Kenya Gurmat Camp Photos (Part 1)

During the first week of August a Gurmat Week (camp) was held in Kenya by a group of young Kenyan Sikhs under the name of "iSikh". The six-day camp was held in the countryside area of Lukenya. With Guru Sahib's kirpaa, approximately 150 youngsters from the age of 7 to 30 attended. Bhai Satnam Singh (Hayes, UK) was contacted by the local sevadaars in Kenya and requested to come to Kenya with other Gursikhs from the UK to do sevaa in the camp. Guru Sahib rained kirpaa during the camp and trip. It was amazing how much we learnt from the young children. Although some children didn't seem to know much about Sikh history and Gurbani, they had the thirst and desire to learn more and more. The thirst and hunger of some of the campers was very moving. There were definitely great souls and saints amongst the children. May Guru Sahib bless all the sevadaars and the children with Gursikhi Jeevan, blessings of Naam & Amrit, and forever love for Sikhi.

Some photos from the camp:


Campers in lecture hall.


Archery outside. Bhai Amritpal Singh jee (one of the local Kenyan sevadaars) who is an Archery champion led the session.


A view of outside from the first floor of the resort.


Lunch being served.


Discussion group sessions outside.


Keertan by local Bhenjis.


Keertan by 6-year old Bibi Vismaad Kaur from the UK.


Dr. D (UK) giving a talk on the Mind & Panj Chor.


Singhs playing football.

15-year old Veer Amritpal Singh jee - a native Kenyan Amritdhari Singh who is not from a Panjabi background but speaks perfect Panjabi and reads Paatth in Gurmukhi - he puts some Panjabis to shame!! He is a lovely Singh and radiates so much peace!

To be continued...

'Sikh Awareness Day' held in School

Last Wednesday there was a "Sikh Awareness Day" held at Long Eaton School near Nottingham. Bhaji Pardip Singh had been working at the school and before he left the staff requested for a Sikh Awareness Day to be arranged so that the school could be educated on who Sikhs are and what they believe as there no Sikhs living around that area. Bhenji Gurpreet Kaur, Bhenji Kirat Kaur and Daas helped Bhaji Pardip Singh with the Sikh Awareness Day.

Five sessions were held throughout the day. For each session the students were given handouts with questions which they had to fill in during the session. The presentation started off with some basic questions about Sikhs followed by where Sikhs come from and some photographs of Panjab. Afterwards Sikh beliefs, Sikh uniform & appearance, Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee, Sikhs in World Wars, and Sikhs in Britain was covered. During the session selected students were given the opportunity to tie Dastaars on one another and then afterwards one of us re-tied the Dastaars on them. The whole day was very successful. All the children were well-behaved and showed interest in what was being said. May Guru Jee do kirpaa that these type of awareness days or sessions are held at all schools!

Some photographs from the day:


First session - year 7 group.


Starter questions.


Slide showing Parkaash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee.


Significance Sikh identity.


Panj Kakkaars and Sikh appearance.


Bhaji showing the Kachhera. If anything, all the pupils and teachers will not forgot the Kachhera! lol.


Bhenji tying a Dastaar on a pupil.


Slide showing Sikhs in different professions.


Photographs of Sikhs in World Wars.

The presentation ended with a quote from a British General who talks about Sikhs dying for the freedom and liberty of Britain and Europe and praises the Sikh faith and Sikh turban.

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee.

France Gurmat Camp 2009 (Photos)

From Friday 3rd July to Sunday 12th July, the annual France Gurmat Camp took place that is organised by Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Bobigny and the Chalda Vaheer Jatha (UK). The camp was attended by one-hundred and fifty or so youngsters over the ten days, aged from 3 years old to 18 years old. This year's camp was dedicated to the 25 years anniversary of the 1984 Ghallughara (Holocaust). Over the ten day camp there were classes on mudhlee vidiya (basic knowledge), Panjabi, Gurbani, Keertan and history. Near the end of the week all the campers sit tests and are tested basic knowledge, history, keertan, Gurbani pronunciation, memorising Banian (prayers) and Bana (Khalsa uniform). On the final day of the camp all the campers are given prizes and rewards.

The Gurmat camps across Europe were founded by the Chalda Vaheer Jatha (UK) that was started by the late Bhai Sahib Rajinder Singh jee from Dudley in UK. Bhai Sahib and the Jatha toured across all of Europe and other parts of the world where no Parchaariks (preachers) had gone before and did sevaa of Keertan, Kathaa, Amrit Sanchaars, and educating the local children about Gurmat through camps. Countless families and children have been inspired into Sikhi through Bhai Sahib's efforts. Currently the sevaa of Chalda Vaheer Jatha (UK) is being headed by Mata Balbir Kaur jee who has dedicated her life in nourishing young children into living the Gursikh way of life and being filled with Sikh spirit. Dhan Guru, Dhan Guru Ke Pyaare.

