Khwaish Oct 2015

YSA’s SG50 Initiative
Singapore at 50 - 50 Sikhs and Their Contributions
A publication project almost one and
a half years in the making is now near
its completion. YSA’s SG50 publication,
‘Singapore at 50 – 50 Sikhs and their
Contributions’ will be officially launched at
the end of November this year.
The publication is the Sikh community’s
contribution to Singapore’s 50th
anniversary celebrations. The coffee-table
book will highlight 50 Sikhs who have
contributed to Singapore at the national
level or to nation-building.
More than 250 nominations of Sikhs in
Singapore from diverse fields and sectors
were received by the YSA Secretariat.
These include business, academia, politics,
media, arts and culture, uniformed
groups, government and non-government
organisations, civil society and sports,
among others. Nominations were also
received from Singapore Sikhs living
overseas.
A Panel of Reviewers, chaired by Professor
Tan Tai Yong, Executive Vice President
(Academic Affairs), Yale-NUS College; and
Former Nominated Member of Parliament,
was appointed with the task of deliberating
and deciding on the final list of 50 Sikhs
for the publication. Representing different
strata of Singapore society and with
intimate knowledge and understanding of
the Sikh community, the panel members
spent more than six months before
arriving at the final list of 50 Sikhs for the
publication.
Professor Tan stated, “It was important
for the panel to go through and each and
every nomination carefully and thoroughly.
The panel spent many hours deliberating
all nominations, and when we did not
have enough information on a particular
nominee, we sought more details on that
person. We wanted to give all nominees
fair and careful consideration based on
the criteria for selection. The process was
comprehensive and detailed. My panel and
I strongly believe that the contributions of
these 50 Sikhs will highlight the significant
role played by Singapore Sikhs in the
country’s development and progress.”
The criteria for the nomination and selection
were three-fold. Firstly, the nominees’
contributions must have made an impact
at the national-level or to nation-building.
Secondly, the contribution must be for at
least five years. And lastly, since this year
marks the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s
independence, the contributions must have
been made in the post-1965 era.
Another member of the panel, Dr Narinder
Kaur, Chief Organisational Excellence
Assessor/Quality Service Management
at the National Library Board, added that
“These criteria put into context the level of
contributions made by the nominees and
as well as the impact of their contributions
on the national landscape. As there were
several hundred nominees, these criteria
certainly guided the panel in making a
clear assessment of each and every one of
them.”
A team of researchers engaged by the YSA
Secretariat then conducted interviews with
the nominees and/or their family members
as well as arranged for photography
sessions with the nominees. The choice
of young Sikh undergraduates and young
working adults is reflective of the book
project being part of the Sikh community’s
effort. The diverse backgrounds of the
researchers are reflected in their respective
approaches and styles adopted in writing
the individual profiles of the 50 Sikhs. As
such, one can expect the publication to
comprise an eclectic mix of narratives
that capture the stories of the 50 Sikhs in
interesting and unique ways.
It was especially striking that these young
Sikh researchers readily came forward to
contribute to the project, fully realising the
challenges of research and the expectations
of rigour in the work they were expected
to undertake and deliver. Each of them,
in turn, found the experience extremely
rewarding as they went on several journeys
down memory lane – to understand and
appreciate the trials, tribulations and
triumphs of the 50 Sikhs.
According to Shinderjeet Kaur, a young
working adult and one of the researchers,
“The experience has been an eye-opener
in terms of the many ways and different
sectors in which Sikhs in Singapore
have made significant contributions
to Singapore. Some of these Sikhs are
unsung heroes and many of us would not
know about them if not for this project.
Sometimes, hearing from them, you get the
sense that all it would have taken was just
one different decision and their lives would
have followed a very different course. It
has been very inspiring to meet and hear
from individuals who have contributed to
raising the profile of Sikhs as a community
in Singapore.”
Another researcher, Pavandeep Singh,
added, “It has really been exciting to be
involved in this initiative. It is not often
that one gets the opportunity to meet
with Sikhs who have made a mark at the
national level. From a personal perspective,
it was an educational exercise. I learnt
much about the significant contributions
made by my community to the country.
The whole experience has also been highly
motivational. These are individuals all youth
can look up to in the ways in which they
have paved the way forward for the next
generation of Sikhs to continue making
contributions for a better Singapore for all.”
The book will represent an important
opportunity in highlighting the
contributions of the Sikh community to
Singapore. Equally importantly, it will be
the Sikh community’s lasting contribution
to a significant milestone in Singapore’s
history. Do be part of the launch ceremony!
Official Launch of Publication
The launch of the publication, “Singapore at 50 – 50 Sikhs and Their Contributions”, will be held at Raffles Town Club on 28
November 2015. Singapore’s Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, will be the Guest-of-Honour for the event.
The event, which is jointly organised by YSA, Singapore Sikh Education Foundation (SSEF) and Sikh Sewaks Singapore, will also
include a fund-raising effort, with proceeds being used for educational and community initiatives by the three institutions.
The gala dinner will involve members of the Sikh community as well as representatives from the larger Singapore society.
For enquiries on the event, please contact Mr Gurdip Usma (SSEF) at 93399600 or gurdips1950@gmail.com.
Join us and be part of this milestone event!
Khwaish
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