Khwaish-April-2013

MICA (P) 148/01/2012 April 2013
a s p i r a t i o n s
Publication of Young Sikh Association (Singapore)
An Inclusive Singapore
IN THIS ISSUE…
DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam shares his
views on an inclusive Singapore society at YSA
dialogue session
From the desk of...
YSA Retreat 2012
Taking Stock and Planning Ahead
Community Service in a Punjab Village School
A Life-Changing Experience!
Sikh Graduates Networking Session 2012
More Skilled Jobs Await Singaporeans
Thinking Aloud!
An Inclusive Society - Steps to making a
Vision to Reality?
Speaking Softly!
Mr Fauja Singh’s message to youth on the
secrets of a fulfilling and long life
SMS Lawrence Wong engages young
Singaporeans at dialogue session
YSA supports fundraising initiative for Down
Syndrome Association Singapore
YSA lights up the heartlands with Bhangra
Bonanza 2012

Young Sikh Association (Singapore)
Panel of Advisors
Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman
Senior Parliamentary Secretary
Ministry of National Development; and
Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC
Mr Inderjit Singh
Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC
Mr Davinder Singh
Chief Executive Officer
Drew and Napier LLC
Mr Kirpa Ram Sharma
Managing Director
Pars Ram Brothers (Pte) Ltd
Young Sikh Association (Singapore)
Executive Committee (2012-14)
Mr Malminderjit Singh
President
Mr Nirman Singh
Vice-President
Ms Sheena Gill
Honorary Secretary
Mr Kuldip Singh
Assistant Secretary and Culture
Mr Kulwant Singh
Honorary Treasurer
Mr Laxmikanthan
Assistant Treasurer
Mr Sarabjeet Singh
Committee Member and
Editor, Newsletter
Ms Harsimar Kaur
Committee Member
(Corporate Communications)
Ms Sithara Doriasamy
Committee Member
(Conferences and Seminars)
Ms Jagdeep Kaur
Committee Member
(Culture)
Mr Gurmeet Singh
Committee Member
(Sports)
Mr Ang Seng Yong
Committee Member
(Community Service)
Ms Sangeetha Madasamy
Committee Member
(Community Service and Corporate
Communications)
Ms Harjean Kaur
Committee Member
(Intellectual and Professional
Development)
Editor’s Note
We are all too familiar with that moment sometime towards the end of a
year, when we pause to consider how the year seems to have passed at the
blink of an eye. Indeed, as I have grown regrettably older over the years, the
months seem to move along even faster! For the most part and for most of
us, this is probably a function of our lives getting busier with added roles
and responsibilities as we transition through stages in life. Further, living in
a city-state often entails living on the edge. By this of course I mean that we
find ourselves occupied with having to scramble to meet expectations in our
education, careers, families, friendships... The list goes on. Taking stock of a
past year then, more often than not, leaves one wondering where to begin.
But something curious happened to me this time of year. Upon reflection, I
realise I had the good fortune of having more moments to pause throughout
the course of the year. My initial worries about the possibility that I had more
time to idle away, and hence the pauses, were quickly put to rest. On the
contrary, I had embarked on my first job upon graduation and a possible
career, gotten involved with more volunteer work to include my role at YSA, got both my motorcar and
motorcycle licenses, and purchased my first motorcycle! In short, I did have quite a fair bit on my plate.
I think the pauses, ironically and oddly enough, came about more so because it has been a particularly
eventful year for me peppered with many new experiences. Pardon my self-absorption, and putting that
aside, I am going to hazard a guess and say that I might not be off the mark if I were to say 2012 has been
quite an eventful year for most of us. Our shared experiences as a society this year seem to have something
distinct about them giving us more moments to pause, and ultimately giving 2012 a real character of its
own. In this editorial, I am going to delve into YSA’s events the last year, draw connections with broader
observable national trends based on prominent incidents, and in doing so make you understand what I am
getting at when I fathom a guess that some things about 2012 are going to remain etched in our minds for
some time to come.
To start off, YSA’s second instalment of the Bhangra Bonanza was a resounding success. For those of you
who missed it, you will be heartened to know that youth in our communities continue to demonstrate deep
interests in culture and tremendous talents in the performing arts. There was no one in the audience who
was not caught up in the hype of participants displaying their creativity and dancing to toe tapping Bhangra
beats. It dawned on me that whether these youth realise it or not, they are our cultural ambassadors
providing a service to us all through their continued efforts and passion for community cultures.
The importance of their roles cannot be overstated especially at a time where, with apparent shifts in our
society, the risks of a disconnect with what we deem crucial in our communities and culture loom larger.
That being said, it is hardly the case and rightfully so, that these youth are passive receptacles to cultures
handed down. The new-age beats youth at the bonanza incorporated (Dubstep and even ‘Gangnam
Style’!) and infused with Bhangra beats to give it a contemporary feel while retaining its authentic flavour,
are testament to youth’s autonomy to experiment with their creativity, and indicate their savvy as to what
appeals to consumers. More importantly, youth sometimes point us in directions that enable us to consider
ways in which culture can continue to remain relevant and vibrant if allowed to take its course in adapting,
accommodating and developing.
