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Surrey
gurdwara election throws up new equations
Sikh Youth Slate win underlines
return to the traditional way
WSN Bureau
 SURREY:
In signs of changing equations, rise of the Sikh youth power and the
community’s urge to connect with the highest temporal seat of Sri
Akal Takht Sahib, the election to Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey
has returned as victorious the Sikh Youth Slate.
Led by Bikramjit
Singh Sandhar, the results underline the determined struggle of the
youth to restore the tradition of Gurdwara Sahibs to their pristine
glory and ensure that Gurdwaras accomplish the purpose for which
they are built.
The Sikh Youth
Slate saw its eighteen candidates win the Gurdwara elections with a
decisive margin of 13,400 to 7,200 of the Harjinder Singh Thana
group. Incidentally, the Thana group had last time defeated then
president Balwant Singh Gill and Sadhu Singh Samra groups.
The
Sikh Youth Slate’s mission is clear and focused, “We are a group of
progressive-minded Sikhs, consisting of men and women, students,
businessmen, entrepreneurs and professionals from fields such as
law, finance and software development. We genuinely desire to work
towards the betterment of the community, and share a common focus
and direction, centered on unity: We are all Sikhs!”
Not to be
outdone with rhetoric and whimper, they seem to have done not only
their homework well from the electoral point of view but also
emphasized the inclusive character of Sikhism. “It is time to stand
shoulder-to-shoulder as Sikhs – whether we are Amritdhari or
non-Amritdhari, whether we are Kesdhari, or Sehajdhari, whether we
have been walking the Sikh path for decades or we are just taking
our first baby steps” said their campaign.
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The youth slate members, mostly in their 30s, ran on a
two-pronged platform of a return to traditional religious
observance and an expansion of gurdwara programs mostly to
respond to the needs of young families and youth. They promise
better maintenance of the buildings and tighter management of
finances. |
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And for the
cynics, who may still be imputing motives to the youth, the Sikh
Youth Slate had this to say, “We are prepared and dedicated to
create a progressive gurdwara environment, inclusive to all Sikhs.
We consider ourselves to be sevadars tasked with the responsibility
of changing the gurdwara from being a place of divisive politics, to
being a positive place for congregation, open to everyone!
Not stopping at
the Sikhs, they have also clarified that they would be working for
humanity at large and ensure that the Gurdwara becomes the fulcrum
of community outreach services encompassing all Canadians and those
in and around
Surrey
in particular.
 With veteran
Sikh-baiter Balwant Singh Gill and company accepting defeat, the
stage is set for a new president in Bikramjit Singh Sandhar in early
January next year. “This service is done by the grace of God, for
the well-being of humanity. Thank you to all those who supported
this campaign, and all those who volunteered countless hours to make
this change happen. Now, the real work begins,” Sandhar said.
 But
most significant is the turn that the langar row may take from here
since the winning group is rather keen ion restoring the maryada
ordained through an Akal Takht hukumnama that mandates langar to be
partaken sitting on floor. The Balwant Singh Gill group had
advocated the use of furniture, i.e., tables and chairs during
langar.
18
November 2009
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