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Jakara Movement Sikh Youth
Conference
WSN Network
 FRESNO:
From June 18-21, 2009, the Jakara Movement completed its tenth
conference. Over 160 Sikh youth from throughout the
United States
congregated in Fresno, California for an educational and
inspirational weekend that sought to “Remember 1984.
” Following an
evening of Kirtan and Ardas at the Gurdwara on Thursday night, the
2009 Jakara conference was initiated at Fresno State University with
a powerful introductory video describing the events of 1984,
followed by a presentation highlighting the relationship between the
central government and Sikhs.
Throughout the
first day of the conference, larger collective presentations were
contrasted with small group workshops where participants were placed
into conversation with each other through facilitator coordinated
discussions.
The first group
workshop centered on learning about the events leading up to both
the Battle of Amritsar and the Pogroms of Delhi. This was followed
by a gurbani sessions where participants learned and translated
shabads such as ‘Jo tho prem kahlon ka chao/Sir dar thali galee mere
aao’ that were markers of courage and defiance and acted as a call
to action for Sikhs in the 1980s.
 Another workshop
dealt with recollecting eye-witness accounts from the 80’s and
voicing the narratives of victims directly affected by the actions
in Punjab.
Not
only did participants read individualized histories but thereafter
used these to theorize about the interactions between Sikhs and the
state. Following a Rehras Sahib diwan, the day concluded with an
emotional candlelight vigil which visualized the intense trauma of
the 80’s in a slideshow presentation on the Shaheeds.
Saturday shifted
the focus from the past to the present and future. An impressive
morning diwan led into the workshops and lectures centered on
reacting to the events of Friday.
After an initial
lecture on the ways by which Sikh institutions and personalities
interacted with each other following the partition of India,
participants reaffirmed their commitment to the Sarbat Khalsa and
Gurmata tradition of consensus building through small group
workshops. This was followed by an eye opening panel discussion
narrated their individual stories about 1984 and how these attacks
on Sikhi served as their personal call to activism.
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It is only
with unity that we can build a brighter future; it is only as a
united Qaum that we have the power to change tomorrow. |
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The day
continued with a presentation on the role of the media in
formulating opinions and perceptions of Sikh and the description of
upcoming activist projects throughout California such as the
Alliance of Justice Week and Silent Marches.
For many
students, the events of Saturday acted as a personal call to action
as many began to figure out ways that they could articulate their
own desires and feeling through an activist response.
Following
evening Rehras diwan, Jakara participants gave voice to the
voiceless victims of the 80’s through eye-opening displays of hip
hop by up and coming Sikh artists included Humble the Poet, Sikh
Knowledge, and GNE, alongside Jagmeet Singh.
 The Jakara
Movement is dedicated to creating avenues for the Sikh youth to
engage and respond with recent Sikh histories. Following the
successful “Sukhmani Sahib for the Shaheeds” project during the
first week of June, the Jakara Movement conference will be followed
by events including “Visions for Truth: 1984 Movie Screenings” in
August, Jakara Junior Camps that will teach young Sikh children
about the bravery of the Sikhs in recent history in October and
“Silent Marches” that will provide a solemn forum for the entire
community and other community leaders in a silent candlelight march
in November, and finally “Alliance for Justice Week” which will
highlight and unify all victims of genocides to stand together. The
entire Sangat is welcome to get involved.
One of the
greatest lessons for the Sikh community to learn from in light of
the events of 1984 was –divided we fell; united we’ll stand.
It is only with
unity that we can build a brighter future; it is only as a united
Qaum that we have the power to change tomorrow. For more information
or to get involved with any of the upcoming events visit the Jakara
webpage at www.jakara.org and follow updates as well as see pictures
from the live-blog at j.Khabar, the Jakara Movement blog.
24
June 2009
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