It is in this spirit that we must never accept culture as static and relics of antiquity. Instead it is useful to
compare it to a palimpsest or patchwork quilt that will always transform and remain a work in progress
with distinct imprints of time gone by. It would potentially be dangerous to assume otherwise.
On this note, the SMRT train station announcement issue of 2012 comes to mind. In workplaces, coffeeshops,
on facebook and online forums, and even within the privacy of our living spaces, discussions on the pros
and cons of this step taken by the public transport operator must have been all too familiar, even taking
centre stage with sentiments added into the mix. There is then little need to reiterate details except to
consider what could have been possible learning points for us all from the episode. Senior Minister of State
Ms Indranee Rajah’s coining of the term ‘emological’ aptly describes aspects of our culture and identity
as Singaporeans. Within the context of the SMRT issue, it enables us to appreciate how fiercely many
Singaporeans will guard what they perceive as a sense of the local and what is common to fellow citizens
(in this case SMRT Train Station names). It would be far too simplistic to dismiss this as xenophobia as
some quarters did.
A nuanced perspective would consider how the Singaporean identity, arguably hard to pinpoint and define
in precise terms as it is, exists in a state of flux within the contexts of a rapidly evolving and changing
home. One just needs to consider changes to our physical landscape to appreciate how identity building is
confronted with the challenges of having to bulldoze the old to make way for the new as the mere survival
of the home depends on it. Within this frame, station names seemed to provide an anchor for identities,
and the rootedness of this was perhaps overlooked by those in the decision making progress for the SMRT
proposal to test new announcements for station names. This stresses the importance of inclusivity, and in
this case to the sensitivities of local cultures which especially have a bearing on and are a salient feature
of identity. At the same time, as with our local landscape that improves with change, our local cultures can
also potentially be reinvigorated and strengthened if space is made for the right amount of mixing and
striking a balance with the new.
This brings me to my concluding paragraph on the theme of this issue of Khwaish. With the ongoing
Singapore Conversation, YSA similarly realised the need for us to engage broader society in a discussion on
building an inclusive home. For this purpose, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam graciously
accepted YSA’s invitation as speaker for this year’s Ministerial Dialogue on the topic. Harjit Kaur’s thought
provoking Thinking Aloud article on the back of the dialogue session in this issue is sure to make us pause
once more to reflect on some of the steps we can all take towards making a more inclusive home and society.
There is no denying that building an inclusive society is a complex challenge and progress in this regard
will be at a steady pace, and possibly with some bumps along the way as we have encountered in 2012.
However, 2012 has also shown how progress can be made towards this cause if we remain open, receptive,
tolerant, and most importantly understand differences without having to encounter undue pressures.
Sarabjeet Singh
Our Mission…
FULFILLING ASPIRATIONS!
Editorial Information
Khwaish is a newsletter of Young Sikh Association (Singapore). Please feel free to forward your
comments and feedback to:-
Mr Sarabjeet Singh 8 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 169543
Editor, Khwaish Mobile: 8222 8485 Fax: 6319 8277
Young Sikh Association (Singapore) Email: sm.sarabjeet@gmail.com
No part of this newsletter should be published without the consent of the Editor, Khwaish.

Cover Story
DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam
shares his views on an inclusive Singapore society
at YSA dialogue session
Success can be found in every area of life, and is not
a dirty word. It brings great value to society when
people take pride in what they do, and when young
people discover something that they enjoy and put in
the effort to be good at it.
Encouraging Singaporeans to succeed in their own
ways, and giving those who start off with disadvantage
a real opportunity to find their strengths and do well, are
at the core of what makes an inclusive society. Deputy
Prime Minister (DPM) Tharman Shanmugaratnam said
this to an audience of 300 people on 24 November
2012, most of whom were youth, as they discussed
how Singapore can head closer towards an inclusive
society.
Organised by YSA, the dialogue brought together
a wide range of Singaporeans, including those from
different ethnic and income backgrounds as well as
new citizens, for a closed-door dialogue session with
DPM Tharman to discuss an important issue.
"In this year's national day message, the Prime
Minister had announced the idea of having a national
conversation and he sketched out the vision of
Singapore along the themes of Hope, Heart and Home.
YSA's mission is to fully understand and inculcate the
aspirations of Singapore's society, and to enhance
mutual understanding on issues of common concern.
As such, this dialogue allowed us to play our part and
reach out to members of the community to be a part
of this conversation. Hopefully this can help make an
inclusive Singapore Society a reality", said Malminderjit
Singh, President of YSA.
Khwaish
3

The dialogue session was candid and lively, where
participants voiced their opinions and comments without
inhibition. DPM Tharman answered the many questions
from the audience and included his own anecdotes on how
we can improve our society as well as encouraging the
younger participants in the audience to pursue a course or
career in an area that they will enjoy, "because when you
do something you enjoy, you put something extra into it,
and you eventually do well."
