birth, Guru Nanak’s destiny to spread Divine Wisdom was not recognized either by his parents or the community around him; with the possible exception of Rai Bullar who was the head administrator of the town where Guru Nanak was born.

The nine Gurus who followed Guru Nanak and the Guru Panth (Sikh community throughout the world) have traditionally celebrated Guru Nanak’s birthday on Vaisakhi in a variety of ways. The celebrations included spiritual services as well as the holding of conferences, teaching retreats, and launching of new books or other initiatives.

The Gurus, themselves, designated Vaisakhi day to meet and greet Sikh congregations from distant places and to inaugurate a variety of programs throughout their ministry.

Their ministry expanded for nearly two centuries. The Vaisakhi of Guru Gobind Singh remains the most memorable celebration today. Maharaja Ranjit Singh chose this day for his coronation which he celebrated at both Nanakana Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace, and in Lahore in 1801.

Katik – Guru Nanak’s Parkash Day

Guru Nanak’s birthday contrasts with Guru Nanak’s Parkash Day that falls in the month of October-November (Katik or Kartik) on the full moon (pooranmashi) night.

The word Prakash is derived from the Sanskrit word “prakāśa”, literally meaning “Bright light” or “Sun light” or “Moonlight” or simply “Light.”

Bhai Gurdas, the Sikh theologian of the highest recognition in Sikh history described Guru Nanak Parkash in var 1, Pauri 27 by the following verses.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਿਆ ਮਿਟੀ ਧੁੰਧ ਜਗ ਚਾਨਣ ਹੋਆ॥

ਜਿਉਂ ਕਰ ਸੂਰਜ ਨਿਕਲਿਆ ਤਾਰੇ ਛਪੇ ਅੰਧੇਰ ਪਲੋਆ॥

ਸਿੰਘ ਬੁਕੇ ਮਿਰਗਾਵਲੀ ਭੰਨੀ ਜਾਏ ਨ ਧੀਰ ਧਰੋਆ॥

ਜਿਥੈ ਬਾਬਾ ਪੈਰ ਧਰੈ ਪੂਜਾ ਆਸਣ ਥਾਪਣ ਸੋਆ॥

ਸਿਧ ਆਸਣ ਸਭ ਜਗਤ ਦੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਦ ਮਤੇ ਜੇ ਕੋਆ॥

ਘਰ ਘਰ ਅੰਦਰ ਧਰਮਸਾਲ ਹੋਵੈ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਸੋਆ॥

ਬਾਬੇ ਤਾਰੇ ਚਾਰ ਚਕ ਨੌ ਖੰਡ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮੀ ਸਚਾ ਢੋਆ॥

ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਕਲਿ ਵਿਚ ਪਰਗਟ ਹੋਆ ॥੨੭॥

Satguru Nanak pragatai miti dhundhu jagi chananu hoa.

Jiu kar suraju nikalia tare chhapi andheru paloa.

Singh buke miragavali bhanni jai na dhir dharao.

Jithe baba pair dhari puja asanu thapani soa.

Sidhasani sabhi jagati de Nanak adi mate je koa.

Ghari ghari andari dharamsal hovai kirtan sada visoa.

Babe tare chari chaki nau khandi prithavi sacha dhao.

Gurmukhi kali vichi paragatu hoa.

Pauri 27 (Rise of Guru Nanak)

With the emergence of the Eternal Guru Nanak, the mist (metaphor for multiple factions toeing the religiosity by clergies) cleared and the light (true enlightening wisdom) sprinkled all around. As if at the sun rise the stars disappeared and the darkness dispelled. With the roar of the lion in the forest the flocks of escaping deer now cannot have endurance. Wherever Baba put his feet, a religious place was erected and established. All the worship places now have been renamed on the name of Nanak. Every home has become a place of dharma where singing to all four directions and nine divisions of earth. Gurmukh (Guru Nanak) has emerged in this kaliyug, the dark age.

In the case of Guru Nanak, the Parkash refers to the event when Guru Nanak’s inner Light manifested in his form and identity, initiating a period in history when the Pure Light of Universal Wisdom spread to the communities Guru Nanak visited and touched.

The event is described as below.

