The past few days I have been watching old videos of SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji in dialog and question and answer sessions with Sikh Youth in various places. Here is one that I really enjoyed and highly recommend that you watch or listen to! I’ve already watched it at least five times in the course of editing and reviewing the videos and it really hit home for me so wanted to share with you all.
In the video yogiji starts by talking about just "being" a Sikh verses experiencing and living as a Sikh (He related this in the terms he called "Concept" and "Conception"). He then talks about how Sikhs have been betrayed by the so called "Sikh Leadership" and how youth should not rely on them and BECOME the leaders themselves. He shares inspiring experiences from his youth before the partition of India when he was part of creating the All India Sikh Student Federation. He explains how the youth worked together and formed a powerful force with Sikhi as a base and through trust, honesty, equality. He shares the ingredients of what made this work and how youth of today can do this as well.
In the past I have posted quite a few audio lectures from Gurdwara by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji which I thought were very inspirational and educational (and have shaped who I am today). This weekend has been a very thoughtful and pensive weekend for me. I was not feeling so well so stayed home with daughter Charanjeet Kaur and watched quite a few old videos of lectures and questions and answer sessions with Sikh youth from England, Canada and USA.
In the videos he answers many common questions related to Sikhi, and more specifically questions related to Sikhs of western origin. Normally most of his lectures are one way to the sangat in Gurdwara, so the ones I watched are very different because people ask questions and he answers them. As I have time I’ll watch them again and edit them down to smaller chunks so you all can benefit.
There were so many unique and different videos submitted by youth for the 2007 SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival. Another one of my favorites is a video titled "Just 2 Live Another Day", which is a rap music video by 18 year old Sukhdeep Singh Bhogal from Australia. The lyrics and visuals are awesome and have a great message. The video is about remembering the sacrifices of those Sikhs before us and standing tall as a Sikh of the Guru. I can only imagine how much time it took to put together this video and the music. If you have ever done a video/music project you’ll understand how much time it can take to do a good project like this.
The SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival has begun! We received about 40 videos from all over the world and every day we will feature a few of them for you all to watch. Here is one of my first picks by a 13 year old named Angad Singh.
One Light celebrates the oneness of all people in the footsteps of Guru Nanak who traveled thousands of miles and reached millions of people in the conflicted world to impart the message of One God, One humanity.
In this film a 13 year old from suburban Atlanta takes on a project to educate his neighbors about himself as a Sikh and to learn about them as well. The mission is to connect with them - drawing on similarities, and inspiring everyone to take a baby step in the direction of making this world a friendlier place by education, connection and inspiration.
We just finished an amazing 4 days of the Jaap Sahib course here in Espanola, New Mexico. You all missed a good thing! We even had quite a few people come from as far as England! Those of you who missed it are in luck, because I recorded some of the happenings, and over the next weeks/months I’ll be posting bits and pieces as we have time to sift through and edit it.
During the Jaap Sahib Course the Chardikala Jatha were quite involved so I recorded a lot of interesting video with them talking about many different topics. On the last day I was able to pull them into the SikhNet office to do a few quick interviews. Sadasat Simran Singh speaks Punjabi quite fluently so I thought it would be cool to have a video interview with him in Punjabi (though I do ask the questions in English). Here is one of the videos from yesterday….
As promised, here is the next video in the series of light and fun little promo videos for the SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival. This is one of 5 videos that myself and my friend Sartaj Singh (DC) recorded in a single day with a regular video camera and some creative ideas. The aim is to encourage you all to make a video for this years event! Videos can be submitted by people of Any age, not only youth. So, what are you waiting for?? Make your voice heard this year at the SikhNet Youth Online Film Festival!
A couple of weeks ago I was in Washington D.C. for the day staying with my friend Sartaj Singh Dhami. You might know him from some of the videos he has posted online (Gatka Experimentation or Sikh On the Street). Anyways, during my quick visit I thought it would be great to do some short promotional videos to encourage people to make a video for the SikhNet Online Film Festival. We wanted to show that with a simple camera and a little bit of creativity you could do all kinds of fun things. So during that day before I flew back home to New Mexico myself and sartaj recorded about 7-8 different videos. These are things that we did on the spur of the moment. We just had silly/fun ideas and just did it. We didn’t have time for reviewing the video footage or getting things fine tuned. We just brainstormed some ideas, turned on the camera….and started filming. We did some with little digital cameras (in video mode), some with a cell phone (though we didn’t have time to finish it), and some with an average video camera (recording audio through the camera). In other words we didn’t have any special equipment. All that was really required was a unique idea and some effort to put it all together.
Every week I will be posting one of the videos that we made in hope that YOU (yes….I’m talking to you) will make a video for this year’s film festival. Remember anyone any age can submit a video so no excuses!
Here is the first video that we did. It’s a bit embarrassing for me but I’m willing to look silly if it helps encourage you to make a video.