Commenting on the more active discussion on issues
that takes place in Singapore, including critical online
views, DPM Tharman said, "Some things are inevitable
as our society matures. We will have different views on
various matters, local or national. Young people often
have different perspectives than those in the baby boom
generation, who in turn think differently on some issues
from the pioneering generation. Views also differ more
widely within the same generation."
"We can see all this already, and must provide room for
these different perspectives. But what is really important
is that we keep a strong consensus on our core values -
the values that allow us to make a living in an intensely
competitive world, that lead us to respect every type of
ability and every job, and that will make the journey ahead
worthwhile for all Singaporeans."
When asked about her concerns as a young Singaporean,
student Simranpal Kaur, 21, said, "As a student who will be
in the workforce in a few years, my friends and I have many
relevant concerns such as what career we should pursue
and if we will only be successful in certain types of careers
or if we should only work in the areas relevant to what we
have studied. DPM’s advice was reassuring in that we can
all aspire to do what we enjoy most."
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4 Khwaish

From the desk of...
Mr Malminderjit Singh
This issue of Khwaish marks the end of 2012 – an eventful year
for YSA as the new team leading the organization completes
its first six months in office – and the beginning of 2013 as it
looks towards its first year at the helm.
We have undertaken and completed several initiatives and
projects since October, reaching new heights along the way.
In October, we partnered the Sikh Centre for the Graduates’
Tea Reception and it is a reflection of the growing credibility
of this ceremony that we had the largest number of graduates
ever register this year.
This rise in interest levels for the event is even more
encouraging for YSA as it is in line with our intent to deepen
our reach and engagement within the community as well as
to contribute towards promoting thought leadership within
the younger members of the organization and community. In
this regard, we aim to intensify links with youth groups within
the higher education sector here to explore ways in which we
can work with them for some of these plans we have. I hope
to be able to provide you with substantive updates on these
initiatives in forthcoming issues of Khwaish.
the other organizations involved were the Singapore Indian
Development Association (SINDA) Youth Club, the Mendaki
Club as well as the youth groups of the Eurasian Association
and Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), while
the National Youth Council supported the initiative. YSA also
extended this invite to Sikh Sewaks Singapore, which sent its
representatives to the dialogue proper, helping to increase the
participation of youth from the community at the event. We
were encouraged by the collaboration with the other youth
organizations and are keen to explore further collaborations
with some, or all, of these groups and in some cases, we even
see the potential of a formalized relationship developing in
the future. Not only will such relationships and collaborations
increase our visibility and anchor YSA in the national landscape,
it will also allow us to provide our members, and others in the
community, with new offerings and opportunities. After all,
expanding our reach and domain will allow us to better fulfill
the aspirations of young Singaporeans.
For YSA, it will certainly be an exciting year ahead because we
turn 10 years old in 2013 as we look forward to celebrating this
milestone with all of you!
The strength in the depth and breadth of YSA, its activities and
team is that we were also able to record similar enthusiasm
for another of our events of a different nature. The second
edition of the Bhangra Bonanza, held in early November, saw a
sell-out crowd enjoy a fun-filled family event in the heartlands
of Ang Mo Kio. Not only was it sold-out more than a week
before the event, Bhangra Bonanza saw a varied crowd come
together to celebrate diversity and cultural appreciation. This
feat even earned YSA a mention in the forum section of The
Straits Times as one of the attendees wrote in to cite the event
as an example of promoting integration through innovative
platforms. YSA has always been a firm advocate of unity and
stability in society and we will continue to explore ways in
which we can contribute to these efforts.
So, it is a strategic advantage that YSA has taken strides in these
past few months to spread its wings on the national landscape
and increase its visibility beyond the Sikh community. First, we
held our Ministerial Dialogue in November with Deputy Prime
Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, giving our members and
participants the opportunity to engage the leading policymaker
on national issues as well as providing them with a
platform to share their invaluable feedback on the discussion
of an inclusive society in Singapore.
In addition, YSA also played a leading role in organizing and
participating in a youth-focused national conversation with
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Lawrence
Wong. The unique thing about this dialogue session was
that it was done as a joint effort between five communitybased
youth organizations here, possibly the first time such
a collaboration has come about in Singapore. Besides YSA,
Khwaish
5

YSA Retreat 2012
Taking Stock and Planning Ahead
YSA held its first corporate planning
exercise on 11 August 2012. The
attendees included invited community
leaders, representatives from
partnering agencies that have worked
closely with YSA, and YSA executive
committee members past and present.
The morning kicked off with a speech
by the founding YSA President, Mr
Hernaikh Singh, who had been at the
helm of the organisation since its
inception. Hernaikh provided some
background into the forming of YSA and
the challenges faced in its early years.
He also recollected the milestones and
achievements YSA has garnered in its
short but meaningful history.
Mr Malminderjit Singh, the current YSA
President, then provided a glimpse
into YSA’s role moving forward. He
highlighted some of the challenges
facing the community at present and
suggested ways in which YSA could
expand its role.
