Sikh Youth Conference 2006

Today was the Sikh Youth Conference, which was held at Imperial College London in the Alexander Fleming Building. There were informative talks from various speakers. Jaspreet Singh from the V&A Museum (who has won an award for the Youngster Historian from the V&A Museum) delivered a talk about the links between the British and Sikhs, in particular the positive things, which both the Sikhs and the British have contributed. Photos of Sikhs serving in the World Wars were shown and also photos of Sikh historical artefacts and texts which the British have preserved and archived. Bhaji highlighted the sad reality how more Sikh heritage has been archived and preserved by the British than the Sikhs and Panjabis themselves.

Bhenji Dilpreet Kaur (President of UCL Sikh Soc) gave a fantastic speech on being a university student and the challenges and issues facing young British Sikhs in society and the workplace. She was very well spoken and raised very good points. Bhenji highlighted issues such as lack of coverage of Sikhs by the media, schools not emphasising enough on Sikhi as much as they do on other faiths, and modern-day Gurdwaras not fulfilling the needs of the youngsters but instead becoming a battlefield of Panjabi politics.

I won't go through all the talks. However, it was very informative and people from various fields of work and different places turned up. During the break Langar was served to everyone. In the afternoon Manjeet Singh QC (barrister and leading Queen's Council) and Home Office Minister, MP Paul Goggins, also gave talks.

I had to go to the library to get some books out for my uni work. So I left with another Singh. We were sitting at South Kensington station waiting for the tube. Then a smart looking black Afro-Caribbean man approaches us from the side (my back was turned to him). He was wearing tie suit and long jacket. He said "Excuse me" to me. I turned around and I couldn't believe it! Sat Naam, Waheguru! It was the same man who has approached me TWICE before asking for money with a bogus story saying that he is going to Gatwick Airport and needs money.

I couldn't believe it! I thought, "O mind! I can't believe it! Twice! How does this man keep on bumping into you?" Rab Bhalla Kare! I was so frustrated and gob-smacked, I said, "I know who you are, please go away or I will call the police." The Singh sitting next to me obviously didn't know about the man so he looked confused why I was saying "Go away" and saying that I am going to call the police. The man stood there and kept talking. I couldn't understand a word. He just kept saying "Excuse me." He had a briefcase with him. O deary me! The man needs to get a hobby or a JOB!

Eventually he put his hands up and said "Okay, okay, I am leaving." The Singh with me said, "Why did you react to the man like that. He was just asking you something." I said, "Bhraava, this man has approached me TWICE before! Each time he asks for money with a dodgy story."(You can read about my last encounters with the man here). He then realised. Perhaps I should have reacted differently and given him time to speak and then say "Go away" and threaten to call the police.

Chalo, Rab Rakha! On the way back from the library I was thinking about the incident. And my mind started to wonder. My mind told me "Perhaps the man at the train-station was NOT the same man! He may just LOOK LIKE the man who asked for money before." I thought about it and the man I met today was slightly darker coloured and was slightly less chubby, but still looked like the man. I did Ardaas that if it was the SAME man then RAB SUMAT BAKSHE (God bless him with wisdom) and may he realise that being a fraudster is of NO USE and needs something BETTER to time pass. However, if it was a poor innocent man who I randomly accused and said "Go away" to and threatened to call the police, then may Waheguru forgive me and I hope the poor bloke didn't feel too shaken up.

If he was a poor innocent look-a-like, then I could imagine him going home to his wife and kids and saying that he met this weird turbaned bloke who waved his hands at me and said he knew who I was and that he is going to call the police. I just hope that he laughs about it rather than cry! Sat Naam!

Rab Rakha.

Possible lesson learnt: Stop, stay calm and then respond to situation.

ਫਰੀਦਾ ਬੁਰੇ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ ਕਰਿ ਗੁਸਾ ਮਨਿ ਨ ਹਢਾਇ ॥
fareedaa bure daa bhalaa kar, gusaa man na hadhaa-e.
Fareed, answer evil with goodness; do not fill your mind with anger.

ਦੇਹੀ ਰੋਗੁ ਨ ਲਗਈ ਪਲੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਇ ॥੭੮॥
dehee rog na lage-ee, palai sabh kichh paa-e. ||78||
Your body shall not suffer from any disease, and (this way) you shall obtain everything. ||78||
(Ang 1381-82)