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Bhai Gurdarshan Singh Honored With InterFaith Bridge Builders’ Award

By: Amitpal Singh Vohra, who recently graduated from Gilman School (Baltimore, MD) and is attending University of Maryland,College Park, Maryland.

Bhai Gurdarshan Singh of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, a Sikh spiritual center in Rockville, MD, has been honored with the InterFaith Bridge Builders’ Award for 2011. The other honorees for this year’s award are Mr. D. Randall Benn, a lawyer and Presbyterian; Fr. John Crossin, former Executive Director of the Washington Theological Consortium; and Prof. Sulayman Nyang, Professor of African Studies Department at Howard University in Washington, DC.

The award is bestowed every year by InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington (IFC) to a few distinguished personalities for their contribution in building community, advancing justice, and nurturing mutual understanding. This year’s ceremony was the 7th in the series and was held recently in a capacity filled Founders’ Hall, School of International Service, American University, Washington, DC.

Bhai Gurdarshan Singh’s specific contributions cited at the ceremony were his ability to articulate the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib in a manner for all to understand and spreading worldwide awareness of Sikhism, a universal faith with a message of love for all. Moreover, he was commended for reaching out to youth on whose shoulders lies the responsibility of establishing global peace, truth, and justice.

The presentation of the awards ceremony proceeded with panel discussions with the honorees and audience questions. In this session, each of the award recipients was given a chance to elaborate their views on religion. The common theme in everyone’s contribution was that while we do not have to believe in other’s faith, one can learn to respect it. In this regard, it was also mentioned that better interfaith understanding will create workable degree of unity among all religions.

As Bhai Sahib walked across to receive his award, a large number of Sikh gentlemen having colorful dastars and Sikh ladies with bright duppatas, felt an amazing sense of pride. The audience clapped and cheered warmly when Bhai Gurdarshan Singh in his award acceptance speech humbly said that he does not deserve this award since every Sikh is a bridge builder; every Sikh home is a bridge builder; and every Sikh place of worship is a bridge builder. In this regard, he also emphasized that Guru Granth Sahib is the only Holy Scripture in the world which contains hymns of even non-Sikhs. The audience also appreciated when the Sikh honoree said that though acknowledged as a spiritual leader, he is just a humble servant doing his duty in conveying the Guru’s message of love, benevolence, mutual understanding, and respect for all religions. The concluding remarks of Bhai Gurdarshan Singh’s response following his award presentation included a reference to Bhagat Puran Singh, a man known in Sikhism for service to the needy, as mother Teresa is in Catholicism, under whose influence Bhai Sahib grew up in his teen years.

Besides Bhai Gurdarshan Singh, another personality who brought a sense of additional delight on this memorable and spiritually stirring event is Dr. Rajwant Singh, a prominent Sikh leader. An honoree of the IFC’s second annual Bridge Building Awards, Dr. Singh is the First Vice President of IFC Executive Committee. Immediately after remarks of Bhai Sahib, Dr. Rajwant Singh led responsive reading titled “To Our Common Cause.” The principal idea contained in this reading was the same as enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib that we are all children of one God.

Interestingly, the speech delivered on the occasion by Rev. Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness, President of IFC and a well known Human Right Activist as well as the key note address by Dr. Phil Wogaman, an ordained United Methodist minister also centered around inter-religious concept advocated in Sikhism. Thus, the event established that Sikh religion is a true reflection of the interfaith spirit and Bhai Gurdarshan Singh, an enlightened preacher with long time of community service to his credit, well deserved the award.

The general mood of the attendees conveyed their feeling that the event was not be missed. It was an evening of learning experience and realization that God is one who brings everyone together. The departing warm handshakes among persons of different faiths at the conclusion of the event were enough to establish that the message of IFC on universal brotherhood is bearing its fruit.

In the midst of departing expressions of warmth and interfaith acceptance, I had the privilege of interviewing Bhai Gurdarshan Singh. This quick and brief interview aimed at basically eliciting information as to how did he come in contact with IFC and more importantly on his command of English language which is extremely rare among Sikh preachers. Bhai Sahib unhesitatingly admitted that he had practically no knowledge of English language prior to immigrating into the United States. It was only in the late 1980s after joining Guru Gobind Singh Foundation that he commenced taking lessons in the language. “I am especially indebted to Dr. Rajwant Singh who inspired and encouraged me enormously to learn English”, said Bhai Sahib. In regard to his involvement with IFC, besides crediting Dr. Singh, Bhai Sahib mentioned the name of Bibi Amrit Kaur, the onetime president of IFC and Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, who unfortunately had to leave us a couple of years ago because of her untimely death. Finally, Bhai Sahib expressed his gratitude to his supportive fabulous family and Washington metropolitan area Sangat for their love and cooperation in spreading interfaith tolerance and understanding which are Guru Granth Sahib’s essential ingredients.