Following the two opening addresses,
Professor Kirpal Singh, Director,
Wee Kim Wee Centre, Singapore
Management University, YSA’s invited
guest speaker, spoke about the
challenges that organisations such
as YSA are likely to face and made
a compelling case on the need for
innovative and fresh approaches to
engage youth in Singapore and abroad.
Professor Kirpal has been involved
in YSA’s programmes and has been
intimately following its progress over
the years.
The participants were then involved
in the next section of the exercise
on taking stock of YSA’s initiatives
and identifying opportunities and
challenges for the community in the
coming years. It was a truly engaging
session as everyone was very candid
and forthcoming with their views. The
exercise was very fruitful and captured
a diversity of views and ideas, which
helped set the tone for the Executive
Committee to deliberate upon in the
later part of the day.
Before the session broke for lunch
though, YSA’s Advisor and Member
of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Mr
Inderjit Singh, provided his thoughts
on the proceedings for the morning
and highlighted a few key areas where
the organisation could place greater
focus going forward. He also presented tokens of appreciation to Professor Kirpal
and to the three key founding members of YSA who had stepped down from the
Executive Committee earlier this year after nine years of dedicated service to
YSA – Mr Hernaikh, and former Vice Presidents, Mr Satwant Singh and Mr Sukhbir
Singh.
During the second half of the session, the Executive Committee and some
members of YSA’s partner organisations participated in a brainstorming session
on strategies pertaining to the key issues and recommendations highlighted
during the first half of the day and to assess how these could be incorporated
into YSA’s work plan. Facilitated by Mr Sarjit Singh, a community and grassroots
leader, as well as a friend of YSA, the session was very enriching for the Executive
Committee as it helped streamline the collective objectives of the team into a
focused set of strategies and provided the new team with an opportunity to
strengthen their bonds.
Some of the ideas originating from the full-day exercise will be brought into
fruition over the next two years as the new Executive Committee leads YSA into
a new chapter of its history. The Executive Committee aims to provide YSA’s
stakeholders and constituents with an enriching and enjoyable experience on this
journey.
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6 Khwaish

Community Service in a Punjab
Village School
A Life-Changing Experience!
Sangeetha Madasamy
Someone once said, “It is impossible to help
everyone, but if you manage to help one
person, touch that person’s life, it is enough.
This person will, in turn, be able to help
someone else and the process continues.”
This was one of the main reasons I signed up
for the community service expedition to India
by Young Sikh Association (Singapore) called
Project Khwaish XII. I strongly believe in this
adage. Of course, the less altruistic reason was
that I wanted to desperately get away from the
hustle and bustle of life here.
Sometimes, as individuals, we can be too
idealistic. We think we can transform lives
of those around just through our efforts and
causes. However, it is important to be realistic
as well. As participants, we understood that
there would be many limitations and obstacles
during the expedition but the team of project
Khwaish XII, which consisted of 15 youths and
three leaders, did its level best to improve
the lives of the children of the Government
Elementary School in Gaggarbhana Rayya, a
village in Amritsar, Punjab, from 6 to 26 December 2012.
The school, to be honest, was in a decrepit condition. The walls were either dirty grey or brown.
The foreground of the school was uneven. The classrooms were dark and dingy, and there were
no electric light bulbs, with the teachers and students depending on sunlight. In some of the
classrooms, there were no desks and chairs for the students. They happily sat on the floor as the
teachers taught them the lesson for the day. After seeing the condition of the school, I realised we
had much work to do. In the first couple of days, the team was busy scraping paint off the walls and
painting primer on the walls to make them weather resistant. With the first coat of white paint, the
school slowly came to life. We added two more coats to the walls and ceilings and just with white
paint, the classrooms were transformed.
We then proceeded to work on the library which is the other arm of our project. The objective
of Project Khwaish is not just to improve the school aesthetically but to also instil the habit of
reading in English in young minds. Our donation drive started months before we left for India,
where we collected books, clothes, toys and bags for the children in the school and the villagers.
We catalogued the books and separated them into fiction and non-fiction. As for the other items,
we sorted them according to size, gender and age. We packed these items into boxes and sent
them by freight to India. The books, all sorted in alphabetical order, were ready. However, before we
could shift them into the library, we had to come up with a theme and a mural as with the tradition
of previous Khwaish projects. After much thought and deliberation, we started painting the library.
The end result was a brick house looking into a jungle with a lion, elephant, snake, giraffes and birds
on the back and right walls from the entrance of the library, and rolling hills with colourful hot-air
balloons with the word, “Khwaish XII”, on the left wall. As a team made of individuals who had
people who failed art in school, I think we did very, very well.
Like all endings, our departure from Gaggarbhana Rayya was bittersweet. The result of our project
was a freshly painted school with the colours of the Indian flag on alternate pillars, a library with
over 2,000 books and murals, a water filtration system to provide clean water for the school
children, a levelled foreground with brick tiles that extended to the length of the building, a school
gate, boundary walls, upgraded toilet facilities with steps and tiles, light bulbs and fans in the
classrooms, and new desk benches for all classrooms. With a dentist and a teacher in the team, we
made the most out of our project by also conducting oral hygiene classes and providing tips on
teaching methods. We even managed to donate brand-new bookshelves and some books we had
to the middle and high school next door.
