S'ban gurdwara honours three Sikhs for service to faith, community
Dr Parim (left) and Arjan (right) with the recipients (from second left) Manmohan, Saran and Amar.
THREE Sikhs were honoured for their decades of service to the community by Gurdwara Sahib Seremban (GSS) in Negri Sembilan.
The octogenarians were each given a robe and letter of honour, as well as a memento by GSS president Arjan Singh.
'Their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in preserving Sikh history and heritage are commendable, as they have helped our small community keep in touch with our roots.
'We salute them for their commitment and dedication,' he said of the three, who were recognised at a special ceremony at GSS.
They were 83-year-old planter Manmohan Singh, retired government servant Saran Singh Sidhu, 80, and housewife Amar Kaur, 81.
Present to do the honours was GSS trustee and former president Datuk Dr Parim Singh.
Arjan said that apart from spending some RM3mil to build a gurdwara complex on his land in Kuala Klawang in Jelebu, Manmohan had also set up a gallery displaying many historical and traditional items related to the community, such as cooking utensils and musical instruments.
'Manmohan had been running a smaller gurdwara adjacent to his house for decades but decided to build a bigger one a short distance away, so Sikhs could carry out their religious obligations in a more conducive environment,' Arjan explained.
Manmohan, he said, also has in his possession a over-a-century-old Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh holy book, which they consider as their living guru.
Saran authored a book on Sant Baba Sohan Singh, a Sikh who spent many years as a granthi (priest) in Gurdwara Sahib Melaka.
Saran has also written an illustrated history of Sikh gurdwaras in Malaysia and Singapore.
He has additionally penned numerous articles and books on coins and paper currency.
He is a foundation fellow of the Malaysia Numismatic Society and a fellow of London's Royal Numismatic Society.
Arjan said Amar was honoured for teaching the Gurmukhi script to children and adults alike by holding classes at her home for almost 50 years.
'She first started holding classes in 1972. Through her efforts, many members of the community are able to read the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
'Aunty Amar, as she is popularly known, is also instrumental in helping students prepare for the Punjabi language paper in public examinations, including SPM,' he said, adding that she had also contributed to Sikh youths in other ways.
The trio's contributions, Arjan said, were exemplary and served as shining examples to present and future generations.
'Though no reward could truly match your selfless service to the Sikh community, please know that your works have created a positive and long-lasting impact,' he told them.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
14-06-2025
- The Star
'In shock': British Indians mourn crash victims at London vigil
A man prepares to remove the wreckage of the Air India Boeing (BA.N) 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, which crashed during take-off from an airport, in Ahmedabad, India June 14, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave LONDON (Reuters) -Dozens of members of Britain's Indian community gathered at a Hindu temple in London on Saturday for a vigil mourning the victims of this week's Air India crash, many of whom had personal connections to the temple. Leaders from the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, Zoroastrian and other communities offered their prayers, as those in attendance, hands folded, recited chants. A representative of Britain's King Charles read out a message from him and offered Christian prayers. Rajrajeshwar Guruji, head of the Siddhashram Hindu temple in Harrow, likened the grief of those who lost family members in the crash of the London-bound flight to the wait for a loved one's return from an endless journey. "They're just waiting and waiting, now they are not going to come back again," he said in an interview. Guruji, who comes from the state of Gujarat where the plane crashed, said the temple had helped family members in Britain get information about their loved ones. "Some of the members ... I have spoken to them, and ... they don't have the words," he said. "They are in shock." Britain has one of the largest Indian communities outside India, with nearly 1.69 million people - or 3.1% of the population - identifying as ethnically Indian. "We believe that everyone who is born has to go one day. But I hope nobody goes the way these ... passengers, as well as the medical students, have gone," said Harrow Mayor Anjana Patel, who lost a family member. Only one of the 242 passengers and crew on board survived the crash, while others were killed when the plane struck a medical college's hostel. Patel told Reuters that the council was offering grief counselling. "We just cannot bear how people must be feeling," she said. Jyotsna Shukla, 66, said her son's childhood friend was on the plane with his wife and three children. "I feel very bad because he was so young," she said, before breaking down into tears. Among those killed was Vijay Rupani, a former chief minister of Gujarat, who had visited the temple. (Reporting by Muvija M, Vitalii Yalahuzian and Isabel Infantes; Editing by Paul Sandle and Joe Bavier)
The Star
03-06-2025
- The Star
S'ban gurdwara honours three Sikhs for service to faith, community
