WHY SAY BAD OF WOMEN FROM WHOM KINGS ARE BORN,
I AM NOT GOOD – N0 ONE IS BAD…GURU NANAK
GURU NANAK GURPURB AT WIGSTON LIBRARY VERY SUCCESSFUL AND THOUGHT PROVOKING
TRAIN STRIKE, TUBE STRIKE, MISSING COACH, FREEZING COLD AUTHOR DARPANA RATHORE MA ATTENDED CELEBRATIONS
-Tarlochan Singh Virk
Leicester (Samaj Weekly)- The 554th Guru Nanak Gurpurb celebrations at Leicestershire’s Wigston Library on Saturday 2nd December from 10 am to 2.00 pm was very successful, well attended by people pf different faiths, men and women, able and less able, four married couples, young and old with age range from 3 months to 84 years and 5 baptised { Amritdhari } Sikhs.
This was an informal gathering with very special guest including the guest of honour Deputy Lieutenant Col: Richard Hurwood DL , chairman of Leicestershire County Council Dr. Kevin Feltham, Leader of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Councillor Samia Haque, author of Footprints on Waters Free and lecturer in Comparative World Religion at a London University Darpana Rathore MA – acclaimed writer who came especially from London despite train and tube strike, missing coach and freezing cold weather to join in the Gurpurb celebrations of the founder of Sikh religion.
In the absence of religious guests of the celebrations due to severe bad freezing cold weather, the programme began with the Sikh National Anthem. Stage Secretary explained to everyone that the donation given after the Sikh National Anthem would be donated to UK registered charity British Hear Foundation BHF who also provided Heart Health information at the event.
Darpana Rathore pointed out that Guru Nanak lived by his principles and didn’t tell people what to do but encouraged them to ask questions about the rituals and meaningless cultural practices that were putting people down who had lower social or economical status. She added that Guru Nanak hymns are so humble and are so relevant today as they were when he wrote them over 500 years ago.
Leader of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Cllr. Samia Haque congratulated not only Sikhs but the whole world on the birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak. She also praised the efforts of Gurdwara Sri Guru HarKrishan Sahib and Punjabi Listeners Club for their regular donations to UK registered charities.
Col. Richard Hurwood DL , who attended on behalf of the Leicestershire Lieutenancy, said: “We in the Leicestershire Lieutenancy are blessed with representing His Majesty in a part of his realm that is truly diverse. By bringing together people of different cultures and faiths we have all helped to create and sustain our City and County which is at ease with – and proud of – its inter – cultural and inter – faith identity where communities work alongside one another and are able to enjoy and share culture experiences, of which Saturday’s festivities are a fantastic example.”
Dr. Sujaan Singh MBBS Gulf War Veteran told of his experiences of going to Iraq with the British Army to treat the wounded soldiers and how he is the last Sikh to visit the Gurdwara built in memory of Guru Nanak in Bagdad where he recited the Japji Sahib which is the beginning of the Sikh Scripture Sri Guru Grant Sahib. This Gurdwara Sahib was destroyed by ISIS.
British Heart Foundation Ambassador Sulakhan Singh Dard BEM informed everyone he had a heart attack in 2000 due to his very unhealthy fatty and sugary bad eating habits. He stressed the importance of regular daily exercise of 30 minutes and eating healthy balanced diet especially for the South Asian Communities who have very high rate of coronary heart disease. Mr Dard also made everyone aware of National Prayer Day for hospital patients’ staff and management on 6th December at Guru Amar Das Gurdwara.
President of Gurdwara Sri Guru HarKrishan Sahib, Oadby thanked all for coming today despite very cold weather and that the Gurdwara organised Parbhat Pheri {Hymn Singing near the Gurdwara} at 6 am on 25th November as well as continuous reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib when free vegetarian food was provided to everyone coming to the place of worship.
Organiser of pilgrimage to birthplace of Guru Nanak in Pakistan in April and November Kamaljit Kaila said that visiting the Guru Nanak place of birth at Nankana Sahib for the last two weeks where Sikhs had come to pay respects from all over the world was the best thing I have ever done in my life, and she would recommend visiting there where the founder of Sikhism was born in 1469.
The founder of Apnapan Cancer Support Group Indy Samra said everyone contributed their own lived experiences and shared how perhaps as being a Sikh we have those values and philosophies in our own lives today. We could also perhaps make certain changes to impact a ripple affect as we have as a Sikhs forgotten what Guru Nanak initiated. She was pleased that variety of speakers were given the opportunity to share their views and thoughts.
The Chairman of Guru Nanak Mission International Society Giani Karnail Singh ‘Greeb’ wrote a letter congratulating efforts of Punjabi Listeners Club in organising high level events to promote mother tongue language Punjabi and Sikh religion. The editor and founder of Punjab Times Group {India and Canada} S. Baljit Singh Brar sent best wishes and success of the Gurpurb Celebrations commemorating the Parkash Divas of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and that the celebrations allow us to follow the path to physical and spiritual emancipation laid down by our forefathers.
Pro Vice Chancellor of Guru Kashi University in India Prof. {Dr.} Jagtar Singh Dhiman sent letter to organisers thanking them for inviting but due to other commitments was unable to attend but sent a letter to Mr. Virk sending greetings on the 554th Guru Nanak Gurpurb Celebrations and pointed out that the benevolent endeavours of the Punjabi Listeners Club to connect people of different faiths, especially the younger generation with our rich history, culture and language deserves appreciation. May this momentous celebration inspire us to follow the teachings of Naam Japo, Kirat Kro and wand Chhko, guiding us on the path of righteousness and service to humanity. Dr. Dhiman also sent his heartfelt best wishes to all involved in ensuring the success of this important event. May the times ahead be marked by peace and a harmonious world order, with the blessings of Guru Nanak dev Ji upon us all.
Prominent Punjabi songwriters from the West Midlands Harbans Singh Jandu Littranwala and Tarlochan Singh Chan Jandalvi sent their song about Guru Nanak which were read out and greatly appreciated.
The children did colour activities and presented a cheque for £162 donation to British Heart Foundation Ambassador.
The Punjabi Listeners Club presented:
A3 size laminated colour poster of King Charles’ Coronation 6 May 2023 and a box of chocolates, to the Guest of Honour,
A trophy to the Chairman, Leicestershire County Council
A trophy, ‘Sayings of Guru Nanak’ book and box of chocolates to Darpana Rathore,
A4 size colour poster with pictures and writings of the 3 pillars of Guru Nanak teachings to Cllr. Samia Haque, Kamaljit Kaila, Indy Samra, Dr, Sujaan Singh, Jaspal Singh, Sulakhan Singh Dard as well as a box of chocolates to each of them,
Sikhi Goody bags to the children containing booklets on Sikh religion and chocolates and sweets.
Ex- BBC Radio Leicester’s Punjabi Programme presenter 1992 -2012 managed the stage brilliantly in Punjabi and English pointed out that the whole event was conceived and delivered by Mr. Virk who is very passionate about his faith and mother tongue and comes up with innovative idea to spread the message of love and humanity as stated by Guru Nanak.
The organiser of the celebrations Co-Ordinator of Punjabi Listeners Club Tarlochan Singh Virk would like to thank each one who attended and contributed to the BHF donation. And extra warm heart felt special thank you to those very special and kind people who kindly donated to Punjabi Listeners Club and I will pray that Guru Nanak blesses them and everyone with Simran, Sewa, Sangat and good health and happiness everyday