During the project, we endured the cold winter and fog for 20 days, with many of us falling ill in
the process. Most of us were ready to go home and continue the lives which we had put on hold
for three weeks. It was not just goodbye to our humble hosts who took care of us like family and
attended to our every need, or to a technology-free world, or the kids whose lives we wanted
to make a difference in. It was goodbye to a life of communal eating, communal working and
communal living. Many times after work in the school, we came to the house to practise Bhangra
(which we performed in the handing over ceremony) in little daylight or in darkness, sometimes
with just a torch for light.
When we finally landed in Singapore, we did not just feel warmth in our skin, but also in our
hearts that was filled with new friendships and memories to last a lifetime. Whilst we transformed
a school, the expedition transformed all 18 of
us. It was indeed a life-changing experience
– an experience which showed that love and
compassion go beyond relationships and every
act of care and concern makes you a better
person.
About Young Sikh Association
(Singapore)
Young Sikh Association (Singapore) was
established in August 2003 to fulfill the
aspirations of young Singaporeans. The
Association reaches out to them so as to fully
understand and appreciate their aspirations
and inculcate these aspirations into the
Singapore society, so as to enhance mutual
understanding on issues of common concern
and foster friendship across all the ethnic
groups in Singapore, the region and the world.
More details on the Association can be found
at www.ysas.org.
About the Khwaish Projects
Young Sikh Association (Singapore) started the
Khwaish projects to provide the opportunity
for Singaporean youths to address the
educational needs of host communities in
India so that the children have a better school
environment. At the same time, it was to enable
the participants to participate in meaningful
service in aid of the less fortunate and, in doing
so, experience a sense of civic engagement
and social responsibility. The expeditions
are also aimed at enabling the participants
develop group and leadership skills.
Started in 2003, the Association has undertaken
12 projects in India. More than 200 young
Singaporeans from the ages of 17 to 35 years
have participated in these expeditions.
Khwaish
7

Sikh Graduates Networking Session 2012
More Skilled Jobs Await Singaporeans
The jobs of the future will be in
personalised services, and the
government is developing the potential
for graduates to get into such skilledjobs
here in Singapore.
Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister of State for
Finance and Transport, said that jobs
likely to be created and retained in the
future are not necessarily college-level
jobs. In the United States, for example,
Mrs Teo pointed out that one of the
fastest growing areas of employment
is in personalised services such as
healthcare and personal care which
includes the beauty industry.
Speaking at a plaque presentation
ceremony for Sikh graduates on 6
October 2012, Mrs Teo explained that, in
Singapore, the government has already
recognised this. For these reasons,
applied degree pathways are being
developed in areas where opportunities
of the future lie. She also highlighted
that the committee that studied higher
education in Singapore, headed by
Minister of State for Education, Mr
Lawrence Wong, identified the need for
more degree pathways to be created
offering degree education to train
graduates for jobs with applied skills
and practice-oriented fields, rather than
just general degree education. “It may
involve providing a degree in culinary
science, so we could train someone
not as an ordinary chef, but a highlyqualified
chef.”
Earlier Mr Malminderjit Singh, YSA’s
President, had highlighted in his speech
that Singapore's low unemployment
rate, which hovers around two percent,
is a stark contrast to the plight of
youth unemployment in the troubled
European economies, such as Spain,
where more than 50 percent of youth
remain unemployed.
Expanding on the speech made by
Mr Singh, Mrs Teo also touched on
these high unemployment rates in
Spain and Portugal. Mrs Teo added
that job creation is something that the
Singapore government bears in mind
and always strives to keep the economy
vibrant so that good employment
opportunities are always available for
fresh graduates when they enter the
workforce. The government is aware
of and understands the long-lasting
detrimental socio-economic impact
that unemployment has on its citizens
based on the experiences of other
countries.
In her concluding words of advice to
the graduates, Mrs Teo said that the
graduates’ educational achievements
must be complemented with a steady
character that can be developed
through active citizenry and community
involvement. The responsibility falls on
the next generation to stay connected
to the community, maintain its heritage,
understand its needs and contribute to
the progress of the community.
Mrs Teo presented plaques to 30 Sikhs
who had graduated recently from local
and overseas academic institutions.
The ceremony was attended by more
than 100 guests, including families and
friends of the graduates.
One of the recipients, Ms Arvinder
Kaur, who spoke during the event,
urged her fellow graduates “...to take
the conscious step towards being
considerate to the people around
us, be it our families, friends and our
society at large. Participate actively in
giving back to society in small ways
that are meaningful to you. She added
that, “actions such as participating
in community activities and outside
school activities with the intention to
benefit and interact with others do
make a difference. You may do it for
your resume - use that as motivation,
but I am sure as you begin to participate
in such activities, you will discover the
meaning in it that goes beyond records
and recognition.”
