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Sikhs need to evolve
an intellectual paradigm
Sarwarinder Singh Roomi
GLENWOOD: The
contribution and martyrdom of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was
unique in the annals of struggles for identity and self-respect,
though the anti-Sikh network is still strong and is leaving no stone
unturned to whitewash the memory of his work from Sikh minds, said
Ajmer Singh, the author of Kis Bidh Rulli Patshahi and
Veehvi Sadi di Sikh Rajniti, who was here on a lecture tour at
the instance of the Sikh Federation of Australia and the Australia
Sikh Association.
The prime need of
the hour is to ensure that the physical death of Sant Jarnail Singh
is not followed by the demise of the thought process unleashed by
him as there appears to be a conspiracy in this direction said the
speaker whose powerful oratory had the congregation spell-bound for
a good 45 minutes. He was addressing the congregation at Gurdwara
Parkley during the Shaheedi celebrations of Guru Arjan Sahib and the
Remembrance Day of the martyrs of June 1984.
The learned scholar
and thinker answered all questions relating to the June 1984 Saka at
Darbar Sahib. He said that “this battle fought at the holy place
will have a special place in the psyche of Sikhs for all times to
come. National battles become part of the soul of the community and
they live etched there forever.” In his elaborate speech, Ajmer
Singh also touched the spiritual aspect of the martyrdom of Sant
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Jaspreet Singh, a
leader of the Sikh Federation of Australia, who had especially come
from Melbourne, said that the Sikhs need to evolve an intellectual
movement to defeat the designs of Brahamanism who were responsible
for the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib and the Saka June 1984. He
appealed to the Sikh youth to respect Shabd Guru and learn from the
glorious heritage of the Sikhs.
The Sikh youth
wholesomely participated in the Question and Answer session and
admired the wit and knowledge of Ajmer Singh. The traditional high
tone and tenor of functions was replaced by the serious
thought-provoking congenial atmosphere of dialogue which was
appreciated by one and all. During the course of the function,
pictures of historical personalities were displayed on a giant
picture-screen. A message of Bhai Daljit Singh, president of
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Panch-Pardhani was read out on the
occasion.
The bard group of
Bhai Baljinder Singh and Bhai Gurchetan Singh engaged the Sangat
with their knowledge of Sikh history. Kirtan was performed by the
Hazuri Ragi Jatha of the Gurdwara, Bhai Charanjit Singh and his
jatha. The patron of the Federation, Bhai Ajit Singh of South
Australia thanked the Sangat. Other members of the Gurdwara
Committee Charanjit Singh Atwal, Labh Singh Kooner, Balwinder Singh
Chahal, Federation leaders Manjit Singh Purewal, Jaspal Singh,
Trilok Singh, Hardeep Singh, Giani Harbans Singh, Kanwaljit Singh
Jandi and Balwinder Singh also spoke on the occasion. General
Secretary of the Australia Sikh Association, Amarjit Singh Giran was
the stage secretary.
25
June, 2008
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