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Malaysia’s Sikh Youth gathering
inspires younger generation
WSN Network
 KUALA LUMPUR:
Some
1,200 Sikh youths converged at SM Teknik Dato’ Lela Maharaja to
participate in the 45th International Gurmat Parchaar samelan or
annual Sikh youth camp thus making the sleepy hollow of Rembau in
Negri Sembilan abuzz with activity recently.
The samelan,
held over a week and organised by the National Sikh Youth
Organisation (SNSM), is a major Sikh youth gathering with
participants coming from as far as Europe and New Zealand.The camp
has been held continuously in schools all over the country since
1963, when the first was organised in Port Dickson with only 50
local youths participating.
SNSM president
Malkiat Singh said the objectives of the Rakan Muda-sanctioned
sammelan was to educate Sikh youths on the basic tenets of the
religion as well as its traditions and culture. “We also teach them
how to plan their career paths and the importance of networking. We
hold motivational talks and inspirational sessions to make them
realise their actual potential and the need to respect every
individual regardless of their race or religion,” he said. The
highlight of the camp was on the first day, when the Sikhs brought
the Guru Granth Sahib in a convoy from Gurdwara Sahib Tampin to the
school.
Locals, who had
never seen as many Sikhs in Rembau before, stopped to watch as five
Sikhs, dressed in their traditional attire, carried the Granth Sahib
in a palanquin into the school grounds.Young Sikhs, waving miniature
Jalur Gemilang and the Sikh flag lined the route from the entrance
of the school to its hall, where the Granth Sahib was eventually
placed.After breakfast, the youths were divided into teams for group
dynamics and projects.
The youths, he
said, were divided into groups based on their age. Those below five
years were put in the Nikey Khalse (young Khalsa) group, while those
in primary school were grouped as the Mighties and those in early
secondary school, the Miri Piri. “We also stress to the participants
the need to equip themselves with knowledge in whatever field and
that there are no boundaries or limits to this,” he said, adding
that the youths were also reminded to stay away from alcohol and
tobacco, which were strictly prohibited in the Sikh religion. “Since
Gurmukhi is not taught in schools during the Pupil’s Own Language (POL)
classes, we have little choice but to teach it during the camp. We
want the youths to pick up the script while they are here; then,
once they go back to their hometowns, they can continue their
classes at their respective gurdwara,” he said.
31 December
2008
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