SAT BIR SINGH KHALSA, PhD - GURU GOBIND SINGH FOUNDATION hosts a session to Revitalize & Renew Body and Mind

Dr. Sat Bir Khalsa, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard University, was the main speaker who led a group of over 90 people in a meditative session interspersed with his talk on yoga and wellness on Saturday, March 5^th, 2011. He emphasized on the techniques to Learn the effectiveness of Yoga and Meditation in improving physical and psychological health. For many members of the community, it was a rare opportunity.

People had a chance to get answers from a world renowned expert on body and mind healing through yoga and meditation. Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalasa is a yoga researcher who has worked with NIH and various health institutions to offer healing through alternate medicine. He has practiced a yoga lifestyle for over 35 years & loves to share.

He has conducted neuroscience research for over 25 years and is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and is also the Director of Research for the Kundalini Research Institute and the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. His current research is on the effectiveness of yoga and meditation practices and includes studies on yoga for insomnia, music performance anxiety and public schools among others. He has traveled internationally meeting and collaborating with yoga research scientists and assists in coordinating the research component of the annual Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. He is the author of a comprehensive review and analysis of yoga therapy research and he also teaches an elective course at Harvard Medical School in Mind Body Medicine.

This event was organized by Anu Kaur, a nutritionist and a yoga teacher in the Northern Virginia, Dr. Harminder Kaur Mangat, a physician in Clarksburg, Maryland and Harminder Singh Jassal, a board member of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation.

Many members of the sangat and the community at large appreciated this program because it promoted health and also gave a chance for people to revitalize their lives.

http://sleep.med.harvard.edu/people/faculty/240/Sat+Bir+Singh+Khalsa+PhD

http://www.sikhnet.com/news/yoga-science-gains-respect-new-data-shows-its-effects-cancer-asthma-sleep-disorders-depression-

Thousands of Americans welcome Sikhs at the US Independence Day parade in Washington
Washington - 60 Sikh men, women and children performing Gatka - Sikh martial art performance- enthralled the spectators at the US Independence Day parade. Young Sikhs, mostly born and brought up in America, took the center stage in the national festivities marking America’s Independence on the streets stretching from Capitol to the White House.

Amrit Kaur, An Active Sikh women leader, Pillar of Sikh community in US, dies and leaves a powerful legacy
Washington: Amrit Kaur, 66, the pillar of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation and who has contributed tremendously for the entire community in America, died Sunday, June 14, 2009, at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was the current president of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington and many Interfaith leaders prayed for her.

Sikh Children convey Sikh ideals to American audience
Washington - Audience of about 400 from all walks of life and faiths applauded the perfectly choreographed performance of Sikh children who staged two musical plays recently at Wootton high School in Rockville, Md. This medium of art was employed by 30 children from ages 5 to 15 by enacting two popular American plays and they were staged in celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Sikh Scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib.

An American Play by Sikh Youth Actors
Washington - September 11, 2008: While contemplating how to get Non- Sikh Americans engaged in learning about Sikh Scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF) thought of staging an American play with ideas and quotations from the Sikh scriptures. With the big day of 300th anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib approaching, a thought process got started.

Ishmeet Singh, Star Voice of India, remembered
“Ishmeet’s soul was a gift from God and we are thankful for these sweet 19 years of his company with us. He was such a pure soul. We are priviledged and humbled that God considered us worthy to have him part of our family. We are sure that his soul will come back in many forms and inspire many others”, said Gurpinder Singh Sodhi, Ishmeet Singh’s father, while addressing a gathering in Washington via speaker phone from Ludhiana.

Vaisakhi Fervor in Washington Gurdwara
Washington: Over 1000 people participated in the celebration of Vaisakhi on Sunday and Monday on the Vaisakhi weekend at Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, based in the Washington area. An outstanding feature of Vaisakhi celebration at GGSF is appreciating , recognizing and honoring those individuals and organizations who are working anywhere for the betterment of Sikh community.

Sikhs join in celebrating American Civil Rights Leader's birthday
Washington: February 5, 2008 - Guru Gobind Singh Foundation represented the Sikh community in the InterFaith Conference's InterFaith Prayer Service marking the birth-anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King. Tributes were paid to Late Dr. Martin Luther King, America's prominent civil rights leader. This was attended by local and national political leaders including Ike Leggit, Montgomery County Executive and US Senator Benjamin Cardin.

