Sabha releases The Sikh Update

Dear Members and Well Wishers,

Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia has just released The Sikh Update. It was distributed at the annual barsi in memory of Baba Sohan Singh ji Malacca, who is also a patron of the Sabha. As with the past few Sabha magazines, you can view it online at: http://issuu.com/thesikh.magazine/docs/may2012_update

Enjoy the weekend. Gurfateh.

Punjabi Bhasha Mela goes regional

PHOTO: Judges at the KL/Selangor level Punjabi Bhasha Mela held in Klang.

The Annual Punjabi Bhasha Mela has taken on a regional dimension this year. It is certain to heat up the national level meet on June 2-3 when participants bare their skills at events like debating and story telling in Punjabi.

The competition is the contribution of the Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia to promote our mother tongue. Taking it to the regional level has enabled more students, especially those form the smaller towns, to participate.

This year, we had many new teams taking part. Take Perak, for example. In the past, it was only Kampar and Ipoh. This year, the regional competition attracted teams from Taiping, Tanjung Rambutan, Batu Gajah, Sitiawan,

Tanjung Malim, Tapah, Bidor and Teluk Intan. Batu Pahat and Malacca joined regulars Seremban and Johor Bahru for the South Region. Selangor’s newcomer is Shah Alam while Gurdwara Sahib Pulapol is the new entrant from Wilayah Persekutuan.

The Northern Region first went regional in 2011. It was a huge success with teams coming from Penang, Butterworth, Sungai Petani, Kulim and Kangar. The 2012 Punjabi Bhasha Mela regional competitions were held in March and April.

MORE INFO, SEE:

Sabha Facebook | Punjabi Bhasha Mela Facebook Page | THE SIKH (April 2012 issue, see page 56-57)

Getting to know Punjabi Bhasha Mela

Kulim debating was one of the participants at the regional level Punjabi Bhasha Mela 2012. Now, we are all set for national-level Punjabi Bhasha Mela 2012. It is happeing on June 2-3 at APIIT College in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. What happens at a Bhasha Mela? Here’s some information on the individual and team events.

INDIVIDUAL ITEMS

Shudh paath:

The youngest (lower primary) will recite Japji Sahib, the upper primary Anand Sahib, lower secondary Asa ki Vaar and upper secondary will recite from the sanchiaa of Guru Granth Sahib.

In the past years, the participants have shown a good ability to read Gurbani.

Sakhi/kahaani (story telling):

Primary students tell stories of their own choice.

Bhashan (elocution):

Secondary students deliver speeches on topics given to them before they come to the competition. Most of them speak without referring to notes.

Tatkaali peshkaari (impromptu speeches):

Primary and secondary students deliver speeches on topics given to them 10 minutes before the competition. Teachers are not allowed to assist them. You will be amazed with the quality of presentations.

Kavita (poetry recital):

Primary and secondary students recite poems of their own chosing.

Sun ke jawab likhnaa (Listening comprehension)

Students listen to a recorded passage in Punjabi and answer questions on an answer sheet. Their listening skills are put to a test here.

TEAM ITEMS

  

Ajj di taza khabar (Today’s Fresh News):

A secondary school boy-girl team reads out news. The new items are given to them 30min before they go live.  They decide how they present, who goes first, and how their interchange.

Shudh akhar jorh (Spelling bee):

The three-member primary level teams compete on their spelling prowess. First, they get easier words. The competition then heats up with bigger and more difficult words or phrases.

Prashnotri (Quiz):

What do call a fan in Punjabi? That could be one of the questions in quiz, at the early level. It gets tougher. They are also tested on their Gurmat knowledge. There is one round on muhaveray (idioms and proverbs).  Fan is pekhaa in Punjabi.

Behas (debate):

Naujawanaa dey jiwan sathi dhi chon maapiaa nu karni chahidi hay. Parents should select children’s marriage partners. The teams will debate on this topic for the first round. In round two, they will debate on the usage of Facebook.

If you have the time, check out the competition.

[MORE at Sabha Facebook, Punjabi Bhasha Mela Facebook page and/or the April 2012 issue of The Sikh]

Sabha’s KKB project in full swing

Dear members & friends of the Sabha,

Here’s an update on the International Sikh Centre (ISC), a project many simply call the KKB project. The report below is from the latest issue of The Sikh, the publication of the Sabha. You can view the latest issue of the magazine online here. [The Sikh, April/May 2012 issue]. The photos are by Harnarinder Singh aka Harry, who is also a member of the Sabha land committee team. 

The Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) land project is in high gear. By mid-2012, campers may be able to start using the 20-acres land located about 65km from Kuala Lumpur.

By June, the team entrusted to develop the project undertaken by Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia hope to see some major progress.

They target to complete bathroom and toilets. Also under constrcution are six portable cabins (20x10 ft) for accomodation and langgar. These will be placed in a U-shaped arrangement under a marquee that was completed in March 2012. The marquee, a hangar like building with a three-storey high metal roof, is 100x100 feet (10,000 sq ft).

Electricity and water connections were applied in April. It will take a few months.

In mid-2011, the local council approved the earthworks, including turf and fencing. Tenders were then called for. Not long later, the groundbreaking ceremony was held on site, with the presence of panj pyarey and the Sikh Sanggat.

Earthwork commenced in October 2011 and was completed in February 2012, with a three-month maintenance period to May. Between February and March, drainage and internal roads were contructed.

The project is a long-term vision of SNSM, spurred by Baba Niranjan Singh (Patiala), one of the organisation’s two patrons. The other is Baba Sohan Singh Malacca.

SNSM purchased the land in 2002 for RM1.7 million with the support of Sikhs from Malaysia and Singapore. Donors also came forward from Thailand, the Phillipines, Indonesia, and Australia. Plans to convert the land from agriculture to institution use were submitted in 2004, and approved in December 2010.
In June 2011, the Sabha AGM approved a budget of RM150,000 to build camp sites with cabins to kickstart usage of the land.

The overall approved plan includes sport facilities like football field and netball courts. It also has a training centre, hostels, Darbar Sahib, Langgar Hall, welfare facilities for senior citizens, a multi-purpose hall, staff quarters, administration office, auditorium and meeting rooms.

-- The Sikh, April/May 2012

The Sikh: Read it Online

The latest issue of The Sikh is now available online. This is the first time we are releasing the online version before you get your hands on the hard copy. You can view the April/May 2012 issue of the Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia's (SNSM) publication here.

As I write this message, the 60-page issue has yet to reach the Sabha House, our HQ situated close to the Lake Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur.

Technology has certainly changed the way we live. It is also changing the face of Sikhi parchaar. Releasing the magazine online is just one small step in the many changes that we have undertaken, and will have to embrace, as we journey along in Sikhi parchaar.

Be the first to catch the magazine online. Members should receive their copies in the mail soon. For those who are not yet members, do sign up as a Sabha member. As always, we welcome feedback. Gurfateh.

ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE:

The Sikh, Oct 2011

The Sikh, Jan 2012

Vaisakhi Grand Event -- Thanks

The Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia wishes to thank all members of the Sabha and the Sikh Sanggat who made the event happen. Turnout was huge all through the programme from April 5-8, 2012.

In the first photo below, you can see the beautiful decorated Darbar Sahib. In the next photo, you can see SNSM executive committee member Ravinder Kaur in the thick of action at a children party, one of the many breakout sessions at the four-day event.

The third photo: We have members of the Chardi Kala Jatha, who are linked to the Miri Piri Academy in Amritsar, Punjab.

We look forward to serving the Sikh Sanggat again next year. We now move into high gear in anticiption of Vaisakhi. Lookout for the various programmes that will come you way from the Sabha and other Sikh organisations.

The Sabha first began this event in 1999 to mark the 300th aniversary of the Khalsa. And it has been running ever since. Again, thanwaad.

SNSM book on Sikhi

After a long spell, we have finally produced our very own book on Sikhi. Q&A ON SIKHI: Gurmat Discussions on the Internet is an important addition to existing material on Sikhi. What makes this book all the more relevant to us in Malaysia is that it is written by a brother in our midst - Bhai Autar Singh.
He is no stranger to us all. Autar is a former Jathedar of SNSM and instrumental behind the idea of Akaal Purkh ki Fauj. He is also the founding member of Gurmat Learning Zone, one of the largest Internet-based Sikh discussion groups. To his credit, he has served on the Religious Advisory Committee of Akaal Takhat Sahib between 1994-1997, a rare feat for Sikhs from this part of the world.

The book is a compilation of his tireless efforts to discuss Sikhi on the various channels on the Internet.
The book will be launched at the Grand Vaisakhi Event in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, tomorrow (April 6). Get your copy. I would suggest that you get extra copies, pass them on as gifts to your nephews and nieces.

To Autar Singh, thanks for sharing the material.