The Reference to Parkash Day of Guru Rank

In 1496, after a lifetime of spiritual curiosity, exploration, study and devotion, Guru Nanak entered a deep meditative trance where he experienced the truth of Creation. He saw the Cosmos, the Creator, and the human being intimately linked in a dance of learning and of consciousness. He was 27 years old.

The vision he received went beyond the ideology of any particular religious faith, but rather recognized that all people undertake a common journey in life. It was this commonality that ignited Guru Nanak’s heart. He developed a sovereign relationship with the Divine – directly hearing the Song of Universal Truth and sharing it in many different languages throughout his life.

At the time of his enlightenment experience, Guru Nanak was a 27-year old man, employed as a business manager of the store and the properties of one Daulat Khan, a Muslim, who was also the head of the town of Sultanpur Lodhi.

The Kali Vein River has been given a special historical significance in North India because it provided the venue where Guru Nanak experienced his enlightenment. The 160-kilometer long river springs from Dhanao village and merges in the confluence of the Beas and Ravi rivers. The base spring was considered holy by the local Dhanao people. Mogul Emperor Akbar (1542-1605) ordered it brick-lined for preservation and pilgrimage.

Halfway in the Kali Bein’s journey toward the confluence lies the town of Sultanpur Lodhi, an old Muslim settlement on the riverbanks, now regarded as sacred by the Sikhs. There in the town stands a gurdwara commemorating Guru Nanak’s spiritual awakening. Several other monuments in the town memorialize the Guru’s dialogues with the community of scholars and religious leaders. They are the evidence that Guru Nanak was the first among the religious leaders to initiate and popularized the interfaith dialogues.

The Guru visited the river daily for his bath and meditation in the early hours of the morning. After that, while on his way to work in town, he often visited with a Muslim holy man for a chat. It is during one of these early morning meditations that his awareness expanded and he communicated with the Creator. The story goes as follows.

One morning, Guru Nanak disappeared into the river and spent, it is said, three days in meditation. He re-emerged in a divine trance, reportedly, and as soon as he came out of that trance, he said he had a vision, a revelation. The revelation inspired him to teach the world that a Divine Presence permeates the universe. That religions were only man-made and should not be employed to profile and divide people. This reference was about Hindus and Muslim, the two major religions in the area.

It was the night of the full moon in November 1496 (some historians report the year to be 1499) that he emerged from his meditation.

The Day of Enlightenment as Parkash Day

The day of Guru Nanak’s enlightenment known as Guru Nanak’s Parkash Divas is celebrated every year. Thousands of devotee flock to the holy town of Sultanpur Lodi to pay their homage. In 2005, the President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited this memorial of enlightenment as it is called today, and in 2006 the Government of India, encouraging Indian tourists to visit this city, declared it a holy city to be preserved as part of the Sikh heritage.

On this day Guru Nanak began to claim in more than one way that the Creator had summoned him and assigned him the mission of sharing this divine message to all humanity. He claimed to have received the message directly from the ONE in a state of heightened consciousness, and he taught it to people by singing it in inspired hymns. There are many famous verses of his pronouncements including the commencing verse of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, popularly known as Mool Mantar. This hymn begins with a symbol to serve as Sikh insignia. The symbol of Ek Onkaar is popularly translated as the One Reality (Force) that is manifested in all creation.

The Guru said that he would transcribe the divine message for people of all times. The formal pronouncement of his mission startled the town’s people, although they had known him as a spiritually enlightened person. Those vested in the old beliefs went to the authorities to complain that Nanak was claiming to be a new prophet.

When the town authorities heard complaints against Nanak, the town’s head Daulat Khan summoned him for a high-level dialogue. Khan also invited his chief religious’ advisor, a Muslim Imam, leading a group of imams and other Muslim scholars, to interrogate Nanak about his prophetic experience.

A public debate took place, taking almost a week to conclude. Many questions were asked, many issues were raised. Guru Nanak answered them all and made many pronouncements during the dialogue.

At the end of the dialogue-meeting, much to the Imam’s befuddlement, Khan declared that Nanak had indeed received a divine vision and had been given the responsibility and authority to share that vision with humanity.