Books on Sikhism to be included in Washington area Public Libraries
Washington January 14, 2008 - A county adjacent to Washington has agreed to include books on Sikhs in its public libraries. Montgomery County officials agreed and accepted the books on Sikhs and Sikhism to include them in the library system to help disseminate information about the community. Guru Gobind Singh Foundation launched a new project of providing books to Montgomery County libraries.

A Musical Tribute Paid to Guru Arjun Dev ji
Guru Gobind Singh Foundation in Rockville, MD, commemorated Shahidi Gurpurab of Guru Arjun Dev ji the first Sikh martyr who was tortured to death by Emperor Jahangir in 1606. In a very special 3day program glowing tributes were paid to Guru Arjun Dev ji who gave the mankind the greatest gift the fountain head of spiritual knowledge in the form of Guru Granth Sahib.

Sikhs join an event paying tributes to America’s Civil Rights Leader
Washington, Febuary 3, 2007 - Guru Gobind Singh Foundation participated in birthday celebration of civil rights leader Rev Martin Luther King Jr. to honor his legacy recently at Israel Baptist Church in Washington, DC. In an Inter Faith Prayer service, specially designed to mark the celebration to honor Dr. King, glowing tributes were paid by various faith communities.

Guru Gobind Singh ji’s Birth-anniversary celebrated
Washington, January 22, 2007 - Guru Gobind Singh Foundation celebrated the 340th birth- anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh ji , the 10th and the last human Guru of the Sikhs, recently and over 500 people partipated in the celebrations. Over 60 kids sang shabads from the bani of Guru Gobind Singh ji who were trained by Bhai Gurdarshan Singh, the granthi of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation. Ragi Sohan Singh and Ragi Dalbir Singh performed kirtan.

Sikhs Take Center Stage at InterFaith Concert
Washinton - More than 1,200 persons experienced the sacred songs, dances or chants from eight world religions at the Washington Hebrew Congregation in the InterFaith Conference’s 27th InterFaith Concert on November 14, 2006. The sound of rhythmic and melodious spiritual music of Sikh Kirtani Jatha and many other faith traditions added to this celebration in the heart of America’s capital.

Washington Sikhs celebrate the first Anniversary of the new Gurdwara
Washington - October 16, 2006 - Hundreds of Sikhs thronged the white brick building of one year old of Gurdwara Sahib of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation to celebrate the first anniversary on Sunday, October 15th. The red and white blooming flowers at the entrance of the gurdwara were welcoming everyone and it reflected the mood of the day.

Washington, the U.S. Capital area gets a new Sikh Gurdwara
Washington, October 2, 2005: In the bright sunny October morning on Sunday recently, Sikhs of the Washington area thronged the newly built gurdwara in the outskirts of nation’a capital in the city of Rockville, Maryland.

Bhai Vir Singh, A Sikh litrary Giant remembered in Washington
Washington - December 16, 2005: Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, based in Washington, organized a special diwan on December 11, 2005, to commemorate the 123rd birth-anniversary of 20th century legendary Sikh writer and a poet, Bhai Vir Singh. About 250 people heard some samples of Bhai Vir Singh’s poetry and his message for common folk during this unique program at the new Gurdwara building in Washington.

Washington Sikhs pay tributes to Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Washington, February 13, 2006 - Over three hundred Sikhs reflected on the hymns and life of Guru Arjan Dev ji in an event to mark the 400th anniversary of his martyrdom in the newly inaugurated gurdwara in the nation's capital.

Sikhs observe martyrdom day of fifth Guru Arjun Dev Ji
Amritsar, June 16 (ANI): Thousands of Sikhs today observed the 399th anniversary of martyrdom of their fifth Guru, Arjun Dev, with processions and prayers at the Golden Temple here.

