WSN-Canada News-Haloonaa's bid to revive internationalism among Sikhs

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Haloonaa revives internationalism among Sikhs
WSN Network

The purpose was to inspire people to think like a Sikh, not only to look or act like one. To think like a Sikh, they must advance their thinking through questioning, self- exploration, and engaged learning. Haloonaa strives to nudge the Sikh masses in this direction with a message of encouragement and Chardi Kala.

TORONTO: Sikh activists, leaders, university students, and young professionals from all over Canada, participated in an instructional seminar entitled “Sevadar- Becoming An Inspiring Activist” at Khalsa Community School, Malton on August 9, 2008. The seminar was organized by Haloonaa Project Coordination Team. The focus was to educate and empower Sikhs to develop strategies for those in leadership roles; to become constructive educators and role models; and to make a positive impact on strengthening their community. This workshop was one in a series of events being organized by Haloonaa team to commemorate the 300th-anniversary of the Guruship of Guru Granth Sahib as Eternal Shabad Guru which is being celebrated world wide this year.

According to Bhai Harjinder Singh, Haloonaa Project Coordinator, “Though worldwide Sikh activities and events have effectively created an awareness of the Sikh faith, now the fifth largest religion in the world, mere awareness of Sikhi is no longer enough – active and engaged leadership is required to re-establish the Sikh spirit within our youth and throughout our nation. Haloonaa team attempted to directly address these needs with the help of Sikh Research Institute through ‘Sevadar’. Bhai Satwant Singh, one of the Haloonaa organizers, added, “the purpose was to inspire people to think like a Sikh, not only to look or act like one. To think like a Sikh, they must advance their thinking through questioning, self- exploration, and engaged learning. Haloonaa strives to nudge the Sikh masses in this direction with a message of encouragement and Chardi Kala”.

Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) facilitated six sessions; the event began with an introduction of all participants They were encouraged to share who their activist role model is and how they have inspired them. The second session on “Gurmat” in which a framework to understand Sikhi was presented by Harinder Singh through a look at bani (scripture), tavarikh (history), and rahit (discipline). Kulvir Singh facilitated the third session entitled “Seva” in which he focused on attitude and accountability and presented case studies of five Guru-inspired activists from Sikh history. In the next session “The Ten Nanaks”, Inderpreet Singh delivered an effective presentation on oneness in Jot & Jugat, the idea and the process in Sikhi. The fourth session “Language & Culture” was facilitated by both Harinder Singh and Inderpreet Singh together. This session stressed on the standardization of vocabulary, phrases, & spellings to make a positive and consistent impact. Following the sessions, participants engaged in two short exercises to practice the idea of standardization. An open forum of “Questions & Answers” served as the last session in which participants were encouraged to ask questions and seek opinions from a Gurmat perspective.

Rapinder Kaur, an attendee who is an art therapist from Brampton, commented: “The Sevadar workshop presented a thought provoking, challenging and highly informative look at what it means to be an inspiring activist from the Sikh perspective. The workshop inspires you to adopt the notion of oneness and recognize the divinity within all. We are obligated to our religious heritage that we aspire to become ‘inspiring’ activists”. “I would highly recommend Sevadar training to anyone wanting to serve others as a role model Sikh,” remarked Bhai Balwinder Singh, a Haloonaa member.

This unique one day event focussed on the characteristics of Sikh-activists in leadership roles. It inspired Fifty-five participants to become positive, informed, and trained activists within their communities. The sessions implored attendees to continuously develop themselves while inspiring others and making both positive individual and institutional changes. “Our aim is to present the holistic image of a Sikh activist, the one who is embodiment of seva-simran. It is not a question of what comes first: community activism or personal connection with Vahguru. It is a simultaneous process,” commented Bhai Inderpreet Singh, a workshop facilitator and a member of the SikhRI’s Board of Advisors.

Sociology Professor Indira Prahst of Langara College from B.C. reflecting on the seminar remarks “during these difficult times where several Sikhs are faced with the challenge of living in a world that has dehumanized them in spirit and image, many Sikhs have worked hard to deconstruct the negative stereotypes that have mushroomed on global levels about who they are. Through this seminar, I have gained greater awareness about how Sikhs are coping and the strategies some employ to transform these images into positive ones which portray a peaceful, compassionate and a productive Sikh.” Bhai Harinder Singh, SikhRI’s Executive Director and the seminar facilitator, shared that “it great to see an intermix of first and second generation Canadian Sikh coming together to develop better understanding of the Sikh culture of activism. Our hope is it will propel the participants to provide apt responses both tactically and strategically”.

On the behalf of entire Haloonaa team, Bhai Harjinder Singh expressed appreciation to all the facilitators “who extended their time and shared vast knowledge with their expertise on the topics presented to the participants”. He also thanked all the volunteers for their invaluable contribution and all attendees for their active participation to make this event successful in meeting the expectations. He hoped that intellectual information imparted in this event has further strengthened the understanding of the participants who now have more tools necessary to develop and empower future leadership inspiring from a Sikhi perspective.

Haloonaa team has already announced to organise a seminar at a large scale in October this year and the theme of this event will be: “Gurbani is jag mahi chanan: Gurbani is the Light to illuminate this world”. The date, location and further details of this event will be announced as soon as everything is finalized.