KhwaishJan

MICA (P) 148/01/2012
February 2014
a s p i r a t i o n s
Publication of Young Sikh Association (Singapore)
Dhol Dhamaka 2013
IN THIS ISSUE…
From the President’s Desk…
Dhol Dhamaka 2013
Unique! Entertaining! Electrifying!
Congratulations!
PBM for YSA’s Executive Committee Member
Rock Climbing Day
An Exciting Time for Young Singaporeans
Congratulation!
Wedding Bells for Khwaish IX Participants
Recognising Academic Achievements
Tea Reception for Sikh Graduates
Project Khwaish XIII
A Decade of Voluntary Work in Punjab
Speaking Softly!
Behind the Scenes at YSA – The ‘Gotong Royong’ Spirit!
Thinking Aloud!
Leadership and Generational Change:
The Case of the Sikh Community in Singapore
YSA’s Forthcoming Activities
• Certificate Presentation Ceremony for Khwaish XIII
• 10th 4-A-Side ‘Racial Harmony’ Football Tournament
Activities by Other Youth Organisations
• Sikh Sewaks Singapore
• National Youth Council

Young Sikh Association (Singapore)
Panel of Advisors
Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman
Minister of State for Defence;
Minister of State for
National Development; and
Member of Parliament for East Coast 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)
Ms Harjit Kaur
Committee Member
(Intellectual and Professional Development)
Ms Sharanjit Kaur
Committee Member
(Intellectual and Professional Development)
Editor’s Note
The end of a year and anticipation of the next can sometimes
stir some level of uneasiness and mixed feelings. There are,
of course, those among us who are always excited and look
forward to the new year, and rightly so for many reasons. I for
one, however, more often than not, have always found myself
in the former group. Being conscious of my tendency to be a
‘party pooper’ towards the end of a year, I took it upon myself
to do things differently this time. I joined the fray and found
direction in thinking about a new year’s resolutions. Now I can
already imagine some of you cringing at the prospect of having
to indulge me and I feel your pain, especially for those of you
inundated by the resolutions of family and friends. I will spare
you! I think it would be more useful instead to consider how one might go about giving
some serious thought about resolutions for a new year.
If one were to look up the meaning of the word resolution in a dictionary it is defined as
“the expression of an intention; the determination to take and fulfill a decision; and finally the
quality of being resolute and firm in purpose”. Therefore, a good starting point when thinking
of New Year’s resolutions would be to set out resolutions that capture or encapsulate the
complete meaning of the word. In this way, a useful framework for resolutions would be to
bear in mind three Rs – Retrospect, Realistic and Resolute.
Our resolutions for a new year are expressions of intentions for the future. As with any plans
for the future, we must begin by taking stock of the present and reflect on some of our past
experiences and knowledge accumulated over the course of time. We are often put off by
resolutions for the new year by others because we realise they do not adequately retrospect the
past (evident from unfulfilled or unaccomplished resolutions of the year gone by). There is also
then the chance or risk that they set out unrealistic resolutions for themselves for the coming
year. To put all of this in context, our contributing writer in 'Thinking Aloud!', Dr Sinderpal
Singh, considers, in retrospect, the development of the Sikh community in Singapore and the
imperative of effectuating generational change. There is indeed much work to be done in this
regard for the Sikh community to reposition itself to be better able to address the challenges
and needs of the present and future. With careful attention to the past, Dr Singh urges the
community to recognise that certain aspects of leadership and structures put in place in the
community need to be changed and reinterpreted in order for them to continue to remain
effective. Needless to say, there is no need for the community to reinvent the proverbial wheel
but it should resist the reflex to be tentative or completely averse to change in its various
guises. This, I think, will require a careful consideration of retrospect and striking the right
balance of the old and new going forward.
Already alluded to earlier, unrealistic resolutions for a new year will most likely remain unfulfilled
only to be resurrected as resolutions again in the next year. With regards to realistic resolutions
and goal setting, it is instructive to consider the new and young team that comprises the YSA
Executive Committee. I still recall the goals set by the new team when it was formed about
a year ago. Reflecting the new and dynamic leadership, the Executive Committee in the past
year experimented and explored with new ideas for platforms to engage the youth such as
the inaugural Dhol Dhamaka. We had agreed very early on to take on projects within our
means and capacities as volunteers, and despite all the planning and hard work, although
there were occasional mistakes, we continued to work together ensuring the success of our
programmes. Executive Committee member Ms Sheena Gill’s piece in 'Speaking Softly!' of this
issue captures the ways in which our ‘gotong royong’ culture of working towards shared goals
is YSA’s cornerstone.