The following excerpt taken from the oldest written record available describes Khan’s judgment:

ਤਬ ਕਾਜੀ ਹੈਰਾਨ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਿਆ – ਤਬ ਖਾਨੁ ਕਹਿਆ ਕਾਜੀ ਇਸ ਕਉ ਪੁਛਣਾ ਤਕਸੀਰ ਹੈ ਏਹੁ ਖਦਾਇ ਕਾ ਕੋਈ ਉਲੀਯਾ ਹੈ

The Imam, the chief interrogator, was wonderstruck. Then, Khan, the head of the town, told the Imam that further questioning would be arrogant, and declared that this person is an aulia (saint- prophet) of Khudaa (Islamic term for God). (B 40 Janamsakhi)

This public acknowledgment of Nanak as God’s messenger clearly earned him the title of the prophet or aulia in the Muslim tradition and the title of the Guru in the non-Muslim traditions of India.

Thus, the day Guru Nanak shared his divine vision and announced his mission to teach what he had learned became known and celebrated as Guru Nanak’s Parkash Day.

The Mission of Parkash Day

The mission that Guru Nanak undertook that day was to engage the religious leaders of South East Asia and the Middle East in dialogue to define a truly Universal, human path of truthfulness. A path that would cultivate both a successful life and spiritual achievement. It is then that Guru Nanak advanced three core values to live by. These core values became the central theme in his wide-ranging missionary endeavors.

Guru Nanak designated three core values that, when blended, would transform life into something perfect. In doctrinal terms, Guru Nanak named them NAAM, DAAN, ISNAAN. Translated into today’s idiom, they are:

NAAM – Mindful Awareness of the Creator’s Presence within oneself and within all of Creation.

DAAN – Receiving what the Creator gives (materials of livelihood and virtues of good human beings), and then sharing that with others.

ISNAAN – Self-cleansing – bathing to keep the body healthy and clean, and practicing good deeds to keep the mind healthy and clean, as well.

Mixing of Guru Nanak’s Birth Day and Parkash Day

There is no denying that over a period of time, the Sikh community has forgotten the distinction between the celebration of Guru Nanak’s birthday, and Guru Nanak’s Parkash Day. How did this happen?

How Did Parkash Day Come to be Celebrated

Until the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780 –1839), only Guru Nanak’s human birthday was celebrated both at Nankana Sahib and other towns with significant Sikh populations. It always occurred in the middle April at the time of harvest and other Hindu religious festivals. These events divided the Indian population and the attendance at the major gurdwaras was scanty. The Sikh clergy were always on the lookout to find an occasion when the community might be exclusively attracted to sacred Sikh places, particularly at Amritsar. The story goes as follows.

There lived in the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Bhai Sant Singh Giyani, who was held in high estimation by the monarch and who lived in Amritsar.  Bhai Sant Singh would search for ways to bring Hindus and Sikhs to Amritsar for a celebration after they sold their crops and had plenty of money in their pockets. That period was usually around Diwali which is Hindu new year.

Some five miles from Amritsar is an old lake called Ram Tirath. It is a pilgrimage place of Lord Ram for the Hindu community. At that place, a Hindu fair was and still is held at the time of the full moon in the month of Kartik. All the monetary donations from the earnings of the people would go to that place.

The pilgrimage place is essentially Hindu, and it had the further demerit in the eyes of Bhai Sant Singh of having been restored by Lakhpat, the prime minister of Zakaria Khan, the inhuman prosecutor of the Sikhs.

Bhai Sant Singh desired to establish a competitive fair in Amritsar on the same date, and to divert the Hindus and Sikhs from making the pilgrimage to Ram Tirath. To that end, he adopted the Handali date of Guru Nanak’s Parkash and proclaimed that his new fair at Amritsar on the full moon in the month of Kartik was to honor the nativity of Guru Nanak. It is recorded that Bhai Sant Singh obtained both permission and patronage from Maharaja Ranjit Singh to do so.