Organised by YSA and the Sikh Centre,
Singapore, the presentation ceremony
aims at recognising the academic
achievements of Sikhs, including those
who pursue post-graduate studies and
continuous learning. It is an important
platform to engage Sikh graduates
and to impress upon them the need
for them, as intellectuals, to contribute
to the Sikh community and Singapore
society. It is also an opportunity for
them to develop networks with their
fellow graduates.
8 Khwaish

An Inclusive Society
Steps to making a Vision to Reality?
Thinking Aloud!
Harjit Kaur
PM Lee’s comment above sparked the start of a ‘National
Conversation- what can be arguably listed in the annals of
Singapore’s political history as a first ; a first ever nation-wide
initiative by our leaders to engage all Singaporeans from various
walks of life on their vision of Singapore in the coming years. I
feel particularly delighted to be able to share my views on a topic
abuzz in our society today – ‘building an inclusive society’.
I will begin by expressing how I count myself extremely
fortunate to be part of two dialogue sessions with the Minister
of Community, Culture and Youth, Mr Lawrence Wong, as well as
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) & Minister of Finance, Mr Tharman
Shanmugaratnam. These sessions were initiated by the Young
Sikh Association, and proved to be fruitful and engaging as they
made us reflect on core issues such as ‘identity’, what it means and
entails to be a ‘Singaporean’ and so on. However, what inspired
me to pen down my thoughts for this article was the theme of the
second dialogue ‘Building an Inclusive Society- Making it happen’.
My first reaction with regards to the theme admittedly was surprise
-‘Making it happen’. A myriad of thoughts flashed in my mind.
One of it was a pertinent question- Why does an inclusive society
have to be made to happen? My doubts were answered during
the dialogue session itself. The government’s version of ‘inclusive
society’ was a practical one that was based largely on economic
practicalities and realities. Specifically, it remains necessary to
ensure that every Singaporean is given the opportunity to level up
(economically) with fellow Singaporeans. Once social mobility is
realised, our society can then progress to further heights.
From the onset, I laud the efforts of our leaders to broaden our
understanding of an ‘inclusive’ society. This inclusive society is no
longer based on culture, race or religion but that which accepts
ALL- regardless of physical handicap or even socio-economic
status. I dare say that this little red dot of ours has done well in
serving as a role model to all other nations. No, not a model of
cleanliness and greenery, rather a model of how a nation can have
all its citizens live in relative harmony with one another for more
than forty years. This feat could only be accomplished by the
far-sighted vision of our leaders then and even now- that a small
nation-state like ours cannot afford to be wrought with tension.
The above approach in my words is the use of the ‘Head’ framework,
where all citizens are provided with that chance to elevate their
socio-economic standing in society through education and skills
training. My insights would centre more on the use of the ‘Heart’
and ‘Hands’ approach. I will have to say that as an educator by
profession, I was encouraged by these three words echoed in the
revamped National Education syllabus of 2007- ‘Head’, ‘Heart’ and
‘Hands’. Through this framework, it is believed that Singaporeans
would learn to connect emotionally with their country, appreciate
Singapore’s diversity and take the lead to indulge in opportunities
to give back to our society.
I will not attempt to describe the ‘Head’ approach at length, as
many of us have already developed and internalized the knowledge
of our diverse heritage through educational institutions and
neighbourhoods to name a few. How then is the ‘Heart’ and ‘Hands’
framework applicable to the development of an inclusive society?
Well, the most significant aspect of this approach lies in the twin
pillars of ‘Accept’ and ‘Respect’. Two simple words? Are we all not
aware of such simple words that have been so commonly used
for a large part of our lives, be it at school or in the home? Then
my question arises- If I am speaking the obvious, why does the
obvious have to be made to happen?
“Our mission is to build an inclusive
society and a stronger Singapore.”
– Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Our DPM in the article dated 15 April 2012 (in TODAY), commented
that an inclusive society will take about 10 years to be fully
developed. Undeniably, economically this might take such an
extended period of time. However, socially, all it takes is probably
less than 10 seconds for every one of us to take that one step
towards showing acceptance and respect in the truest sense
to the diversity prevalent in our society. Singapore will not only
continue to see people of different cultures among them, but also
those individuals of a different economic status, or a Chinese/
Malay/Indian from a different society. Placing us among diverse
people does not naturally teach us how to accept and respect
diversity. We have to learn it- Yes, all of us from every rung of
the economic ladder have to learn it. The best way to acquire
this acceptance and respect is through role models- not just our
parents, teachers or leaders, but everyone. Every person will need
to take that important step forward of showing true respect and
acceptance for the immense diversity and variety present in our
society. By the word ‘true’, I mean that it is not only for cultures,
races, religious beliefs and so on that we display respect and
acceptance for- but also for every person who brings with him/
her their own ways of life.
Undoubtedly, it is difficult to accept differences right away.
Honestly, how many of us here are guilty of giggling at anyone or
anything that is unfamiliar and unknown to us? All I can suggest
then is to quickly revert to our original understanding of the words
‘respect’ and ‘accept’- hold everyone’s differences with special
regard (‘respect’) and endure these differences without protest
or reaction (‘accept’). Does the latter take 10 years to occur? Not
at all.