This brings me to the last aspect of being resolute in keeping to your resolutions. As we get
increasingly preoccupied with our careers, family and friends, we need to keep in mind not
to lose sight of our resolutions. To this end, it helps to keep oneself organised and take heed
of what needs to be prioritised. YSA’s most recent Project Khwaish XIII expedition to Punjab,
India, serves as a reminder of how completion of goals boils down to resolve and dedication
to the cause. The 13th expedition to Punjab was a success, nothing exceptional in this regard
since all Khwaish expeditions have been immensely successful. I congratulate the team and its
leaders on their success, and invite you to register and join us for the certificate presentation
ceremony in February 2014.
Having given careful thought to my resolutions for this year, my work is cut out for me and
for those of who have likewise done so. I hope greater involvement in and service to the
community has been a part of your aims for the year, and I hope to see more of our members
at YSA’s programmes. On behalf of YSA, I wish all of you a wonderful 2014 and success in
fulfilling all of your resolutions!
Mr 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.

From the President’s Desk…
A happy New Year to all YSA members and readers! Here is wishing all of you a prosperous and
blessed 2014!
There have been several noteworthy developments for YSA and in society in general since our
last issue of the newsletter. As 2013 drew to a close, which has traditionally been a busy period
of activity for YSA, we also drew many lessons from the events that surrounded us. Inevitably,
some of these will help shape how the YSA Executive Committee members, individually and
collectively, take on the New Year.
The Sikh Graduates Tea Reception organised in September 2013, in partnership with the Sikh
Centre, Singapore, may seem like business as usual, but it served as a useful platform for us
to try out new ideas. We had received feedback from stakeholders that the reception was a
good opportunity for recipients to learn about broad career-specific information. Taking in this
point, we invited a Human Resource consultant, Mr Kulwant Singh Bardh, to speak to the graduates during the session
on leadership traits and talent development. It was well-received and we will explore ways to add further value to the
reception annually.
We also organised two new events in the last quarter of 2013 – the Rock Climbing Day in October and the Dhol Dhamaka
competition in November. Both events generated significant interest among younger participants, including children as
they turned up in numbers for the sports event and also participated excitedly for the cultural activity. We learnt that
there was a need to also cater our events and programmes in the future to younger participants as there is clearly a gap
in meeting their wider aspirations.
After a dozen trips, the 13th Khwaish expedition would have been an academic exercise but as fate would have it, we
encountered new challenges and learnt new lessons as well. Amidst a challenging business and economic environment,
fundraising for the trip became more difficult and we had to factor this into the planning of our project while we also
tapped into new sources of funding. Despite the fewer resources, I am happy to share that the team successfully completed
its project and met with the aims of the expedition. We will endeavour to establish newer and more permanent financing
sources for the project going forward.
On the national front, the end of the year was anything but quiet as the riot in Little India shocked most of us and highlighted
that we cannot take the peace and stability we enjoy in Singapore for granted. YSA has always believed in upholding these
characteristics of harmony and stability in Singapore and we will continue to find new ways, and strengthen existing ones,
to contribute to this cause.
The year 2014 will see YSA develop new horizons as we work towards supplementing our activities with newer offerings.
We have already embarked on this process as we partnered the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) Youth
Club to organise the SINDA Youth Parliament in January. At the time of writing this editorial, the youth parliament sessions
had kicked-off with comprehensive discussions and lively debates, promising to make the programme a successful one.
The first quarter of 2014 promises our annual futsal tournament as well as a certificate presentation ceremony to honour
the 13th Khwaish expedition participants. We will also introduce new activities in the course of the year.
There is also likely to be further leadership renewal at YSA in 2014 as new faces come on board the Executive Committee
during our Annual General Meeting in the first half of this year. We hope you will continue to give your kind and generous
support to YSA this year as you have done before.
Have a great year ahead!
Mr Malminderjit Singh
VESAKHI and New
Year GREETINGS!
YSA’s Executive Committee takes this
opportunity to wish its Sikh members a
happiness-filled Vesakhi 2014 and its Indian
members a very happy and joyous New
Year. May you always be blessed with
peace, harmony, love, good health
and prosperity!