Conclusion

In conclusion let us summarize Giyani Max Arthur Macauliffe at the Guru Nanak Parkash issue. There is no doubt that Guru Nanak was born in Vaishakh month. All the older Janamsakhis give that as Guru Nanak’s natal month. As late as the Sambat 1872 it was in Baisakh that the anniversary fair of Guru Nanak’s birth was always celebrated at Nankana. And finally, the Nanak Parkash gives the full moon in Kartik Sambat 1526, as the time of Guru Nanak’s Enlightenment or Parkash; and the tenth of the dark half of Assu, Sambat 1596, as the date of his death. The Nanak Parkash states that he lived seventy years five months and seven days. This total is irreconcilable if one equates the Parkash date with Guru Nanak’s physical birthday.  But the total is very nearly reconcilable with the date of the Guru’s birth given in the old Janamsakhi. ” (Max Arthur Macauliffe, The Sikh Religion, first edition 1909CE, reprinted by Low Price Publications. Delhi 1996 p.lxxxiv.).

Thus, the month of April is Guru Nanak’s birth month and the month of October-November is when Guru Nanak’s Parkash or enlightenment recognized.

The Parkash Day of Guru Nanak was the day when Guru Nanak began to share the Divine Vision he received during his enlightenment with others, and a new Light began to shine in the world. It is then that Guru Nanak began to impact humanity and the stories of that impact began to be told for posterity.

Useful References:

* Kirpal Singh , Janam Sakhi Parampara. Patiala : Punjabi University, 1969
* Harbans Singh, Ed., Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Vol.1. Patiala: Punjabi University, 1992.
* Khushwant Singh, A History of Sikhs, Vol.1. New Delhi: Oxford University, 1999.
* McLeod, W. H. Ed., The B40 Janam-Sakhi. Amritsar, GNDU, 1980.
* Harbans Singh, Guru Nanak and the Origins of the Sikh Faith. Delhi: Asia Publishing House, 1969.
* Max Arthur Macauliffe, The Sikh Religion, first edition 1909CE, reprinted by Low Price Publications. Delhi 1996.

Harbans Lal, Ph.D.; D.Litt (Hons) is the Professor Emeritus & Chairman at the Dept of Pharmacology & Neurosciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center. He is also the Professor Emeritus at the Amritsar-based Guru Nanak Dev University as well as President of the Academy of Guru Granth Studies. He can be reached at Japji2050@gmail.com. Link to the original article.

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

RELATED STORY:

International peace bridge connecting Kartarpur in Pakistan and Dera Baba Nanak in India (Asia Samachar, 21 Sept 2018)

Does Language Impact the Transmission of Wisdom from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Asia Samachar, 24 July 2018)

By Jagdesh Singh | OPINION |

If you’ve ever observed when a young toddler is playing, which is their life’s purpose, you’d notice that the child has no fear whatsoever on being harmed physically nor emotionally. This is because she is still learning the pattern that whenever she falls or trips, she would be in pain. And the fear of feeling the pain would slowly grow on her as she grows bigger.

But as she learns this pattern, she also learns that her mother is always there to save her from her fall, to protect her from anyone hurting her. She develops faith in her mother, saving her from falling, avoiding her from feeling pain. And so, you’d notice that some toddlers are fearless, full of faith that there’s always someone there to protect them from pain. Where there’s faith, there’s no fear.

As teenagers, you’d notice that they are reckless, wanting to push boundaries, always trying to discover their own voice, wanting to think for themselves, the world always at their feet. Many still have faith in their parents to help them navigate in life, but their faith in others, like their friends and comrades in the playground and classrooms are growing by the day. To them, their true friends will never betray them, never hurt them emotionally.

They become fearless, rebellious against the adults, discovering their identity in the process.  I can’t remember the number of times I’ve cringed in my adult life remembering how foolish I was tempting life under the guise of being fearless. Nevertheless, I was fearless. Where there’s faith, there is no fear.

As a young adult, I remember being fearless was a lot harder than before. My faith towards those around me was still strong, especially of my parents and close friends, but faith in myself, my abilities was sky high. Equipped with all that is necessary for me to survive in this world, like an education, the dreams were limitless. There wasn’t anybody to answer to but myself, adventure and independence beckoned. I was fearless to see what my youth and my will could potentially lead me to. My faith shifted from the outward, the people around me, to the inward, to my self and my understanding of my abilities. Where there’s faith, there is no fear.

