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WSN Readers’
Tribute to Ishmeet Singh
 World
Sikh News joins all its readers in posthumously wishing greetings to
Ishmeet Singh on his 21st birthday. We thank all our
readers who chose the medium of the WSN to express their feelings
for the departed soul.
We thank Jasvir Kaur, Ekta Mehta, Taranjit Kaur from Spain, Lakhvir
Kaur – a student studying Accounting and Financial Management in
Leicester, UK, Kim Dhillon –an accountant from Hong Kong, Bhupinder
Kaur Preety, a merchandising student from Hong Kong, Phavanjeet Kaur
from Malaysia, Manjeet Kaur from Singapore, Gurjot Keerat, Paramjit
Singh Cherra, Sarabjit Kaur -a freelance event management
professional from Delhi, Pavandeep Singh, a student from London,
Abineet Kaur, Maninder Sanghera from Surrey, Canada, Kiran Kaur
Dhillon from Ilford, Soni Kumar -a mass communication student from
US Soni Kumar from US, Amrita Arneja –a homemaker from Luxembourg,
Mahanjot Singh Sodhi –a Consultant from Toronto, Canada, Jasmeet
Singh Bhogal –a senior software engineer with IBM from New Delhi,
the husband-wife team of Ravinder Pal Singh and Sumeet Kaur, Zahida
Virjee –an artist and an ardent fan, Vaneet Singh -Mechanical
engineer from Utah, USA, Manpreet Singh from UK and our fabulous
actor from Mumbai –Manmeet Singh, who wrote in their replies in
response to our questionnaire.
Here are replies to your questions –one by one, which will be
presented to the family of Ishmeet Singh soon. The replies have
been edited for reasons of clarity.
What is the most
appropriate way to perpetuate his memory?
Manjot Kaur:
According to me, I wish Star Plus along with others had made a CD in
the memory for our dear Ishmeet and recorded all his episodes or
just the songs to pay a tribute to him. Although his album Shukriya
wasn't released, they should still make a CD of all his songs till
now that he sang in both the shows, Jo Jita Wohi Sikandar and Voice
of India and also put his songs from his original album to pay a
tribute to him. This way we can actually make an album and keep that
with us forever as that album was his dream. He was the first VOI,
so I feel Star Plus should do something! Atleast all of us can see
his dream coming true, which I feel is the best way!
Taranjeet Kaur:
Our hearts. He is alive in my heart forever and this, nobody can
change! I never knew him, nor spoke with him but I feel him in my
heart.
Also I have a few photos of him in my room and when I sit
down, I can relax speaking with him... He's in my mind, just like
God!
Lakhvir Kaur:
The most appropriate way to perpetuate his memory is to pray to God
that may Ishmeet Singh Rest in Peace. Another way could be to
organize a Charity or open a music company under his name.
 Kim
Dhillon:
The petition "Justice for Ishmeet" is going on. I only want the
demands/requests in the petition to be implemented.
Zahida Virjee:
Keep the
music alive in our lives - Ishmeet will live on as long as the music
lives.
Phavanjeet Kaur:
We
should open a school that teaches Punjabi people how to sing with
proper Sur and Taal.
Manjeet Kaur:
I think he has left an impression on many young minds….thus he will
always be remembered and that, by itself is an appropriate way to
perpetuate his memory.
Manmeet Singh:
Our community can start some organisation in his name which can
help our Sikh youth maybe by giving them some kind of training or
education helping them in their careers.
Ravinder Pal Singh/Sumeet
Kaur:
The appropriate way is to provide justice to Ishmeest's family and
give full support till the time they get justice.
Jasmeet Singh
Bhogal:
The best way would be to protest for his justice. It’s a fact that
Ishmeet will never come back. Justice is what his family, friends
and fans want. In this hour of need we all need to join hands and
contribute in their fight for justice. This is the bare minimum we
can do.
Mahanjot S. Sodhi:
Commemorating Ishmeet’s B’day by holding a musical competition for
‘Sabat Soorat’ Gursikhs and keeping decent monetary awards for the
winners would be a befitting tribute for the departed young soul who
would have risen to the pinnacle of success in his lifetime. This
would encourage many other Gursikhs to come forward and be part of
the journey that Ishmeet had envisioned for us. A couple of
announcements have already been made in this regards by SGPC as well
as DSGMC.. Let’s hope, wish and pray that these announcements
indeed do materialize since these politicians have the knack of
making huge promises but not delivering them usually when the
appropriate time comes. Let’s keep his memories alive for ever!