Khwaish
3

Cover Story
DHOL DHAMAKA 2013
Unique! Entertaining! Electrifying!
Music and dance are often seen to be the best platforms to
promote the cultural tapestry of Singapore. Using the Dhol
and dance performances, YSA showcased the rich Punjabi
culture, heritage and tradition as well as promoted cultural
understanding, appreciation and integration. For the very
first time, it organised a multi-ethnic Dhol cultural event and
competition on 17 November 2013.
Mdm Halimah Yacob, Speaker of Parliament, Singapore, was
the Guest-of-Honour for the event. Young and seasoned
Dholis, Sikhs and non-Sikhs, performed to a sell-out crowd of
close to 300 people from different ethnicities, backgrounds
and walks.
The unique and entertaining Dhol competition included the
‘Junior’, ‘Youth’, ‘Open’ and ‘Group’ categories and witnessed
participation of close to 30 Dholis. In addition to top Dholis
coming together to showcase the vibrant Punjabi culture, the
event included Dhol performances by non-Sikhs. At the same
time, it showcased dance performances by the other ethnic
groups in Singapore – all with the aim of developing greater
camaraderie between people of different ethnicities.
The word ‘Dhol Dhamaka’ means ‘Drum Fiesta’. The Dhol
refers to a double-headed drum widely used, with regional
variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Among the
various drum variations, the Punjabi Dhol is perhaps best
known abroad, including in Singapore, due to its prominent
place in the rhythm of popular Punjabi Bhangra music.
Mr Malminderjit Singh, President, YSA, shared that, “YSA
has, in the past, successfully brought people from various
backgrounds together to promote and foster multi-racial
harmony and cultural understanding as well as integration
of new citizens and foreigners. The Bhangra Bonanza events
YSA’s Forthcoming Activity
Certificate Presentation Ceremony for Project
Khwaish XIII
YSA’s Project Khwaish XIII team members returned from their
community service expedition to Punjab, India, on 26 December 2013.
To recognise their selfless and extraordinary contributions, YSA
will organise a certificate presentation ceremony in Function Room
4.1, Level 4, Administration Building, Singapore
Management University, from 8.00pm to 9.30pm
on 19 February 2014. Mr Desmond Lee Ti-Seng,
Minister of State for National Development, is
the Guest-of-Honour for the event. The event will
witness presentations by the participants and
a video show on the project, as well as a dinner
reception.
If you are keen to attend the ceremony and the dinner reception,
please contact Ms Sangeetha at 90469285 or email to
sangeetha_88@hotmail.com.
4 Khwaish

in 2010 and 2012 are a case in point. This unique and exciting
cultural platform focusing on Dhol performances has certainly
helped us to achieve these aims again.”
Fifty-two year old Mr Sukhdev Singh stated, “It is important to
find new and unique ways to promote the important messages
of understanding, appreciation and integration. Music and dance
really bring people together as these channels transcend race,
language, religion and nationality. My family and I really had great
fun.”
Mr Harmeet Singh was equally thrilled to be part of the event.
The 12-year old stated that, “The event was really interesting and
enjoyable. We had Dhol performances and dances throughout
the afternoon. I could see that people were really enjoying
themselves.”
The event was supported by Central Singapore CDC, Tote Board,
Singapore Turf Club, Singapore Indian Development Association,
Community Integration Fund, Singapore Khalsa Association and
Singapore Dhol Federation.
Congratulations!
PBM for YSA’s Executive Committee Member
YSA would like to extend its heartiest congratulations to Ms Sithara Doriasamy on being awarded the
Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) in 2013. Sithara sits on the YSA Executive Committee,
having been first elected into office in 2010.
Sithara is actively involved in grassroots and community work. She currently serves as the Vice-
Chairperson of the People’s Association Indian Activity Executive Committees Council (Narpani Pearavai) which oversees the
95 Indian Activity Executive Committees (IAECs) in Singapore. She also holds key positions at the Nee Soon South grassroots
organisations, particularly in the Citizens Consultative Committee, Community Club Management Committee, Inter-Racial and
Religious Committee and the IAECs. She also volunteers at several charitable organisations.
Instituted in 1973, the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat is awarded to individuals who have rendered commendable public service in
Singapore or for his/her achievement in the field of arts and letters, sports, the sciences, business, the professions and the
labour movement.
