Highlights

The Bi-monthly Newsletter of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board

Renovated DARBAR HALL - Central Sikh Temple

Issue No : 46

Jan /Apr 2011 Inside this issue

2 & 3. CST newly renovated temple photos.

- Namelist of bursary awards students 2010 4. Welcome to new staff and farewell Prayers held at SRST for Japanese tsunami disaster Victims. - Programs held in SRST in 2011 6. Article by Jaswant Singh Certificate presentation to Sikhism 101 graduates -New members list. 8. A wallk down the memory. - Book of the month

5.

7.

Objectives:

To promote Sikh heritage. To meet the needs of the Sikh Community. To organise and promote the learning of Gurbani and Kirtan. To lead the Sangat to become and remain Amrit Dhari Sikhs. To propagate Sikhism by providing quality religious services. To inculcate the practice of the Sikh way of life.

On 26 November 2010, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib was shifted from its temporary location on the 1st floor back to its original location at the Darbar Hall. The newly renovated Darbar Hall at Central Sikh Temple has been enhanced with the following features:

More space for the sangat Bigger screens for sangat to understand kirtan. LED lights and energy saving air conditioners.

The Board thanks all those who have made generous donations, and appeals for donations from those who have not donated.

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

CST Renovation in Progress

The front facade

New staircase to the lobby

New staircase leading to Darbar Sahib

Spacious and airy Langgar Hall

New lobby ground floor

Lobby at level 2

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Spacious new stairway

View of the pool

Model of proposed new palki

More spacious Darbar Hall

View from Towner Road

The Central Sikh Gurdwara Board congratulates the following students of its 2010 bursary awards:
1. Amarish Kaur d/o Ishwar Singh 2. Sheetaljit Kaur Dhaliwal 3. Gurpinder Kaur 4. Deepak Singh Panu s/o Jaspal Singh 5. Sandhyaa Gill d/o Harpritpal Singh 6. Melvinder Singh s/o Gurcharan Singh 7. Harjit Singh s/o Purman Singh 8. Jagjit Singh s/o Purman Singh 9. Taranpreet Singh Sandhu s/o Piyara Singh 10.Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu d/o Piyara Singh 11.Palnehajit Kaur

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Welcome
A warm welcome to the following staff: Rishpal Singh, who recently arrived back from Australia and has taken over from S. Gorbechan Singh in managing the Sikh Centre.

Sikh Centre Program Executives

Dilraj Kaur

Amrita Singh

Silat Road Sikh Temple staff

Sukhvinder Singh

Rajinder Singh

Central Sikh Temple Jatha

Ratanjeet Singh, Ratandeep Singh and Harpreet Singh

farewell
We thank S. Gorbechan Singh who resigned for family reasons after serving the Board for two years .We acknowledge his dedication and meritorious service to the Board and wish him all the best for the future.

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Joint Prayers for the Tsunami and earthquake disasters in Japan held at the Silat Road Sikh Temple

Dr. Susumu Takonai, First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan,joined the sangat in prayers held at Gurdwara Silat Road on Sunday 27 March 2011, for victims of the recent tsunami and earthquake disasters in Japan.

Programs held at Silat Road Temple in 2011

January 2011
- Nishan Sahib Salami on 1st January 2011 followed by Guru Gobind Singh ji Birthday Celebrations, with three days Akhand path from 3rd January to 5th January 2011. Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji birthday celebrated from 14th January 2011 to 16th January 2011 with three days Akhand Path Sahib and evening 7.00pmto 8.30pm special katha kirtan program on Friday and Saturday at Darbar Hall.

March 2011
Holla Mahalla celebrations with three days Akhand Path Sahib from 18th March to 20th March 2011, and on the 19th Silat Road Sikh Temple organised Kirtan Darbar from 10.00am to 2.00pm.

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

This is the 17th article in the series Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas (Who is a Khalsa?)which started in April 2008. In our previous articles, we discussed some of the virtues of the Khalsa. In this article we will focus on He fears none and frightens none.