In order to best internalize the above mentioned two words, it is
necessary for us to gain exposure and knowledge. Our society is
fortunate to have that exposure, be it at the work place or schoolbased
overseas immersion programmes. Through such exposure,
it is hoped we gain knowledge which then fosters greater
understanding and so on. One commonly known example in our
society is that of the time when some of us may have first seen two
male migrant workers holding hands with each other. Undeniably,
some of us may find that a little difficult to identify with. If we
gradually care to develop knowledge of their behavior, if we are so
‘affected’ by it , many of us will then begin to understand that this
act is only their way of displaying the close bonds of friendship
that they share.
I myself was very heartened to see that some of our fellow non
Indian Singaporeans came forward to taking up the responsibility
of providing decent meals to Indian migrant workers, through a
television programme aired on Vasantham. These Singaporeans
have taken the lead from our leaders that all have to be accepted.
These Singaporeans have proven that it is possible to assimilate
others in one’s society, as these migrant workers were not
regarded by Singaporeans as mere foreigners, but an important
and valuable part of our social and economic fabric. These
Singaporeans have proven that an inclusive society can happen
with just a simple act by a few people.
The immense diversity present in our society is something unique
to Singapore- something that many other developed economies
in Asia and the rest of the world do not have the privilege of
experiencing. We need to treasure that uniqueness, and take
that potentially 10 second, 10 minute or 10 hour step forward to
ensure that an inclusive society ‘happens’. This step begins with
Khwaish
9

Speaking Softly!
Mr Fauja Singh’s
Message to youth on the secrets of a fulfilling and long life
This article is an excerpt of Mr Fauja's message to Sikh youth in an interview with YSA President,
Malminderjit Singh.
My biggest achievement is to be alive and kicking at this age.
No other feat, no matter how prestigious in the eyes of the
others, can match the fact that I have been blessed to live a
healthy and active lifestyle till this ripe old age.
But for me to continue with this blessing, I have to continue to
work hard in maintaining it, which to me is to ensure I continue
with my running. This is the only thing that keeps me going. I
am certain that the day I stop being active, I will feel aged and
my condition will regress.
That is why my message to the youth of today is to abide
by the principle of being healthy and fit. Without health and
fitness, you will not be able to achieve much in your life and
so it is important to treat your body as an asset. This, in fact,
is the only asset that will stay with you forever as wealth and
status will come and go. So it is important to accord your body
that due respect. For me, I know that I need my body to work
for me and so I watch what I put in it.
I avoid all intoxicants and advise the youth of today to also
stay far away from them as they destroy your body. In Punjab
and many other parts of the world, it hurts me to see many
youth turning towards drugs, smoking and alcoholism and to
me, that is a shame as such habits will destroy them in no time.
I suppose that is the result of a society that is increasingly
mired in stress in the pursuit of material needs. That is why it
is important to be content as until you are content, you will
never have enough and be free from the shackles of stress.
As long as you can tell yourself that I have enough to eat, I
have not cheated anyone as I have done an honest day’s work
and I live within my means, then you will be contented, the
stress goes away and you will begin to enjoy and treasure your
health.
But that, of course, is easier said than done. For me, it is
simple. I live by the three spiritual principles of my Sikh faith,
which have helped me to feel contented and grateful for what
I have. In the Sikh faith, the basic tenets are to make an honest
living, to share the fruits of your labour and to remember God.
Running is my honest work, the proceeds of which I share with
others through charity and when I get tired after running, I
remember God.
I have chosen to donate most of my income from my running
career to charity as I keep only what is enough for me to eat
because money corrupts. Back in the UK, I have adopted Bliss,
a charity organisation supporting premature babies and their
families. Bliss now uses “The Oldest Running for the Youngest”
as its tagline. In fact, I even donate most my pension income
as I do not need most of it. All I need is enough for money to
afford my simple meals in a day and that is all. And I also take
pride in dressing well so that I look presentable and that is all
I need. The rest is excess for me and that is why I choose to
donate it.
And that brings me to food - another area in which to exercise
discipline. As I said earlier, one must watch what he puts into
his body. I am not just referring to intoxicants as it is also
important to watch what you eat. For me, it is better to be
hungry than eat the wrong thing, as my body is a temple
and I need it to work for me, so I must treat it right. Eating
in moderation is an important virtue as indulging in food is
overrated. It is ironic that food plays such an important part
in many of our lives when in fact it is the one thing that kills
all people regardless of where you are in the world. In poor
countries, people die of starvation, while in rich countries,
people die of overeating, so it is important to strike a right
balance and eat just enough, not to be full, but to have the
right nutrients and energy to function.
It is important to strike a balance in every aspect of your life.
Being happy is something important that we tend to focus
less on, and I find this ironic again, given that we spend most
of our lives working towards that. But we get so caught up in
this pursuit that we forget to remain happy in the present as
well. For me it is very important to feel happy all the time and
that is why, as a general rule, I avoid people with a negative
outlook on life because it is draining on me.