Khwaish
5

ROCK CLIMBING DAY
An Exciting Time for Young Singaporeans
More than 40 children between the ages
of six and fifteen had a day of fun and
excitement scaling the walls at the Civil
Service Club at Tessensohn Road on
19 October 2013. They participated in
YSA’s rock climbing day at the ClimbAsia
Climbing Centre.
Aimed at promoting sports and healthy
lifestyle among young Singaporeans
and to develop character, strength and
toughness, the children scaled walls of
differing heights and difficulties, with
guidance from trained rock climbing
enthusiasts. The event was also a
platform for young Singaporeans from
different ethnicities and backgrounds
to meet and interact with one another.
At the same time, the event included
children of new citizens and expatriates
with the aim of promoting integration.
There were ample opportunities for
all of them to team up to conquer the
wall as well as interact during the lunch
reception following the event.
Karandeep Singh, 11 years old, had a
great time at the event. He stated,
“The event was challenging but fun. I
did not think I could reach the top but
I succeeded in doing so. It was nice of
the rest of the children to encourage me
when I was climbing up the wall. It really
motivated me.”
Eight-year old Julietta Kaur Zakowska
was also full of praise for the event. The
child of mixed parentage, said, “It was
fun trying my hand at rock climbing.
It was my first time. While not all of us
were able to reach the top, we had a
wonderful time. I also made some friends
during the event.”
At the end of the half-day event, all the
children were presented with trophies
for their commendable effort.
Congratulations!
Wedding Bells for Khwaish IX Participants
YSA wishes Project Khwaish IX participants, Shafik
and Diyanah, its heartfelt congratulations on their
wedding.
Shafik and Diyanah met each other during YSA’s
community service expedition to Gurdaspur in
Punjab, India, in December 2009. Meeting your soul
mate while doing ‘soul work’ through service for
the community has made participation in Project
Khwaish IX all the more gratifying for both Shafik
and Diyanah! The newly weds and their families
hosted a wedding luncheon which was attended
by several YSA Executive Committee members and
participants of Khwaish IX.
YSA wishes Shafik and Diyanah a wonderful married
life as they begin this new chapter in their lives.
6 Khwaish

Recognising Academic Achievements
Tea Reception for Sikh Graduates
The government understands the
concerns of all Singaporeans and it will
do what it can to continue to support
its citizens, including young graduates
entering the workforce. That was the
underlying message from Senior Minister
of State for Home Affairs and Foreign
Affairs, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, when he
graced the plaque presentation ceremony
for graduates from the Sikh community on
21 September 2013.
Speaking to the graduates, he stated that,
“There are naturally concerns at the back
of your mind, including finding a rewarding
job and, subsequently, developing a
fulfilling career. Others may also be looking
to start a family and juggle with managing
the cost of living, housing and healthcare
issues, both for themselves and their
families. The government understands
this and wants to help all Singaporeans
achieve these goals. We also understand
the challenges that sometimes come with
attaining such aspirations and we have,
therefore, introduced new measures to
support a young generation coming into
the workforce.” Making reference to the
Prime Minister’s National Day Rally, Mr
Masagos touched on the government’s
efforts in the areas of affordable
housing, extensive medical coverage for
Singaporeans, focus on holistic education
and ensuring employment for all.
Mr Masagos also called on the graduates
to contribute in their own ways to their
community and the larger society.
He stated, “We ask for you to work
towards being proactive within your
neighbourhood, your community and the
larger society as a whole and look for
opportunities to share what you know and
give back where you can. It is only in all
of us doing our bit and our path can we
rise to achieve greater things for us and
the next generation to come.”
fortunate to be able to try out teaching
first hand and I enjoyed it. I liked the fact
that teaching is impactful and meaningful.
My advice to all graduates is to go for
internships and talk to others in different
professions as they will be able to guide
you to make well-informed decisions.
Whatever you do, make sure that you
decide what’s best for you and you know
that best.”
For the first time this year, in addition to
the plaque presentation ceremony, there
was a presentation on best practices in
talent management, an issue of great
relevance to the young graduates as well as
those in the marketplace. The session was
conducted by Mr Kulwant Bardh whose
core expertise is in talent management
which ranges from selection tools for
the right hire, leadership assessment for
promotion or succession management
to developing leaders and executive
coaching.
