BACK
On
the ISC Front
Lt Gen Kartar Singh
International
Sikh Confederation _ The Last Year in Retrospect
The ISC stepped into the year 2008 with renewed energy and
a springier gait. At the enlarged Executive Committee meeting,
held on 2 Feb. 2008, there was definitely a spirit of optimism
as well as the need to look back and learn from some of
our disappointments. Both Dr. Kharak Singh and Lt. Gen.
Kartar Singh clearly spelt out with clarity, our strengths
as well as weaknesses.
Achievements
The launch of our Chapters in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar
was indeed laudable. S. Karamjit Singh Aujla, S Sukhdev
Singh and S Amarjit Singh Deol have launched a number of
projects in the Ludhiana area for the uplift of the rural
population and for identifying needy Sikh youth in the spheres
of education and employment. The monthly magazine `Sewa
Lehar' published by them has really infused a feeling of
togetherness in the Sikh Community. We get more and more
visitors from Ludhiana who are imbued with a grand spirit
to serve humanity. These noble individuals proudly narrate
the Sewa schemes that they have launched in their respective
spheres. These projects include education of poor children,
fighting female foeticide and drugs, and promoting pride
in Sikhism in our budding youth.
We are also very
proud of our Delhi Chapter wherein S. Anup Singh, S. Patwant
Singh, S. Harvinder Singh Phoolka with the support of the
other members have taken an active part in all our projects.
They recently pursued the Turban issue in France with rare
vigour and managed to send a strong message to the visiting
French President through their Ambassador as well as our
Government. We must thank S. Navtej Singh Sarna and the
Sikhs of Delhi for strongly supporting us on this and various
other issues. S. Gurpreet Singh, an Executive Committee
member of the ISC, represented us strongly in Delhi. We
do however feel that much more needs to be done by the SGPC,
Punjab Govt. and the Central Govt. The ISC will continue
to fight for the rights of Sikhs in India and abroad.
GNEF
Coaching and Scholarship Schemes
These are now running at full speed both in Mukandpur and
Khantmanpur. There have been a few drop-outs in Mukandpur,
but we shall keep persuading rural parents to encourage
their wards towards competition. The staff is dedicated
and classes have been run regularly except during examination
days. We are planning to identify more backward districts
to expand our network this year.
In addition to the
above, we have progressively identified deserving needy
students who need urgent help to pursue higher studies in
Technical/Professional institutes of learning. Applications
are very carefully processed by Col. Jagtar Singh Multani
who is dedicated to monitoring all such cases. We are happy
to say that the ISC has fully financed all such needy students
who have approached us.
We assure readers
that we have a dedicated team under Lt. Gen. Kartar Singh
and Col. Jagtar Singh for handling the finances of the GNEF.
The more you contribute to this fund, the more outstanding
results we will achieve. Our scheme is an add-on to the
basic work being done by other Sikh Organisations such as
the Sikh Education Society or the Akal Academy, Baru Sahib
or the Nishkam Sewa Society. But let us be clear that our
schemes plan to lift Sikh Youth into a job-oriented sphere
with direct aid and coaching.
Sansar
Sikh Convention 15 Dec 2007
This was covered in our last article in the Abstract of
Sikh Studies. As a follow up Gen. Kartar Singh Gill visited
Khadoor Sahib and we are very happy to tell you that Babaji
Sewa Singh is doing a marvelous job with regard to all the
five causes we took up in our convention, namely, the Drug
Menace, Female Foeticide, Casteism in our Gurudwaras, Care
of Destitute Children and Preservation of Sikh Identity.
Babaji Lakhbir Singh Ballongiwale, is also doing good work
in this sphere. All this is being monitored by us as a follow
up and very soon we shall set up a monitoring centre in
this regard to co-ordinate and intensify these reforms in
all responsive Deras.