It is very uplifting to see the spirit and dedication of the French Sikhs. Despite the dastaar (turban) being banned from schools and some universities all the elder bhenjees (who are not yet Amritdhari) wear Dastaars outside of school time. With Guru Sahib's kirpaa the Singhs who refused to remove their Dastaars or cut their Kesh and instead accepted to be removed from school and had to study from home are doing well and gone on to study at university. It makes one wonder how we take our Sikhee for granted and have it easy compared to our brothers and sisters in France. May Guru Sahib to continue to bless the Sangat of France and may the youth become Gursikh role models for the whole of Europe.


Photos from the camp:


New Gurdwara Sahib being constructed. It will be the first Gurdwara to be built in traditional design and purpose built.


Temporary Gurdwara Sahib across the road.


Morning


Bhenji Navjot Kaur (UK) taking morning registration.


6-8 years old Keertan class.


Bhai Jasvir Singh tying Dastaar on a young Singh.


Veer Dharmvir Singh and Bhenji Navjot Kaur (UK) taking 3 to 5 years old class. The children shared their thoughts on the posters on the wall.


Young children lining up to recite Mool Mantar da Paatth to everyone.


9-11 and elders group


Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh (UK) taking elder children's class.


Youngsters doing vichaar.


9-11 years old group being tested by a Sevadaar.


Evening Diwaan. Children getting ready to recite Rehraas Sahib.


Aunty jees and Bhenjees playing Volleyball.


Younger children having a race. Waheguru :)


"Cherry and spoon race" :)


Singhs playing Volleyball.


Veer Luvpreet Singh (Belgium) and Veer Gurinder Singh (Germany)


Bhaji Manprit Singh playing football with the younger boys. Looks like they've lost the ball!


Group photo in park.


Park's lake.


Aunty jee having a bit of fun and splashing the children with water :)


On Saturday there was a presentation for all the Sangat.


Saturday evening diwaan.


The local Granthi Singh jee - Bhai Rashpal Singh jee. Very Chardikala and pyaar wale Gursikh.


Elder Bhenjees doing Keertan.


Elder boys doing Keertan.


Bhaji Sukhwinder Singh (UK) doing Keertan.


Sunday morning diwaan.


3 to 5 years old doing Keertan in Sunday main diwaan. They sang the Shabad so loudly it was unbelievable! :)


6-8 years old class doing Keertan. This group also sang really loudly and got in the full spirit of the Shabad :)


Bhai Chain Singh jee and other Gurdwara committee members giving prizes and certificate to the children with Mata Balbir Kaur jee.


Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee.

Human Rights Activist Passes Away...

On Sunday 28th June 2009, Ram Narayan Kumar passed away in Kathmandu, Nepal. For those not familiar with him, he was a friend of the Sikh Panth who fought tirelessly to expose the genocide and mass human rights violations of the Sikhs living in Panjab after 1984 and seeking justice on behalf of the Sikhs. Dhan Rab de Pyaare.

Background
Ram Narayan Kumar was born in South Indian Tamil Brahmin family who at one point was a monk and lived in the backwaters of Delhi. Although he had no connection or link to the Panjab or Sikhs, he passionately fought for the rights and justice of the Sikh people in Panjab since Delhi anti-Sikh genocide of November 1984.

He was a human rights activist and researcher who was the author of several books and reports on the state of human rights in India and an unwavering critic of the brutality of the state in suppressing armed political conflicts in Panjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Northeast India and other parts of the subcontinent. He campaigned for democracy and human rights against state brutality on the innocent citizens since 1975. He was imprisoned for 19 months for his vocal opposition to Indira Gandhi‘s emergency regime.

He impressed everyone with his diligence, compassion and belief in justice; qualities that are as rare today as the person he was. His ability to combine cutting edge research and ethical principles of justice made him an endearing beacon of hope for many peoples and struggles that are on the verge of being forgotten.

His written work include "The Sikh Struggle" (1991), "Reduced To Ashes: The Insurgency and Human Rights in Punjab" (2003), "Critical Readings In Human Rights And Peace" (2006), "Terror In Punjab : Narratives, Knowledge And Truth Terror In Punjab : Narratives, Knowledge And Truth" (2008).


A video produced by Ram Narayan Kumar, entitled "Disappearances in Punjab":

"To accept that justice is impossible is like the end of all sense of purpose of life.”
(Ram Narayan Kumar)

Dhan Rab De Pyaare.