I have incorporated these principles in my daily life and so it
has become like a routine for me. This begins from the time I
get up in the morning where I stretch and then walk four miles
every day from home in Essex to the local Sikh temple, and
then to town and back. Along the way, I meet with friends, of
course who are younger than me, chat with them and have my
food in the temple. I avoid getting embroiled in things that do
not concern me or make me unhappy.
Work hard and honestly, share the fruits of your labour and
be grateful for what you have and choose instead to focus on
having a healthy diet and lifestyle. You will live a contented
and happy life.
10 Khwaish

SMS Lawrence Wong
engages young Singaporeans at dialogue session
The views came thick and fast and
they covered a host of issues close to
the hearts of young Singaporeans.
Some 60 young Singaporeans aged
between 19 and 35 years engaged Mr
Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister of
State for Education and Information,
Communications and the Arts, in a
dialogue session on 18 October 2012.
Organised by YSA and the four self-help
groups, and supported by the National
Youth Council (NYC), the session
focussed on issues of meritocracy, role
of the government, social welfare and
youths as change agents, among others.
The session threw up several interesting
and, at times, competing perspectives
on the various issues. For example, the
participants were divided on whether
Singapore's meritocratic system
should concentrate more on providing
equal opportunities or ensuring equal
outcomes. Some participants labelled
it an "essentially heartless" or "utopian"
system in which "those who start
out behind fall even further behind".
However, there were others who
contended that meritocracy has served
Singapore well and it is something that
Singaporeans should be proud of.
In response, while agreeing with both
sets of views, Mr Wong stated that
"It is not so much that meritocracy is
flawed, but it means having a broader
sense of what merit is." He said that the
government would continue to ensure
the education system would be a social
leveller, including improving the preschool
system. However, mindsets would
have to change so that Singaporeans
can embrace different forms of success
beyond academic excellence and high
pay.
Another competing view among the
participants was on the role of the
government. Mr Faris Abdulkadir
Basharahil spoke of the government
doing too much. The Chief Executive of
an arts company cited the example of
the government increasing funding for
the arts this year but directing all of it
to government agencies, which then, in
essence, compete with people on the
ground and intermediaries. However, Ms
Arvinder Kaur, a civil servant, called for
more government intervention in areas
such as social welfare.
Though the dialogue was not an official
session under the 'Our Singapore
Conversation' umbrella, the participants
saw the discussion as their groundup
contribution to the national
conversation.
YSA supports fundraising initiative
for Down Syndrome Association Singapore
Compassionate and concern for the less
privileged and needy is an important
tenet of YSA's philosophy. As such, when
approached by Sembawang Sports Club
to support its fundraising efforts for
Down Syndrome Association Singapore
(DSA) for the second successive year,
YSA instantly accepted the invitation.
YSA contributed to the 9-a-side
football tournament at the Singapore
Indian Association on 2 September
2012 in several important ways. Firstly,
it helped to solicit for funds from
various organisations and individuals
for the cause. Secondly, it participated
in the event - its Healthy Lifestyle
Club nominated two teams for the
tournament. Lastly, YSA representatives
assisted in the event proper.
A total of 16 teams took part in the halfday
tournament, which was followed
by a dinner reception for the teams
and the children from DSA. During the
reception, the children were treated
to songs and dance performances,
including a bhangra by the Shere Punjab
Bhangra troupe. Trophies were also
presented to the top four teams, with
the champion team being Dreamland
which comprised several ex-national
football players. Most importantly, the
event raised approximately $35,000
for DSA which was presented to its
representatives during the reception. It
surpassed the target of $30,000.
In addition to helping to raise funds
for the DSA, the event also provided
an opportunity for members of YSA
Healthy Lifestyle Club to participate in
a sports activity to promote a healthier
lifestyle.
Khwaish 11

YSA lights up the heartlands
with Bhangra Bonanza 2012
On 11 November 2012, Cheng San CC was
transformed into a vibrant and colourful
arena that showcased the best Bhangra
groups in Singapore. The second Bhangra
Bonanza featured invigorating Bhangra
performances in a cultural show with an
underlying objective of integration and
racial harmony.
Organised by YSA, PA Narpani Pearavai
and Kebun Bahru Indian Activity
Executive Committee, the three-hour
dance extravaganza in Ang Mo Kio
featured top Bhangra teams, many of
whom included participants from other
races and nationalities, as well as dances
from other ethnic groups. The 400-strong
audience, made up of different races,
new citizens as well as those on social
assistance programmes, participated
in a mass interactive bhangra session,
possibly the largest such session ever in
Singapore.
Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of
State for Law and Education, graced the
event as the Guest-of-Honour while Mr
Inderjit Singh, Member of Parliament for
Ang Mo Kio GRC, was the Special Guest.
The organisers extended an invitation
to all members of the Sikh and non-Sikh
communities to be a part of this cultural
event.
Bhangra Bonanza is a beautiful and
fitting way to mark Diwali, the festival
of lights, and Bandhi Chhor Divas, a day
of liberation marked in particular by the
Sikhs, both of which will be celebrated in
the coming weekend.
12 Khwaish