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Dr. Swaraj
Singh’s California tour leaves lasting impressions
Dr. Amrik Singh
SACRAMENTO: Sikh
ideology was never intended to be merely reduced to ritualistic
practices. Gurbani principles address modern crises directly. The
rising unrest both in human mind and the world is due to the
alienation from the cosmic self and awareness.
The humanity is
on the brink of total destruction. Guru Granth Sahib embodies
multinational philosophy that can save the modern world from crisis
of extinction. Sikh ideology springs from the center to the
periphery by recognizing diversity as the primordial principle of
civilization. To save Sikhi and to save the world are not
contradictory, but complementary.
These are views
of Dr. Swaraj Singh, one of the pioneers of laser surgery in
America.
Dr. Swaraj Singh
is a well know cardio-vascular surgeon and a prolific
writer, columnist and social scientist. He is chairman, Washington
State Network for Human Rights. He has authored more than nineteen
books on South Asia and South Asian spiritualities. He believes that
South Asia has a lot to give to the world in restructuring
international human relations.
He was on a three day tour of California.
On
Friday, 18
January 2008, Dr. Swaraj Singh blessed Gurmeet Singh’s son on Lohri
celebrations. On Saturday, he joined wedding ceremony of Sabrina K.
Dhillon with Parmjit S. Bains in El Sobrante Sikh gurdwara. Sabrina
is the daughter of Harbhajan Singh Dhillon, one of the popular
Punjabi poets of California. In the afternoon, he was invited by
Amritsar Times Newgroup in San Jose, California which brings out the
English language weekly World Sikh News and Punjabi language
Amritsar Times. Dr. Swaraj Singh writes frequently for the group’s
publications.
Later, he paid a
visit to the historical Sikh Gurdwara in
Stockton. On
Sunday, Dr. Swaraj Singh addressed the congregation in Gurudwara
West Sacramento. Then, he proceeded to Yuba City to attend a meeting
of Punjabi Sahit Sabha California.
Dr Swaraj Singh
belongs to a family of freedom fighters. His father frequently
worked with revolutionaries like S. Sohan Singh Bhakna and Subhash
Chander Bose. His both parents were college degree holders. His
father had the distinction of being the first college graduate from
Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak. Dr. Swaraj inherited
voracious reading habit from his father who had a well stocked
library at home. When he was only eight year old, Dr Swaraj had read
many books on classical literature. He still remembers having read
Gorky’s
“The Luckless” that left a lasting impression on his mind. When
still in middle school, he read about world religions and masters
like Tolstoy, Thomas Hardy and Dostoevsky. Sikh Itihaas de Khooni
Patre (Bloody Pages from the Sikh History) by Baba Prem Singh
Hotimardaan was another such title. He confessed that he would
often cry reading stories about Maharaja Duleep Singh and Rani
Jindan. By the time Dr. Swaraj was in High School, he had finished
reading M.N. Roy’s “Radical Humanism”, Hegel, Marx, and Engels; Sikh
history by Mohammad Latif, Cunningham, and Ganda Singh.
Addressing a
distinguished gathering in El Sobrante Gurdwara, Dr. Swaraj Singh
explained meanings of ‘Shabad’ recited on performing wedding
ceremonies. Four stages of married life provide symbolic support to
ultimately bond with God. Many prominent literary figures of Punjabi
Sahit Sabha
California like
Harban Singh Jagyasu, Mohinder Singh Ghagg, Kamal Banga, Dr. Amrik
Singh, Tara Singh Sagar, Jagjit Singh Naushehrvi, Resham Singh,
Bhupinder Daler, Parminder Singh, Narinder Singh Hundal and many
others graced the occasion.
In the
afternoon, Dr. Swaraj Singh joined in a discussion on ‘Sikh
principles and the menace of globalization organized by Amritsar
Times Newsgroup. He emphasized the relevance of Guru Granth Sahib in
the 21st century. Resham Singh raised many fundamental
questions of how to disseminate the universal message of Guru Granth
Sahib while there is continuous threat to the very principles of
Sikhism from varied sources. Dr. Pritpal Singh, Convener of American
Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee expressed his apprehensions of a grave
threat to the Sikh identity. S. Ajmer Singh, the author “Whither
Went Sovereignty” (Kis Bidh Ruli Patshahi) also sought
clarifications about removing grievances of Sikhs. Bibi Sarbjit Kaur
Cheema, vice president of Fremont Gurdwara participated in the
discussion by proposing to extend programs like summer school for
Sikh children. Dr. Swaraj thanked Jasjit Singh and Harjit Singh
Khalsa for arranging the discussion on so short a notice. Jaswant
Singh Hothi of San Jose Sikh Gurdwara, Jaswinder Singh Jandi, Kamal
Banga, Professor Pritam Singh Cheema were some of the significant
presences. A video was screened to outline orchestrated campaign of
organized interference in Sikh religion by some disgruntled
elements.
On Sunday, 20
January 21, 2008, Dr. Swaraj Singh addressed the gathering at
Gurdwara West Sacramento where he urged the Sangat to seek light
from Guru Granth Sahib by constructing meanings in totality. He
pronounced that it was his firm belief that Sikh philosophy has the
capacity to reach out to the whole world. The program was arranged
with the consent of Rev. Wadhawa Singh, S. Balbir Singh Dhillon, S.
Darshan Singh Mundy, Dr. Onkar Singh Bindra of the management. Dr.
Nirmal Singh Dhaliwal, S. Ted Sibia appreciated Dr. Swaraj views on
Sikh ideology.
Dr. Swaraj
addressed Punjabi Sahit Sabha
California (Regd)
meeting for more than two hours continuously, speaking about
fundamental problem of comprehending many levels of truth in the
modern world. Guru Granth Sahib is indeed the treasure house of
unique metaphors, meters, symbols. Writers can play a big role in
giving to the society the best possible by constructing profound and
meaningful discourses. Harbans Singh Jagyasu, the president of Sahit
Sabha announced names of distinguished persons for the honor.
Veteran Arjinder Singh Sekhon who dared to contest a seat in US
Congress in Sikhi Sarup, Attorney Jaspreet Singh, Gurpal Khaira were
honored in recognition of their contribution to language and
literature. A special plaque of honor was presented to Dr. Swaraj
Singh for being a source of inspiration for writers.
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New body of Punjabi Sahit Sabha
A new
executive body of Punjabi Sahit Sabha California (Regd.) was
announced by the newly elected president Harbans Singh Jagyasu,
the president of Punjabi Sahit Sabha. Mohinder Singh will be now
general secretary, Harjinder Singh Pandher will be vice
president while Tatinder Kaur was chosen as finance secretary,
Joty Singh organizing secretary, Manjit Kaur Sekhon secretary
publishing, Kamal Banga, press secretary besides Gurpal Singh
Khaira and Rabinder Singh Atwal as new members of the advisory
board. |
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23 January 2008
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