Organised by YSA and the Sikh Centre,
Singapore, the presentation ceremony
was aimed at recognising the academic
achievements of Sikhs, including those
who pursue post-graduate studies
and continuous learning. It was also
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 was also an
opportunity for them to develop networks
with their fellow graduates.
Mr Masagos presented plaques to 29
young Sikhs who recently graduated from
local and overseas tertiary institutions.
Close to 100 guests, including leaders of
the Sikh community, parents and families
of the recipients, attended the ceremony.
During her presentation, Ms Rosvinder
Kaur Sahota, a recipient of a Master in
Education (Curriculum and Teaching)
from Nanyang Technological University in
2012, shared her educational sojourn. She
stated, “After my college education, I was
Khwaish
7

PROJECT KHWAISH XIII
A Decade of Voluntary Work in Punjab
It started in December 2003 with a
newly-formed youth organisation and a
group of young Singaporeans wanting to
make a difference to the lives of the less
privileged and less fortunate in India. Now,
10 years and 13 projects later, YSA and the
participants have certainly left an indelible
Singapore imprint in the Indian state of
Punjab. Altogether, more than 250 young
Singaporeans from the ages of 17 to 35
years have participated in YSA’s ‘Project
Khwaish’ community service expeditions.
On 6 December 2013, 14 participants, who
were part of Project Khwaish XIII, embarked
on a journey of selfless and charitable
service to aid underprivileged and needy
school children in Punjab, India, for three
weeks. Based in Ferozepur, they carried out
the project in the school in the village of
Khai Pheme Ki. They returned to Singapore
on 26 December 2013.
YSA organised a send-off ceremony for the
participants on 4 December 2013 at Central
Sikh Temple, Singapore. Mr R Dhinakaran,
Nominated Member of Parliament,
Singapore, was the Guest-of-Honour for
the ceremony.
The expedition had a very Singaporean
flavour, with participants from all the racial
and religious groups in Singapore - Sikhs,
Chinese, Malay and Indians. This is in line
with the Association effort to be inclusive
and to reach out to young Singaporeans
from all walks and backgrounds.
The team spent its time developing a library
of about 2,000 books in the school. At the
same time, it cleaned up, refurbished and
painted the whole school. It also purchased
chairs and relevant furniture for the
classrooms in the school. The participants
also conducted teacher training workshops
for the teachers and personal hygiene
classes and interaction sessions with the
children. They also distributed toys and
clothes to the children and needy in the
local community. In addition, the team
spent time interacting with the local
community as well as visited the Golden
Temple and the Wagah Border.
The aim of the project was to provide
the opportunity for Singaporean youths
to address the educational needs of the
host community. At the same time, the
participants were be able to participate
in meaningful service in aid of the less
fortunate and, in doing so, experienced
a sense of civic engagement and social
responsibility. The project also raised an
awareness and appreciation of the Sikh
and Indian culture among the participants
and enabled them to understand the socioeconomic
development issues in Punjab
and India.
The projects fitted in well with YSA's
mission of creating world-ready
young Singaporeans, accomplished by
integrating their aspirations into the
Singapore society, enhancing mutual
understanding on issues of common
concern and fostering friendships across
ethnic groups in Singapore, the region
and the world. The Association's activities
benefit both the Sikh community and
Singapore at large.
8 Khwaish

Behind the Scenes at YSA –
The ‘Gotong Royong’ Spirit!
Speaking Softly!
Ms Sheena Gill
The founder of Ford Motor Company, Mr
Henry Ford, once said, “Coming together is
a beginning. Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.” While he
made this comment in the context of his
car company’s assembly-line production,
it also aptly describes the work of Young
Sikh Association (Singapore). A group of
young Sikhs came together in the beginning
because they wanted to contribute to the
development of young Sikhs in particular
and young Singaporeans in general. They
kept together and persevered despite the
many challenges. And they worked tireless
together to ensure that YSA progressed
to occupy an important place in the Sikh
community and Singapore society.
I became part of the YSA’s Executive
Committee in July 2011 because I wanted
to contribute to the community to which I
belong. I also enjoy organising events and
activities. I had vaguely heard about YSA
prior to becoming a part of it. As such,
when approached by Mr Hernaikh Singh,
the founding President, and Mr Nirman
Singh, the current Vice-President, sometime
in mid-2011 about being a part of the YSA
Executive Committee, I was a little hesitant.
