|
Amritsar
Times fast emerging as voice of the Sikh Community
 Amritsar Times and the World Sikh News are increasingly emerging as the voice
of the Sikh community. Correct presentation of panthic issue through
special reports and perceptive articles has ensured that the
Amritsar Times is not only enriching the debate on Sikh politics but
also contributing to Punjabi journalism. These were the views
expressed by senior journalist and Sikhism scholar Karamjit Singh on
the occasion of the third anniversary of Amritsar Times and second
such occasion for World Sikh News.
Addressing a large gathering, he said the Amritsar Times
Publications Group had a huge role to play in helping such a young
newspaper to find its feet so quickly and by all indications
available it can only progress immensely in the near future.
Recalling his days of journalism spent with Daljit Singh Sra in
Chandigarh, he said it was due to Sra's continuous association with
the Sikh affairs and the dedication of Board members Harjot Singh
Khalsa and Jasjit Singh that the Amritsar
 Times was taking such
giant strides.
Participating at the anniversary function held at San Jose's
Evergreen College, Karamjit Singh said it is time for the Sikh
community to remain ever so watchful in these times of crisis.
Well known ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali regaled the audience with his
soulful and melodious renditions till late in the night while the
queen of the stage Asha Sharma was also much appreciated by the
audience.
Earlier, welcoming the chief guest Karamjit Singh, the dignitaries
who were honored and the huge number of audience, Editor Daljit
Singh Sra praised the journalistic credentials of Karamjit Singh.
Ghulam Ali began weaving his magic with thumri,
went on to Dil mein ek lahar si uthi hai abhi, chose the
evergreen Chupke chupke raat din aansu bahana yaad hai and
then brought the house down with Hungama hai kyun barpa. But
how could such an audience let the maestro get away without singing
Heer? Soon, Ghulam Ali Sahib was singing Mere shauk da
nahin aitbar tainu, climaxing with the Sultan of Birha Shiv
Kumar Batalvi's Kee puchde’o haal faquiran
da.
Among those who made extensive efforts to make the occasion a
success were members of the Board of Amritsar Publications and Media
Group Harjot Singh Khalsa, Jasjit Singh, General Manager Satnam
Singh Khalsa, Distribution Wing Incharge Jai Singh and Graphics
Designing Incharge Gurjeet Singh. Also involved in these efforts
were Hardev Singh Bhalwan, Jasjit Kaur Cheema, Jaspal Singh, Ambri
Pukhraj, Amanjot Dhami, Jaskaran Dhami, Pukhraj Sra and Dilpreet
Singh Khalsa.
 Setting a new precedent, the Amritsar Publications and Media Group
honored a number of personalities in different fields. Among these
were Dr Gurmail Singh Sidhu (now working as a scientist at Fresno
University), businessman Jasvir Singh Gill (Versa Systems), social
worker Ranjit Singh Tut (who helped in setting up the water
treatment plant at the Golden Temple), social worker Charlie Cheema,
Punjabi scholar and San Jose State University don Dr Atamjit Singh,
columnist Dr Amrik Singh Sacramento, Bhajan Singh Bhinder (who set
up the Sikh Infomation Centre), San Jose Khalsa School principal
Pushpinder Kaur, Fremont Khalsa School principal Kulwinder Singh,
Gurmat Sangeet Academy LA professor Ranjit Singh, well known dholi
Lal Singh Bhatti, Raji Brar (Council Member Arvin City), Sukh
Dhaliwal (Vice Mayor Lathrope City), Tej Mann (member, Yuba city),
national hockey coach Shiv Jagdai, national kabaddi player Kuldip
Singh Sahota, basketball player Ranbir Singh Sanghera, Sikh sports
enthusiast Gurpal Singh Hansrai and Asha Sharma.
Forrest Williams, city councilman San Jose, Milpitas Mayor Jose
Esteves, Vice Mayor David D. Cortese, Assemblyman Joe Coto and
Harpreet Singh Sandhu, council member Richmond also presented
Certificates of Honor on behalf of their departments as recognition
of the contribution of the Amritsar Times and World Sikh News. The
Group also honored these worthies.
Among those who were specially honored by the Group were Bob Gill,
Balbir Singh Dhillon, Jaspreet Singh Attorney (whose father S. Mewa
Singh Gill was present to receive the same), Inderpal Singh Bay
Leaf, Kulwinder Singh Verka Products, Jaswant Singh Hothi, Harduman
Singh Billa Sanghera, Bhupinder Singh Gill, Dr Kulwant Singh Gill,
Sri Raj Bhanot, Harjinder Singh Johal, S. Jaswinder Singh Jandi, Dr
Dalvir Singh Pannu, Tejinder Singh Dosanjh, Parminder Singh Grewal,
Kuldip Singh Sahota, Surinder Singh Atwal, Daljit Singh Riar, Balraj
Singh, Sukhdev Singh Mundi, Jasbir Singh Raja and Gurinder Singh.
Host Asha Sharma ensured that her magic as the queen of the stage
keeps continuous company and punctuated
 the program with her skills.
To add a touch of genuine Punjabi culture, Manjit Kaur Realtor
contributed her phulkaris, baghs and many other beautiful artifacts.
In
keeping with the tradition set last time, the Amritsar Times had
also made arrangements for dinner. The fact that people trooped in
much before the scheduled time of 6:30 pm and did not leave the hall
till midnight was a clear indicator of the trend that instead of the
jumping jack programs being held in the name of culture, they were
interested in more suave, savvy and rich cultural interactions. The
1200-chair audience and the additional benches creaking under the
weight of a huge audience was proof of the readers' continuous
support and love to the Amritsar Times Group.
Among the participants were representatives of many ideologies, all
political parties, management committees of local gurdwaras, panthic
bodies, literary forums, cultural organizations and people from Yuba
City, Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, Reno, LA etc.
From among the journalistic fraternity, those present included
Harjit Singh Sandhu, Chief Editor of Quomi Ekta, Balbir Singh MA
Chief Editor Pardes Times, Sandeep Singh Chahal Assistant Editor
Punjab News, Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal chief Editor NRI Drishtikon, Prof
Balwinder Pal Singh Khalsa, reporter of Chardhi Kala, Namaste USA’s
editor Arvinder Khokhar and Sargam TV’s Gurinder Singh. Daily Ajit,
Jalandhar’s reporter Husan Larroa Banga, who also represents the
Amritsar Times and World Sikh News in Sacramento and East Coast was
also at hand to click many a memory.
20 June, 2007
|
Read Also