As a father and husband, with greying hair, I now have many that I’m fearful of. From death in itself, to the suffering of my loved ones, the fears are now of outward nature. I fear of losing those of whom I’m attached to, I fear of the unpredictable future, my faith in myself waning, more so of those around me. I fear of failure, of not fulfilling the needs and the wants of my family. I fear of society and what those relevant think of me. I am fearless no more. Where there is fear, there is no faith.

How I wish I was the toddler running off from the stairs into her faithful mother’s arms.

How I wish I was a teenager again, racing and competing with other teenagers, with the support of my faithful friends.

How I wish was the young graduate, working tirelessly into the late night, knowing so well I could depend on myself to faithfully deliver success.

Perhaps, as I learn from them, I would probably understand that I would need to have faith in myself, in the divine in me, to be the mother, the friend and the internal guide. That all that I fear of will remain if I don’t have faith.

Where there’s faith, there’s no fear.

Where there’s fear, there’s no faith.

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

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

RELATED STORIES:

When relationships thaw like cold dhall in microwave (Asia Samachar, 16 Oct 2018)

Don’t grow up (Asia Samachar, 10 Sept 2018)

London (21 November 2018): MPs and Sikh representatives earlier today met with the Home Office Minister, Victoria Atkins responsible for the Offensive Weapons Bill (OWB) to finalise an agreement to legally safeguard the sale, possession and use of large Kirpans.

The delegation was led by Preet Kaur Gill MP, the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Sikhs, and two Vice Chairs, Conservative MP Dominic Grieve and Labour MP Pat McFadden, both former Ministers that played a vital part in securing this victory. Dabinderjit Singh and Sukhvinder Singh two of the advisers to the Sikh Federation (UK) and prominent in the Sikh Council UK were also part of the delegation.

Following the successful meeting the government itself agreed to table an amendment to the Bill with an appropriate explanatory note specifically referring to the Kirpan.  The Bill is currently going through Parliament with the third and final reading in the House of Commons expected to be on 27 November.

When the Sikh Federation (UK) and Sikh Network learnt that the OWB if passed would result in all large Kirpans (defined as those with curved blades over 50cm) being made illegal in terms of sale, possession and use they immediately contacted Preet Kaur Gill MP, the Chair of the APPG for British Sikhs.

Realising the significance of the problem the law change would create for virtually all Sikh families Preet quickly mobilised a cross party group of Conservative, Labour, Scottish National Party and Liberal Democrat MPs to put together an amendment to safeguard the larger Kirpan when the third and final reading was originally expected on 22 October.  Preet and other MPs also met with the Home Office Minister, Victoria Atkins responsible for the Bill and Preet also had a one-to-one meeting with Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary.

Both Ministers were fully supportive of the need for Sikhs to have the large Kirpan and instructed officials to meet the APPG and make changes.  Large Kirpans are used in Anand Karaj ceremonies, in Gatka training and demonstrations, in Nagar Kirtans and other processions, used in Amrit Sanchar ceremonies and displayed in front of Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Gurdwaras and in homes.

If the Offensive Weapons Bill had become law without change the possession of a large Kirpan even at home could have resulted in imprisonment of up to 1 year as well as a fine.  It is estimated at least 100,000 Sikh households have one or more large Kirpans at home.

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said:

“We applaud Sajid Javid and Victoria Atkins for listening and acting so decisively to safeguard the rights of law abiding Sikhs and appreciating the significance of the large Kirpan to the Sikh way of life.”

“Preet Kaur Gill, Dominic Grieve and Pat McFadden have led the campaign expertly supported by the Sikh Federation (UK) advisers. The APPG has done a fantastic job in getting Home Office Ministers to clarify it was never their intention for the Offensive Weapons legislation to impact on large Kirpans.”

“Home Office officials have come up against the powerful Sikh lobby and will hopefully learn lessons that they must consult early with Sikh organisations. The officials now know large Kirpans are essential to Sikhs for reasons of religious observance and this will be reflected in the explanatory note to the new legislation”. – Press statement from Sikh Federation UK

RELATED STORY:

Canadian Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal of Quebec National Assembly kirpan ban (Asia Samachar, 26 Oct 2018)

Advice about Sikh religious issue (Asia Samachar, 20 Sept 2018)

In conjunction with the 549th Prakash purab of Guru Nanak, Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang organised a Nagar Kirtan Shabad Chaunki on Saturday (17 November 2018).