I was not totally sure of the organisation
– how it functioned, who were the people
running it, what were their motivations and
how would I be able to fit in and contribute.
However, the two gentlemen put me at ease
by asking me to come on board as a coopted
member of the Executive Committee
first before deciding on being an elected
Executive Committee member.
It did not take me very long to decide that
I wanted to be an elected member of the
YSA team and the reason was a simple one
– the people managing the Association.
They showed great passion and spirit, and
a desire to want to do good for others! In
the short time that I have been with YSA, I
have realised that the Executive Committee
members are excited about being a part of
YSA. They want to contribute and they want
to see things happen.
There is an oft-held belief that as long as
you pay good money, you will attract good
people who will do the work. Well, that is
probably true to some extent. However, at
times, you may end up paying good money
to good people but the work is not done.
YSA has, in fact, shown that you do not need
to pay any money and people will still do
good work. Since its inception, YSA has not
had any paid staff and none of its members
receive any remuneration for serving on the
Executive Committee. It has been fortunate
though to have administrative support from
the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board and the
Sikh Centre Singapore. When we organise
an event, we come together and make it
happen! When we need to send out the
Annual Report or the newsletter, we gather
at the meeting room at Central Sikh Temple.
We roll up our sleeves and get cracking – we
paste labels and stamps on the envelopes,
put the newsletters in the envelopes and we
even bring the sealed envelopes in boxes
to the post-office nearby. It is just amazing
that YSA has been able to publish and send
out its Annual Report and newsletter to its
members and relevant organisations on a
regular basis for the last 10 years.
Why is YSA able to do so much with so
little? It boils down to a term normally used
in the Malay/Muslim community – ‘gotong
royong’. The common definition of ‘gotong
royong’ is “cooperation among many people
to attain a shared goal”. The YSA Executive
Committee members have a shared dream,
vision and goal and they have and continue
to show great commitment and resolve to
meet these. Before joining YSA, I certainly
did not know the amount of work done
behind the scenes to make the Association
tick. One normally sees the end-product but
not the sometimes tremendous efforts made
by the Executive Committee members,
members and volunteers. The YSA team
does it because of the larger objective
that the Association has. Of course, it also
makes it easier when the team members are
happy to just get together! All of us on the
Executive Committee enjoy the company
and the time we spend together. We chat,
we joke, we laugh and we even discuss plans
in an informal setting!
When I first joined YSA, I was told by Mr
Hernaikh that I needed to set aside about
one day of my time every month for YSA, be
it organising an event, attending a meeting
or participating in an activity. On other
occasions, much of the discussions among
the Executive Committee members take
place via emails or other on-line mediums.
He told me that it would be hard work and
that I should be ready for criticism from
time to time, and not to expect recognition
or appreciation for my work (which, if it
happens, should be seen as a blessing). If
I could handle that, I should fit in just nice.
He wanted me to come in with my eyes
wide open. I think that was probably his
way of preparing me for the worst-case
scenario. On the contrary, my experience
has been nothing short of remarkable. I
have had strangers coming up to me and
complimenting YSA on the great work it is
doing. People do appreciate the initiatives
and programmes undertaken by the YSA
Executive Committee members. I think much
of the credit should go to the backroom
work and the ‘gotong royong’ spirit that
gels all of us at the Association. No amount
of money can buy this spirit – it is innate!
You must believe in it and accept that your
contribution to the cause far outweighs the
credit you hope to get!
YSA has always been witnessing changes
at the Executive Committee level since
it was established. In July 2012, it had
a significant change, in the interest of
leadership succession and renewal, with
Mr Malminderjit Singh taking over from Mr
Hernaikh as President of the Association.
However, certain fundamentals have not
changed in the way it functions. We still
have the 'gotong-royong' spirit. We still
chat, laugh and joke when we get together
to despatch newsletters and other YSA
collaterals. I have been told by the longerserving
Executive Committee members
that this has always been the culture at
YSA. It is part of YSA’s DNA that even past
Executive Committee members join us from
time to time to do what many would deem
as ‘menial’ tasks. Perhaps they enjoy the
chai and samosas but I know it is more than
that. As in the words of Mr Ford, “…Working
together is success”, the YSA Executive
Committee members, past and present,
know that they have to work together to
ensure that YSA continues to live to true to
its mission of “Fulfilling Aspirations”. Well,
as for me, I am just happy to be part of this
great 'gotong-royong' experience!