Thanks again to my friend Sartaj who had lots of fun, wacky ideas, and did all the editing/recording for these videos. Ish Amitoj Kaur (Kambdi Kalaai) was also there with us the day before, but had to leave. If she could have stayed, who knows what we would have done? We could have had all all-star cast and film crew?? Hahah… Stay tuned next week for the next one :)
by Sat Mandir Singh Khalsa (Virginia), Grade 12 Miri Piri Academy, Amritsar, India, December 10, 2006
"A few weeks ago, during a so-far uneventful G.T. (Golden Temple) trip, I was walking along, minding my own business, when I suddenly felt a tug on the side of my chola. I looked down and saw a scrappy-looking beggar boy about seven or eight years old staring up at me, hand outstretched. He looked pitiful. He had long, greasy hair that was draped sloppily over his face and almost concealed his big, round eyes, which portrayed an emotion of deep sorrow. A tattered hemp shirt that was much too small for him was pulled as far as it would go over a cavity of a stomach, which indented his skeletal frame. Covering his twig-like legs was a pair of old, hand-me-down trousers that were torn and faded from generations of use. His feet were shoeless and calloused from many years of walking barefoot through the rough streets of Amritsar. From head to toe, he was covered in a thick coat of dirt and grime that darkened and splotched his skin.
Picture Above: Prabhu Singh in the wilderness near his work place
Shortly after the catastrophic events of 9/11 a Sikh, Balbir Singh, was murdered in Arizona. Other Sikhs have been severely beaten, Sikh Gurdwaras vandalized, and countless taunted with labels of “Arab,” “Osama,” and the like. The misplaced blame for terrorism on Muslims and any one appearing Middle Eastern has hits Sikhs as well. The idea of a "collective guilt" is paltry, but it is ironic that Sikhs are targeted because Sikhism is completely separate from Islam and the current conflicts in the Middle East. Some Sikhs believe that they have gotten even more discrimination than other groups because of their distinct attire of turban and beard. Challenge is not new for the Sikhs who have historically protected the religious freedom of all people against extreme odds. Additionally Sikhs have faced massacres at the hands of Mughal and Afghani invaders in 1746 and 1762, as well as British officers in 1919, communal rioters in 1947, and the modern Indian Government in 1984. Sikhs, who have always been a visible minority, have faced times when a price was placed on each head of a Sikh. Now, many Sikhs have cut their hair and have taken off their turbans to avoid discrimination.
In the remote location of Los Alamos, New Mexico, four Sikhs work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This high security laboratory is most recognized as the birthplace of the atomic bomb, and has been recognized as one of the premiere scientific institutions of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Those of you who are around 35 years old and younger probably notice how the "older generation" operates and does things very differently than you. There is a definite "disconnect" and gap between the older and younger generations. There are more noticeable differences between the generations today than ever before. This is because the world has changed so much in the last 50 to 80 years. The way that the older generation was raised and relates to the world is very different than that of the younger. It’s as if we speak different languages when we relate to each other (and I don’t mean English and Punjabi).
When it comes to leadership I have always felt that it is important for the younger generation of Sikhs to take more leadership roles in our communities. Many of us complain about the politics in Gurdwaras, and many issues that are around us. We talk about what everyone is, or is not doing.
A Side Story:One time after the morning Akhand Path Bhog some of the sangat was serving langar that they had made at the last minute (since there is not normally langar at the time). It wasn’t a planned thing. While in line and getting food, I heard someone complaining about something with the food and I got a bit irritated. The person had no idea of the love and time that went into making this langar. All they saw was what they thought was wrong with the langar (Rather then the blessing of having Guru’s Langar). From then on I realized that someone shouldn’t have the right to complain about something, unless they are a part of the solution. So, the next time you think about complaining or criticizing something, think about how you can be a part of a solution to help make it better. I suppose this is how life is. We tend to not see the many gifts that we already have all around us, and focus on what is wrong, and what we don’t have.
I learn a lot from my elders, however I think the youth of today have a lot to share and contribute also. It can be hard sometimes as a youth wanting to make a difference in this world and finding a place to do so. That feeling of wanting to help create change and solve problems but not being supported or welcomed by the elders. Some obvious things come to mind like how many Gurdwaras are operated and geared towards the adults. Not much effort is made to involve and empower the youth, who are our tomorrow. For every Gurdwara committee there should be a number of youth also a part of it who can help come up with ideas and new ways to support and inspire the youth. There has to be flexibility for change and inclusion. We need both generations involved in bridging this gap. It’s a team effort!
I think it is a conscious focus that has to be there for the elders to mentor and involve the youth in leadership positions. It’s a passing of responsibilities from elders to the younger generation.
The past few days I have been watching old videos of SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji in dialog and question and answer sessions with Sikh Youth in various places. Here is one that I really enjoyed and highly recommend that you watch or listen to! I’ve already watched it at least five times in the course of editing and reviewing the videos and it really hit home for me so wanted to share with you all. 
by Sat Mandir Singh Khalsa (Virginia), Grade 12 
I learn a lot from my elders, however I think the youth of today have a lot to share and contribute also. It can be hard sometimes as a youth wanting to make a difference in this world and finding a place to do so. That feeling of wanting to help create change and solve problems but not being supported or welcomed by the elders. Some obvious things come to mind like how many Gurdwaras are operated and geared towards the adults. Not much effort is made to involve and empower the youth, who are our tomorrow. For every Gurdwara committee there should be a number of youth also a part of it who can help come up with ideas and new ways to support and inspire the youth. There has to be flexibility for change and inclusion. We need both generations involved in bridging this gap. It’s a team effort! 
