Story of Louis Singh Khalsa

On 4th July 2020, during the passing out parade for new inductees into in the New Zealand army, a unique sight was witnessed. Among the 63 new soldiers, what caught everyone's attention was a 23-year-old white man wearing a green turban and smartly turned out with a light brown beard. The name of this young man is Louis Singh Khalsa, who is an Amrithdhari (initiated) Sikh. Before becoming a Sikh, his name was Louis Talbot. 

This is an amazing story of a young man who received Amrit (baptism) at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and then went on to join the New Zealand Army. An interview, the first question put to him was how come he adopted the Sikh faith so perfectly in just 5 years when it takes many people a lifetime. 

Khalsa said he belongs to Timaru, a town in Canterbury in New Zealand and completed his college education at Christ College, Christchurch. “In 2015, I met a Sikh boy named Tejinder Singh at a friend's house. I asked him about Sikhism and he told me to visit the Gurdwara in Christchurch. When I went there I felt a different kind of calm,” Khalsa said. 

He then started visiting the gurdwara every week where he met Sukhpreet Singh, Kamal Singh, Dilraj Singh, Kanwaljit Singh and Rajwinder Singh who inspired him to follow the Sikh way of life. In June 2018, Khalsa went to Punjab and lived with a Sikh family and became Amritdhari (baptised) at Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib. 

He started learning Gurmukhi (the Sikh script) and reciting Bani (scripture) and then he visited Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple, Amritsar) where he practised Punjabi by reading signboards on the streets. Later, when he returned to New Zealand he learned to play tabla (traditional Sikh drums) and kirtan (musical worship). 

Khalsa’s mother is from England while his father is from New Zealand. He has an older brother and a younger sister. 

REFLECTION:

The story of Louis gives inspiration and motivation for those born in Sikh families but lack knowledge of the faith and cannot read Gurbani (scripture) that it is never too late to learn and connect with your spiritual roots. With sincere intentions, trust in God and making an effort, we can learn and allow our lives to become beautified by God.