Ms Sheena Gill currently serves as the
Honorary Secretary on Young Sikh Association
(Singapore)’s [YSA] Executive Committee,
having been elected to the post in July 2012.
She graduated from University of Bradford,
United Kingdom, with an Honours degree in
Business and Management Studies in 2011. She
currently works as an Accounts and Human
Resource Executive in a private company.
The views presented in this article do not
necessarily reflect those of the Association.
Khwaish
9

Thinking Aloud!
Leadership and Generational
Change: The Case of the Sikh
Community in Singapore
Dr Sinderpal Singh
When Young Sikh Association (Singapore)
[YSA] invited me to write a brief article
for its newsletter, I decided to have a look
at some of the back issues much more
closely and read, with interest, Professor
Kirpal Singh’s piece on the challenge of
creative change in the Sikh community.
In his typically engaged prose, Professor
Kirpal asked the readers to ask themselves
some very interesting and very important
questions. These questions, on some level,
relate to some of my own thoughts about the
imperative for change in particular aspects
of the Sikh community in Singapore. This
question of ‘change’ in the Sikh community,
however understood, needs to be located
against the context of broader trends in
Singapore’s political landscape.
Singapore’s last general elections have
been perceived by many as watershed
largely because of the vote shift away
from the ruling People’s Action Party
(PAP). In the aftermath of the elections,
there was a major Cabinet reshuffle. The
dominant discourse that accompanied this
exercise was the need for the PAP to effect
generational change within the Party’s
highest echelons so that it could connect
and understand the concerns of younger
Singaporeans. The stepping down of
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior
Minister Goh Chok Tong from the new
Cabinet reflected this need to demonstrate
that the PAP was serious about effecting
such generational change. This led to many
in Singapore to speculate as to whether
this new paradigm of ‘generational change’
will be adopted more broadly within the
country, in various institutions, including
various community-based organisations
that claim to represent the different
ethnic, religious and linguistic groups that
form the mosaic we have come to know as
Singapore.
Being a Singaporean Sikh, I think this
is an excellent opportunity for the Sikh
community here to engage in some serious
self-introspection. For a very long time,
positions within the management and
executive committees within various Sikh
institutions have been occupied by men
(with some, though highly limited, women
representation) who tended to be at least
in their fifties and older. The paradigm here
was that wisdom and the ability to lead
effectively came with age and experience.
It has to be said, however, that there were
attempts to build a Sikh youth leadership
within various institutions, most of which,
however, have not come to much in terms of
10 Khwaish
Sikh youths occupying important positions
within these various Sikh institutions. The
one exception, of course, is YSA, which
has grown from strength to strength but
still functions independently of major Sikh
institutions like the gurdwaras, Singapore
Khalsa Association (SKA) and the Sikh
Advisory Board, amongst others. This
particular quality of YSA continues to set it
apart from the other institutions and bodies
seeking to represent various aspects of the
Sikh community in Singapore.
The fact that a handful of senior Sikh men
occupy various overlapping positions
within several different Sikh institutions is
worrying. Although there is no question
about the commitment of these men to
carrying out the duties and responsibilities
associated with these positions, there
needs to be serious thought given to how
generational change can be effected. Like
the PAP, the time has obviously come
for a paradigm change within the Sikh
community in Singapore – the assumption
that age and experience equals sound
leadership needs to be tempered with the
fact that an increasingly declining number
of young adult Sikhs, those under the age
of 35 years, for example, participate in any
meaningful way in activities run by most
of these Sikh institutions. Younger Sikh
leaders need to be recruited and groomed
so that these Sikh institutions can make
themselves relevant to the concerns and
aspirations of younger Singaporean Sikhs.
This will hopefully help arrest the less than
desired membership levels of younger
Sikhs in institutions like the gurdwaras and
SKA. To remain meaningful and relevant,
the Sikh community in Singapore has
little choice but to think of ways in which
it can effect generational change. Many
Singaporeans were somewhat surprised at
the scope of generational change effected
by the PAP after the last elections. It is time
the Sikh community here engaged in a
similar exercise of introspection and radical
change, as some quarters may see it.