Amrita Arneja: We
should try to contribute to a cause that he wanted to achieve as no
one would be able to fill in for him and his voice.
Soni Kumar:
Just remember that he was the voice of
India.
He won the title while keeping his faith, he was chosen out of all
the contestants and remember that he was such a good and pure
person...a good soul.
Kiran Kaur Dhillon:
We
should make a DVD of him with all of his songs that he sang in the
shows.
Maninder Sanghera:
He
should be motivation for all, I feel Star Voice of India should
celebrate his victory every year, dedicate shows to him. Also in
Gurudwara once a year we should do Sewa when remembering Ishmeet.
He was totally devoted to Sikhism.
Abhineet Kaur:
Open
institutes in his name.
Pavandeep Singh:
Celebrate his success and do not mourn his death. We can either
think that we have lost a Sikh icon, or we have gained somebody who
has helped and will help many more Sikhs to achieve the same as
Ishmeet did.
Paramjit S. Cherra:
Remember what he did... and how he did. He was told to cut his hair
and shave while he was on VOI. But he didnt!!! That takes lot of
courage and he did not give up who he was in order to become what he
wanted to become!!!! I RESPECT THAT!!!!!
 Harjinder
Singh:
We must ensure that what Ishmeet did for the Sikh identity should
not end with him not being with us anymore. Honest efforts should be
made to reverse trends in the Punjabi music and film industry.
Punjabi singers and actors should be urged to start sporting Turbans
and Beards. In a world of clean-shaven and bare-headed men, he wore
a Turban and sported an unshorn beard. We must create a world of
Turbaned and Bearded men to perpetuate his memory.
Gurpreet Singh Rana:
Every
Sikh should firstly ask, 'Why was it that we loved Ishmeet so
much?". The answer to this question will be in Ishmeet Singh's high
character, his sincerity, his soft-spoken nature and his Sikhi
Saroop.
We are nearing the 300th anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh
Ji's 'Joti Jot' divas. Prior to Guru Gobind Singh Ji's passing, the
Khalsa asked him 'Guru ji, you have attached us to Sri Guru Grath
Sahib for spiritual guidance, but, out of our profound love for you,
whom/what should we turn to if we want to see your physical form
again?'. Guru Sahib did not ask the Khalsa to build statues of him
or name Gurdwaras after him to perpuate his memory. Sahib-e-Kamal,
Guru Gobind Singh ji replied that those Sikhs that want to see his
physical form should look at the Khalsa. The Khalsa is therefore
obliged to be a living memory of Guru Gobind Singh ji.
My brothers and sisters the world over, if you really want
perpuate Veer Ishmeet Singh's memory, then perpetuate the attributes
that made you love Ishmeet in yourselves.
Gurjot Keerat:
May be
by setting up an educational institute or music academy in his
memory.
Jasvir Kaur:
The best way
to remember him is not only to celebrate his birthday but to
remember him always and we can also have a competition of singing on
that day and awards may be given to the winners.
Vaneet Singh
I think the most appropriate way to perpetuate his memory would be
to carry on his legacy. Exemplify Ishmeet to inspire and motivate
the youth, help them realize their dreams and encourage them to work
hard. Sikh youth should be encouraged to maintain their identity (Sabat
Soorat image) which is in no way an obstacle to enter any
profession, even if it is a profession in Bollywood.
Manpreet Singh There will remain many ways to cherish the memories of
Ishmeet Singh. However the best way I believe is for us to try and
follow his footsteps and remember him by representing his character
in society and the world. There will be no value in remembering him
and then going out and offending someone because Ishmeet Singh was
not like that. Let’s all try and be good humans like Ishmeet Singh
- that would be his true memory.
Sarabjeet Kaur
The
best way through which we can perpetuate his memory is to bring
justice to him and his family by thoroughly investigating the cause
of his death, because this question has not been asnswered yet that
whether he drowned himself or he was made to drown. If we'll get the
answer of this question then surely his soul will be able to rest in
peace.
10 September 2008
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