POETS FROM ACROSS THE MIDLANDS TO SING PRAISES OF GURU NANAK
Truth is high: But higher still is truthfulliving, Guru Nanak{ Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 62}
(Samajweekly) Gurdwara Shri Guru Dashmesh Sahib and Punjabi Listeners Club are organising Guru Nanak Gurourb{Birthday} celebrations when prominent members of the Sikh and Punjabi community from across the Midlands are converging to the place of worship in Gipsy Lane, Leicester on Sunday 24th November to sing the praises of Guru Nanak.
Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh religion. He was the first of ten Born Sikh Gurus. Born at Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi in India in 1469 which is now known as Nanakana Sahib and is in Pakistan after the partition of 1947. His father Sri Kalyan Das was a very important officer of the village. Married to Sulakhni Ji, Guru ji had two sons Baba Sri Chand who lived till the sixth Guru and Baba Lakhmi Das.
Guru Nanak’s elder sister was called Bebe Nanki, he established the city of Kartarpur {House of God} on the shore of river Ravi. There are 947 poetic Hymns of Guru Nanak registered in the Sikh scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib containing 1430 Angs {pages} which starts with the writings of Guru Nanak. He was a spiritual teacher and poet who travelled far and wide across Asia on foot teaching people the message of God who dwells in every one of his creations and constitutes the eternal truth.
In celebrations of the life and teachings of Guru Nanak,poets from the West Midlands taking part include Harbans Singh Jandu Littranwalay, Giani Ravinderpal Singh, Gurdev Singh Matharu and Sukhminder Singh Brar.Poets from East Midlands participating are Giani MalookSinghDoshi{Head Priest at Guru Teg Bahadur Gurdwara}, the singing ambulance man Kuldip Singh Bhamra QAM, Ram Singh Pharwala and singing policeman Kulbinder Singh Rai.
Well known Punjabi authors Amarjit Singh Tari Bidipuria, from Derbyshire, Tarlochan Singh Chan Jandalvi from Wolverhampton and Bhai Avtar Singh from Leicestershire will all be coming to the multi-cultural city of Leicester.
Special guests attending the 555th Guru Nanak Birthday celebrations include Jaspal Singh Kang of Sikh Federation UK, British Heart Foundation ambassador Sulakhan Singh Dard BEM and Sukhdev Singh Atwal Sokha Udopuriafrom Derbyshire of DEV3K Appreciation Society who was one of the best-known poets of India.
‘Guru Nanak descended on Earth to guide the people who had been facing social, economic and religious persecution at the hands of tyrant rulers and the priestly class. People were steeped in hypocritical cultural and religious practices. Caste based hierarchy, gender violence and subjugation of the poor, the downtrodden and the marginalised sections of the society had created schismatic situation in the Indian society.
Guru Nanak spread the light of enlightenment and create a just and an egalitarian society where the inhabitants could live with honour and dignity. He was particularly enamoured of the social status of women and spread the message of human and women rights in the most regressive period of the human civilization{Guru Nanak and his teachings for humanity by Dr.Harshinder Kaur and Dr. Gurpal Singh, 2019, Satvic Books}
There will also be colouring competition for girls and boys. Everyone is welcome to the event where refreshments and vegetarian food will be provided. As usual at Punjabi Listeners Club’s events, a donation will be made to a UK registered charity. So many are looking forward to learning about the teachings of Guru Nanak and get blessings.
One of the organisers Gurnam Singh Rupowal , who has served the local Sikh community of Leicestershire for decades said “ We are delighted that so many well-known educated members of the Sikh community have confirmed their attendance for which we are very grateful. Since it was formed on the 3rd anniversary of BBC Radio Leicester’s Punjabi Programme,the Punjabi Listeners Club has been promoting Punjabi Language and Sikh religion through organising Turban tying completions, Punjabi writing competition, trips to National Sikh Museum and celebrating International Mother Language Day since 2016.
This year’s Guru Nanak Gurpurb is being celebrated in a unique way when various authors and poets from East and West Midlands will be taking part. We are also delighted that Universities from around the world are sending messages for the celebrations. Famous Punjabi poet Professor Gurbhajan Singh Gill of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India have already done so.”
Another organiser of the event Jaspal Singh Kang of Sikh Federation {UK} pointed out that “ The Punjabi Listeners Club’s Co-Ordinator Tarlochan Singh Virk is an important member of the Sikh community of Leicestershire who organises Turban Tying Competitions and Punjabi writing Competitions even when he goes on holiday to his village and Punjab, India and has always come up with excellent ideas for new programmes such as in last few years he has be instrumental in providing well needed health events at Gurdwaras. We are extremely pleased that special plans are made for young people at the Listeners Club’s events. Since the voluntarily organisation was formed nearly three decades ago, they have donated thousands of pounds for good causes such as Children in Need, Wishes4Kids, Roko Cancer, British Heart Foundation, Khalsa Aid International, Alzheimer’s Society, Lord Mayor of Leicester and Oadby and Wigston Mayor’s charities.”
Report: Tarlochan Singh Virk