The central part of the procession was the singing of Shabad. They did not take along Sri Guru Granth Sahib as done in some nagar kirtans.

The objective of the Shabad Chaunki was to promote world peace. The participants covered a distance of two and half kilometres over two hours while singing kirtan.

At the same time, a team from Basic of Sikhi UK (M) was around to promote Sikhi awareness to the public. A group called Turbanators tied beautiful and colourful turbans for those interested.

Penang State Government exco and state assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo joined the procession. Also present were fellow state assemblymen Ram Karpal Singh, RSN Rayer, Teh Lai Heng and councillor Harvinder Singh.

Sikhs from neighbouring Kulim, Sungai Petani, Ipoh, Butterworth and Penang island had also joined in.

Prior to the Nagar Kirtan, WGS Penang and the Sikh Sangat had organised Vand Shakna Project – feeding the hungry and homeless, as per teaching of Sri Guru Nanak. They served food in the gurdwara and also packed food to be served for people in the streets.

RELATED STORY:

Nagar kirtan to celebrate Kuala Lipis gurdwara turning 102 (Asia Samachar, 13 Sept 2018)

SASKAAR / CREMATION: 2pm, 23 November 2018 (Friday) at Fairy Memorial Park, 6th Mile, Jalan Meru, Klang, Selangor. Cortege leaves 72, Jalan Barus off Jalan Kim Chuan, 42000, Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor at 11am | MALAYSIA

SUKHDEV KAUR W/O MAHINDER SINGH

She has been a pillar of the Sikh community in Port Klang and also her neighborhood.

Born: 9 May 1938

Departed: 21 November 2018

Husband: Mahinder Singh

Children / Spouses:

Sarjit Kaur

Manmohan Singh / Nirmall Kaur

Daljit Kaur / Rado

Grandchildren: Manvina Kaur

Cortege Timing: Cortege leaves 72, Jalan Barus off Jalan Kim Chuan, 42000, Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor at 11am, 23 November 2018 (Friday).

Saskaar / Cremation: 2pm, 23 November 2018 (Friday) at Fairy Memorial Park, 6th Mile, Jalan Meru, Klang, Selangor. Begins with Sukhmani sahib path at 12pm.

Akhand Path: Akhand Path commences at 9am, 29 Nov to 1 Dec at Gurdwara Sahib Port Klang followed by path da bhog at 12pm on 1 Dec 2018.

Contact: 

016-3106880 Kul

016-2600987 Dip

Some 40 gurdwaras have indicated that they would conduct the congregational reading of Japji Sahib to kick start the year-long celebration of Guru Nanak’s 550 birth next year.

It is part of the run-up to the Grand Celebrations of 550th Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Parkash Purab next year led by the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC).

The official launch of the event was marked with a speech by former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti at Gurdwara Sahib Subang Jaya today (23 Nov 2018). It was followed by kirtan and congregational reading of Japji Sahib at 11.30am.

Gurdwaras celebrating on the 25 November have been encouraged to recite the congregational Japji Sahib Ji.

“We have drawn up a year-long events to celebrate the 550th parkash dehara in a major way next way. One of the programmes lined-up is viakhiaa (discourse) of Japji Sahib by trained lecturer whom we will invite from Punjab,” Jagir told Asia Samachar. “The idea is to not merely read the bani to understand the gian that Guru Nanak bestowed upon us via this bani (scripture).”

The year-long programme is supported by Khalsa Diwan Malaysia (KDM), Tatt Khalsa Diwan Malaysia and Sant Sohan Singh Memorial Society Malaysia.

RELATED STORY:

Is Guru Nanak’s Parkash Day Different from Guru Nanak’s Birth Day? Yes, It Is. (Asia Samachar, 22 Nov 2018)

Grand Celebrations in connection with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550 Years Avtar Dihara on 12 November 2019 (Nanakshahi Calendar) (Asia Samachar, 3 Aug 2018)