Dr Parim (left) and Arjan (right) with the recipients (from second left) Manmohan, Saran and Amar. THREE Sikhs were honoured for their decades of service to the community by Gurdwara Sahib Seremban (GSS) in Negri Sembilan. The octogenarians were each given a robe and letter of honour, as well as a memento by GSS president Arjan Singh. 'Their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in preserving Sikh history and heritage are commendable, as they have helped our small community keep in touch with our roots. 'We salute them for their commitment and dedication,' he said of the three, who were recognised at a special ceremony at GSS. They were 83-year-old planter Manmohan Singh, retired government servant Saran Singh Sidhu, 80, and housewife Amar Kaur, 81. Present to do the honours was GSS trustee and former president Datuk Dr Parim Singh. Arjan said that apart from spending some RM3mil to build a gurdwara complex on his land in Kuala Klawang in Jelebu, Manmohan had also set up a gallery displaying many historical and traditional items related to the community, such as cooking utensils and musical instruments. 'Manmohan had been running a smaller gurdwara adjacent to his house for decades but decided to build a bigger one a short distance away, so Sikhs could carry out their religious obligations in a more conducive environment,' Arjan explained. Manmohan, he said, also has in his possession a over-a-century-old Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Sikh holy book, which they consider as their living guru. Saran authored a book on Sant Baba Sohan Singh, a Sikh who spent many years as a granthi (priest) in Gurdwara Sahib Melaka. Saran has also written an illustrated history of Sikh gurdwaras in Malaysia and Singapore. He has additionally penned numerous articles and books on coins and paper currency. He is a foundation fellow of the Malaysia Numismatic Society and a fellow of London's Royal Numismatic Society. Arjan said Amar was honoured for teaching the Gurmukhi script to children and adults alike by holding classes at her home for almost 50 years. 'She first started holding classes in 1972. Through her efforts, many members of the community are able to read the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. 'Aunty Amar, as she is popularly known, is also instrumental in helping students prepare for the Punjabi language paper in public examinations, including SPM,' he said, adding that she had also contributed to Sikh youths in other ways. The trio's contributions, Arjan said, were exemplary and served as shining examples to present and future generations. 'Though no reward could truly match your selfless service to the Sikh community, please know that your works have created a positive and long-lasting impact,' he told them.
The Star
29-05-2025
- The Star
Sikhs mark 25 years of Punjabi education
Mohd Azam (second from right) presenting a long-service award to Guru Nanak Institution principal Phajan Kaur Mahinder Singh. Looking on are Jaginder (left) and Kuldip. Mother tongue education is an integral part of a community's identity and keeps members connected to their roots. This year, Sikhs nationwide are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Khalsa Diwan Malaysia's (KDM) Punjabi education programme. Set up by the Sikh non-governmental organisation in 2001, the initiative was prompted by a decline in the number of students pursuing Punjabi language as a subject in public examinations like Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). KDM deputy president Dr Kuldip Kaur said the decline led to concerted efforts aimed at reviving Punjabi classes and ensuring it remains a primary language for members of the community. In 2001, eight Punjabi Education Centres (PECs) were set up in Ipoh, Taiping, Batu Gajah, Kampar and Sitiawan in Perak; Butterworth and Wadda Gurdwara Sahib in Penang and Kota Baru in Kelantan. Presently, KDM runs 36 PECs in 11 states with a total annual enrolment of about 1,800 students. In tandem, the number of candidates for the SPM Punjabi language paper has increased, with an average of 50 students taking it every year. KDM president Jaginder Singh said that as the oldest Sikh organisation in Malaysia, it is proud to have played a role in preserving, promoting and developing the Punjabi language. He shared that in the 2023 SPM examination, students who sat for the Punjabi language paper scored 100% passes, while in 2024, 98.2% passes were recorded. Annually, more than half of the students taking the paper have obtained excellent results (A+, A or A-). Kuldip, who is also the organising chairperson of the 25th anniversary celebrations, said various events were held to bring together stakeholders and well-wishers who had contributed to the programme's success. The celebrations kicked off on May 1 with a thanksgiving event at Gurdwara Sahib Sentul in Kuala Lumpur, where students from 15 PECs sang Kirtan (Sikh hymns). All participating PEC students received certificates of appreciation and gifts. On May 2, a symposium on innovations in Punjabi language education was held at Kelab Aman in Kuala Lumpur where teachers shared advanced techniques for teaching Punjabi and Sikhism. The event was attended by about 140 PEC teachers and administrators. The next day, trainers from Asia Pacific University (APU) led a workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology-enhanced learning. More than 70 Punjabi teachers learnt techniques for assessment skills and building student support systems. A dinner to celebrate the silver jubilee was held on May 3 at Royal Lake Club in Kuala Lumpur. Education deputy director-general (professionalism development sector) Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad represented Minister Fadhlina Sidek at the event. Mohd Azam presented long service awards to 18 teachers who had served 25 years in PECs, and to 60 teachers and administrators who had served between 20 and 24 years. In his speech, Jaginder said the Federal Government had approved RM265,000 for PEC activities this year, with several state governments also extending financial support. He thanked Education Ministry for continuing to offer the Punjabi language as a subject for the Academic Session Final Test (UASA) in Forms 1, 2 and 3, as well as at SPM level. Jaginder also extended gratitude to the Indian government for the Grant in Aid to Indo Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies (GIA) in support of KDM activities. Also present at the dinner were Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia BN Reddy as well as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's special officer Shanmugam Mookan.