A Sikh never hurts, envies and slanders anyone

Jaswant Singh
A Sikh always speaks the language of love. Describing attributes of the Guru-oriented Sikhs, the Gurbani describes how they keep the Lord enshrined in their hearts at all times. Their speech is sweet and their way of life is humble. Only such devotees enjoy the spiritual union with God. A Sikh never hurts anyone verbally or otherwise. Baba Farid, a Bhagat contributor of the SGGS, advises that the minds of all are like precious jewels; to harm them is not good at all. If you want to receive the blessings of your Beloved Lord, then do not hurt anyone's heart. He further counsels not to utter even a single harsh word as the true Lord abides in all. Likewise a Sikh never envies and slanders anyone. He is aware that by indulging in these bad habits invaluable time is wasted. So he never engages himself in jealousy and bickering. Instead, he does good deeds and obtains whatever he needs through his own effort. In the context of slandering, the Gurbani states that it is wrong to slander anyone. Only foolish people slander others. All religious activities are useless and fruitless for one who has not stopped slandering and gossiping about others even after following the spiritual path. Not only is slandering others bad, but listening to slander is equally bad. However, one whose heart is pure need not fear anyone who slanders him. It is the slanderer who loses, not he who is being slandered. Those who slander others, carry loads of sin upon their heads. Those who aspire to be spiritually elevated do not listen to slander. Rather, they renounce their self-conceit and become the humblest of all. Furthermore, the Gurbani advises us to renounce both flattery and slander and seek instead seek the state of detachment from both these vices. So, a Sikh pays no attention to his slander and praise. He reflects upon the Gurus Shabad everyday and leads his life as advised by it.
References: gurmuiK sdw sohwgxI ipru rwiKAw aur Dwir ] imTw bolih iniv clih syjY rvY Bqwru ] (31) ieku iPkw n gwlwie sBnw mY scw DxI ] ihAwau n kYhI Twih mwxk sB Amolvy ] (1384) inMdw BlI iksY kI nwhI mnmuK mugD krMin ] (755) pr inMdw muK qy nhI CUtI inPl BeI sB syvw ](1253) irdY suD jau inMdw hoie ] hmry kpry inMdku Doie ](339) inMdw krih isir Bwru auTwey ] (372) ausqiq inMdw doaU iqAwgY KojY pdu inrbwnw ](218)

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Certificate Presentation Ceremony for Sikhism 101 Graduates

Ms. Kuldip Kaur Gill,partner, Deloitte & Touche, was special guest of honor at the certificate presentation ceremony held at the Sikh Centre auditorium on Saturday 26 February 2011 for graduates of the 4th batch of our Sikhism 101 course. This course was unique in two aspects as it was exclusively conducted in Punjabi and all the graduates were female except one lone male.

A warm welcome to the following new members whose membership was approved at the CSGB Council meetings held this year:
1. S. Bhopinder Singh 2. S. Gurcharan Singh Dhandal 3. S. Rajinder Singh 4. S. Mohinder Singh 5. S. Parmindar Singh 6. S. Sharanpal Singh 7. S. Keshpal Singh 8. S. Jaspal Singh Dhillon 9. S. Deepal Singh Dhillon 10. Sdr Kulwinder Kaur 11. Sdr Surindar Kaur 12. Sdr Ishwinder Kaur 13. Sdr Paramjit Singh Gursharan d/o Ajit Singh 14. S. Harbhajan Singh 15. S. Inderjeet Singh Parmar 16. S. Harbahjan Singh 17. S. Mohan Singh 18. S. Jasweinder Singh Pannu

We request all members of the Sikh Community to join us, and look forward to their active involvement, participation and contributions.

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Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

A Walk
Down Memory Lane
A tribute to an early Sikh pioneer in Singapore - HARDIAL SINGH
In 1920,Hardial Singh and his four brothers left their home in Punjab and came to Ipoh (in Perak state, Malaysia) to set up a shop trading in spices, grains, foodstuffs and textiles. They then ventured south to Singapore and Gian Singh & Company was established in 1934 at the present Bank of China building site, moving later to Raffles Place. Hardial Singh was a man of integrity ond from left) and Hira Singh (standing left) talked busiand he practised the Sikh Spirit of ness with Chinese and Indian trade officials charity. He made sure that 10 per cent of his profits went towards the benefit of the Sikh communitys religious and social welfare areas. Hardial Singh passed away in 1967 and left an indelible imprint on the hearts and minds of Sikhs in Singapore. Retired justice Choor Singh wroteThe Sikh merchants raised the prestige of the Sikh Community in the eyes of the other communities. English Ladies selling poppies on POPPY DAY made a beeline for Sikh merchant houses in Raffles Place where many a Sikh proprietor bought a poppy for as much as $1,000. Researched by Charanjit Singh Sidhu, Former History Master of Raffles Institution.
On this trip to Shangai,1949 ,Hardial Singh (seated, sec-

Book of the month

An Introduction to the Sacred Language of the Sikhs By C. SHACKLE (Compiler) Reader in Modern Languages of South Asia at the University of London. Delhi, Heritage Publishers 1982 This book has been designed as a self-contained introductory course for anyone who wishes to gain knowledge of the original language of the Sikh scriptures. It is addressed to those who have interest in and concern for the teachings of Sikhism.
For info on Central Sikh Gurdwara Board activities, Please visit our Website @ sikhs.org.sg