Leading on from Professor Kirpal’s
thoughts on the challenges of creative
change for the Sikh community, the notion
of ‘change’ has never sat comfortably with
the community. ‘Going with the flow’ has
actually been constantly cited as a major
achievement of the Sikh community in
Singapore – things were done a certain
way and ‘changing things’ has usually been
viewed with scepticism at best and fear at
worst. While there have been some efforts
in recent times to bring about change
and greater representation in several
Sikh organisations, much more can and
needs to be done. Also, the key challenge
facing the various Sikh institutions in
Singapore is not solely to embrace real
change but to convince those they claim
to represent that ‘change’, in its various
guises, is not always bad. In this case, they
need to lead by example. In this respect,
there seems no alternative to embracing
the notion of generational change and
pushing vigorously for younger Sikh men
and women to take up a greater share of
leadership positions within the community.
Failure to achieve this will render the
claim that these institutions represent a
large majority of the Sikh community in
Singapore increasingly less tenable.
Dr Sinderpal Singh is a Research Fellow at the
Institute of South Asian Studies. He has a PhD
in International Politics from the University of
Wales, Aberystwyth. He was awarded both
the E H Carr Scholarship and the Overseas
Post-Graduate Research Scholarship to
undertake the PhD. The views presented in
this article do not necessarily reflect those of
Young Sikh Association (Singapore).

Activities by Other Youth Organisations
Sikh Sewaks Singapore
Sikh Youth Hub
Singapore’s only Sikh Youth Hub is open
on Sundays from 10.00am to 4.00pm
(except for the first Sunday of each
month). The air-conditioned room hosts
an IMAC, XBOX and a variety of card games.
It is also ideal for meetings and studying. For
enquiries and usage outside the opening hours,
please contact Harminder Singh at 91056807.
Sikh Youth Fellowship Camp 2014
The Sikh Youth Fellowship Camp aims to provide a
platform to learn and discuss Sikh-related issues in an
informal environment. This year’s camp returns with a
bang in June 2014.
Stay tuned for more details!
NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL
Volunteer Youth Corps
At the National Day Rally in August 2013, Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the setting up
of a Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) to provide more
opportunities and support for young Singaporeans
to contribute to the community.
Subsequently, the National Youth Council (NYC) held
consultation sessions with youths and youth sector
organisations, and also studied the experience of
similar volunteer programmes in other countries. It
are now preparing for the inaugural batch of the VYC
to start around mid-2014.
YSA’s Forthcoming Activity
Organised By
10 th YSA ‘RACIAL hARMONY’
4-A-SIDE
FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
Date : Saturday, 15 February 2014
Venue : Uber Sports Football Courts
1018 East Coast Service Road
(Next to Burger King and
Long Beach Seafood)
Time : 3.00pm – 8.30pm
Registration : $54.00 per team
(Free participation for YSA members)
Guest-of-Honour
MR Zaqy MohaMad
Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC
Republic of Singapore
Supported By
金 基 氏 李
Lee Foundation
Singapore
Categories
• Open Category
• Veteran Category
(2 players above 40 years and 4 players above
45 years of age)
• Youth Category
(Those born in and/or after 1998)
• Junior Category
(Those born in and/or after 2002)
• Ladies Category
Promoting racial harmony and
understanding the fun and sporting way!
Cash prizes and trophies for top
four teams in the ‘Open’ category
and for top two teams in the
‘Veteran’, ‘Youth’, ‘Ladies’ and
‘Junior’ categories.
Registration forms and rules and
regulations available at:
• YSA c/o Sikh Centre (6th Floor)
• YSA website at www.ysas.org
For enquiries and registration, please
contact:-
• Mr Kulwant Singh at 90265910
• Mr Gurmeet Singh at 93896190
Registration closes 8 February 2014.
To ensure the success of the VYC, NYC will partner with community groups with strong organisational and volunteer
management capacities. In particular, these community partners will work closely with VYC members to develop high-quality
service learning projects that VYC members will find meaningful, impactful and beneficial. These projects can be done locally
or in a regional country, over the duration of three to six months and should focus on any of the areas of education; health;
arts, sports and heritage; special needs; and environment.
For more details on the VYC, please contact:
Mr Joshua Phua
Senior Client Executive
Edelman Public Relations
DID: 6494 1565 / Email: Joshua.Phua@edelman.com
Ms Clara Chee (Ms)
Assistant Manager (Corporate Communications)
National Youth Council
DID: 6839 9161 / Email: Clara_CHEE@pa.gov.sg
Khwaish
11

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