Guru Gobind Singh Foundation honored Baba Sewa Singh of Khadoor Sahib, Amritsar, by giving him the 2004 Sewa Award on June 13, 2004, in a major ceremony while celebrating the 500^th birth-anniversary of Guru Angad Dev ji, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs. Baba Sewa Singh was invited by GGSF especially for this occasion. Baba Sewa Singh ji was honored in Washington for his great contribution in bringing together all political and religious leaders on the occasion of 500th anniversary of Guru Angad Dev ji in Khadoor Sahib. Baba Sewa Singh ji was in charge of running all the gurdwaras in Khadoor Sahib. In addition to a memorable celebration in Khadoor Sahib during the 500th anniversary in April 2004, he also initiated the building of a SikhMuseum. He has been involved in many humanitarian and environmental projects. A very ambitious project to plant trees on all the roads leading to Khadoor Sahib was initiated by him. 10 miles on each of the 5 roads leading to Khadoor have been covered with trees. He has also planned to plant 500 acres of fruit bearing plants. For this monumental work, he has been given the prestigious environment award by a reputable NGO in India. In addition, Sri Guru Angad Dev Sewak Sabha has been setup to further strengthen the tradition of ‘Mal Akhara’. Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji sports & culture club for Sikh Youth has been set up by him. It will help in rekindling the interest of youth in sports and constructive work. In addition, Baba ji is running many educational institutions in Punjab and other parts of India.

Amrit Kaur, Secretary of GGSF, said, “We have been touched by his humility and his vision for the Sikh community. We need more inspirational individuals like him who can create a transforming effect on our youth as well as our current leaders. We feel privileged to honor such an individual. We certainly hope that many others would follow his example.”

This Sewa award is given annually by GGSF to an individual or an organization which shows an exemplary work for the betterment of the Sikh community or does some significant thing to create a good name for the Sikhs. Last year this award was given to Manjit Singh of Ottawa, Canada, who has lobbied tirelessly the Canadian government and political establishment to ease many restrictions on Sikhs so that they can enjoy religious freedom while earning their livelihood in Canada.

In 2002, GGSF had honored Sikh Media and Research Task Force (SMART) and Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), both based in Washington, for their work in the post 9/11 era in America to deter attacks on Sikhs and lobbying the U. S. government for assistance to Sikhs. In addition, it honored Giani Harbans Singh of Patiala for doing a monumental work on the translation and the grammer of Guru Granth Sahib, a valuable contribution for the propagation of Sikhism.

From Left to right: Tim Geoglein, Deputy Director of the White House office of Public Liaision, Dr. Rajwant Singh, Sukhdev Singh Darhele, Surinder Raheja, Harjot Singh, Himani Raheja, Sartaj Singh Dhami, Karen Hughes, Close Advisor and confidant of President Bush, Manjit Singh Bedi, Bhai Kuldeep Singh, Jathedar Darshan Singh, Rajinder Pal Singh, Bhai Jagmohan Singh, Amrit Kaur, Inderpal SIngh and Sirmukh SIngh Manku at the Washington National Cathedral.

GGSF joins President Bush in Prayer for Katrina Victims

Washington, September 19, 2005: Sikh leaders from all over the Washington area joined President Bush in prayer along with score of other religious and political leaders at the Washington National Catheral in the National day of prayer and remembrance service for victims of Hurricane Katrina on Friday. Former Jathedar of Akal Takhat, Singh Sahib Darshan Singh, Amrit Kaur, Secretary of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, Gyani Kuldeep Singh, Granthi of Sikh Foundation of Virginia, Bhai Jagmohan Singh, Granthi of Guru Nanak Foundation, Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), were seated two rows behind Bush and his cabinet. An hour long service was arranged to draw attention to the plight of those who have suffered in this greatest natural disaster facing the nation.

President Bush pledged to wipe out "the legacy of inequality" during reconstruction in the hurricane-ravage region. "As we clear away the debris of a hurricane, let us also clear away the legacy of inequality," Bush said during a national prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington. Americans of every race and religion were touched by the storm,"yet some of the greatest hardship fell upon citizens already facing lives of struggle -- the elderly, the vulnerable and the poor," he said.

In the audience were First Lady Laura Bush; Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne; Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld; Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales; and members of the Supreme Court and Congress. Also on hand were first-responders, members of the Salvation Army and several dozen survivors of the hurricane, who sat in the front rows.

After the service, Singh Sahib Darshan Singh along with all the 19 Sikhs who had attended the service, met with some of the victims from New Orleans who are stationed in D.C. Armory in Washington but were brought to this service. Darshan Singh said that “I offer prayers for all the faith communities who have been affected by this tragedy. Especially the Sikhs of New Orleans need our prayers and support. Let us all help each other.”
Many gurdwaras across the nation including the Washington area have donated thousands of dollars to relief organizations. The Gurdwara of New Orleans was also submerged in the water and all of the 35 families of the New Orleans had moved to Baton Rouge or have gone to their relatives in other parts of the country. Sikhs of Baton Rouge and United Sikhs have served many meals to the victims.

Nearly 800 people were confirmed killed by the hurricane, which pounded southern US states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Aug. 29, forcing about 1 million people to evacuate and leavingmany others stranded in New Orleans.