cover pdf - Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia

12 The Sikh, July 2012
The amazing Sikh Naujawan
An entry from Dya'ries, the blog by Dya Singh, a participant of Sabha’s samelans in early
1960s
(20 June 2012): I am in Malaysia,
in Kuala Lumpur on my way to
conduct an Anand Karaj in
London. A copy of the 46th AGM
of the Sikh Naujawan Sabha
Malaysia arrived at my host and
friend Menjit Singh's house; some
memories and thoughts about the
Sabha came to mind - hence this
nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Forty-six years means inception
in 1966, but the Sabha held
'samelans' earlier, from 1962. My
peers or those older might say that
they started even earlier. I do
know for a fact that the 'official'
Sabha idea germinated in 1961/2
when the first two samelans were
held in Port Dickson, on the west
coast of Malaysia, under the
auspices of our revered Sant Baba
Sohan Singh Ji. So for me, this is
the 50th anniversary.
Malaysia's favourite and most
revered 'sant', Baba Sohan Singh
Ji, alongside other Sikh luminaries
like S. Gurbachan Singh
(headmaster), Master Joginder
Singh Ji, S. Hardial Singh Ji of
Seremban, Master Manjit Singh
(whose untimely demise robbed
the Sabha of a great youth leader),
Master Karminder Singh, S. Sarjit
Singh 'Bassian' and 'ham-radio
enthusiast and space
communication expert' S. Sangat
Singh, were the initiators of a
Naujawan Sabha idea which was
then formalised in 1966.
Founding member S. Joginder
Singh Ji who now resides in South
Australia recollected that there
was great opposition from some
gurdwara 'perbhandaks' who felt
that 'naujawan' activities must be
run by gurdwaras, not an
exclusive youth organisation.
I do not think a single year
has gone by since without the
Sabha conducting at least one
'samelan' a year in Malaysia.
'Samelans' are also organised
today all over South East Asia as
well as in Australia and New
Zealand. In fact, virtually every
weekend there is either a
mini-samelan or some other
'Sabha' activity in some part of
Malaysia.
The annual 'samelan' averages
about 1,000 participants and
about 300 sewadars providing
langgar, security and also home
trained facilitators fully versed
in Sikhi perchar, kirtan and
katha just before Christmas. A
samelan climaxes with an 'amrit
sanchar' ceremony for those
inspired and prepared to make
their 'commitment' to Kalgidhar
pita, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Today the Sabha boasts real
estate, a healthy bank balance -
even a stocks and shares
investment portfolio, to further
Sabha's Sikhi 'parchar' activities
along Akal Takhat 'maryadha'
lines and maintaining their
autonomy.
FOUNDING MEMBERS
A few of the original founding
members remaining are S.
Joginder Singh Ji in South
Australia (mentioned earlier); S.
Karminder Singh Ji in Temerloh,
Pahang state, Malaysia and S.
Sangat Singh Ji in KL. Perhaps
the Sabha should consider
commissioning an official history
of the Sabha for posterity? 50th
Anniversary perhaps?
Today the Sabha owns a hostel
for interstate Sikh students
studying in KL, a Sabha House in
KL, a Sabha House in Ipoh,
capital of Perak state and acreage
just out of KL for future
development into a Sabha
complex for multi purposes such
as 'samelans', leadership camps,
retreats and other Sabha activities.
Under the umbrella of the
Sabha, Global Sikhs was born
after the devastating Acheh
(Indonesia) tsunami in 2005,
which provided 'relief' and
clearing operations in Acheh. The
organisation has since been
involved in relief work in
devastating floods in the east coast
of Malaysia, Thailand and
Indonesia.
Other activities besides
samelans, relief work, leadership
workshops and excursions, the
Sabha is involved in are: Vesakhi
celebrations; Punjabi Bhasha
Melas; 'shudh paath' reading
competitions; naujawan and teens
kirtan competitions; leadership,
self-improvement and career
courses for school leavers and
college students; one parent family
relief; special workshops for
widows, orphans and single
mothers on self-improvement
techniques, career advice and
assistence; temporary
accommodation for needy
families; organising kirtenias,
parcharaks and kethakars to tour