Visit
French President
Well before the visit of Monsier Nickolas Sarkozy, the French
President scheduled for 25/26 Jan. 08, we stepped up our
demand for the Indian Government to take up the "Turban
Issue" vigorously. Letters were written under our letter
head, signed by me and various Delhi Sikh Organisations
including the DSGMC, to the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition
and the External Affairs Minister. They were asked to strongly
represent the problem that Sikhs are facing in France due
to the ban on wearing of the turban by Sikh children to
French Schools and also for photographs on licenses, visas,
etc. After a candle light peaceful march by Sikh students
in Delhi, we mobilized Sikhs Worldwide to present protest
memorandums to the nearest French Embassy/Organisation.
The ISC led a march from Gurudwara Sahib Sector 34, Chandigarh
to Alliance Francaise and presented a well drafted memorandum
to the French Head. All major Sikh Organisations were invited
on 24 Jan. 08, who joined us in the march which was totally
impressive and disciplined. Meeting with the Chief Minister
of Punjab in this regard was very productive and the SGPC
too was activated. Alas, they chose to act alone through
their MPs who met the Secretary for External Affairs. On
the whole, we feel that our message has been strongly conveyed
to Monsier Sarkozy and we do hope our fight will culminate
in success.
Future
Projects
In very brief we shall touch upon projects that the ISC
plans to pursue in the coming year:
a. TV Project: We
are convinced that our organisation needs a medium to express
our views and explain our future projects so as to reach
out to Sikhs the world over. We need to motivate Sikh youth
with knowledge of our heritage, culture, religion and our
warrior heroes. For this, we are in search of a genuine
sponsor and are confident of success in the near future.
b. Translation of
Guru Granth Sahib into English and other languages by a
highly learned authentic team is a dire necessity.
c. Information Technology:
Our Website and our interaction with other active Sikh Groups
will be improved and stepped up. This was at a low key so
far.
d. Advisory Councils
(ACs): While we are thankful to Dr S.S. Johl, Giani Harinder
Singh, Dr Charan Kamal Singh and Justice Mota Singh for
successfully heading our various ACs, we need to considerably
step up the activities. Towards this, we are initiating
a move for a completely re-organised set up during our coming
AGM. A number of lessons have been learnt this year wherein
we have realized that we need to strengthen these ACs with
more dedicated members who can spare time for our increased
activities, which need to be handled more vigorously. We
would like readers to respond in this regard and volunteer
their services to this noble cause.
Annual
General Meeting (AGM)
We plan to hold the next AGM from 10 AM to 5 PM on 26 Apr.
2008. Location will either be the Convention Hall in Shivalik
Public School in Phase VI, Mohali by kind courtesy S Devinder
Singh Bedi, or at our HQ in Sector 28-A, Chandigarh. Please
keep in touch and attend the AGM without fail. This is an
earnest request. We shall endeavor to reach each member
but do forgive us if you somehow miss our communication
due to unavoidable reasons. Please remember that couriers
are not only fallible but also fail to deliver if the residence
address does not respond to their visit. We therefore request
members to give us E-mail addresses or keep in close touch
with our HQ on the telephone. As known to you the HQ Office
remains open 10 AM to 2 PM Monday to Friday. In addition
we are always at your service at other times.
Conclusion
We owe it to our members for the keen interest shown throughout
the year in the ISC activities. You have responded well
whenever we have appealed to you with regard to decision
making, donations, membership drives and suggestions for
new initiatives. You have always rendered generous words
of encouragement. Some of you have sent in strong criticism
where it was due _ all in good spirit. All this has been
highly appreciated by the organisers. Please strengthen
this vital Organisation started by you all and help the
ISC to quickly achieve the urgent aims and objectives in
the coming year. Please remember that each one of you is
a very important cog in the wheels of this vehicle, which
must gain speed as you push harder and harder. Remember
that success lies in the hands of those, who like our Gurus,
are ready to make sacrifices for the advancement of the
Community.
¤
©Copyright Institute of Sikh Studies,
2007, All rights reserved.
