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N
E W S November
30 ,
2003: North Carolina, USA
Nature rejoiced in this historic festivity, embracing it with a pleasing drizzle, this October 26 Sunday, in the Queen City. A magnificent structure stood in the midst of acres of
land covered with trees, autumn leaves falling. The sangat performed the
Nishan Sahib ceremony, Surendrapal Singh and Kirpal Singh assisting, by
hoisting the Sikh flag collectively, each member tying a knot on a 40-foot
tall pole, accompanied by the verse "Khalsa mero pind bhra,"
sung on the harmonium by Harpreet Kaur and her group, Gureet, Savvy, Jugad,
and Samandeep. The inaugural celebration spread over the weekend, taking the form of a festive, life-affirming, religious function. Starting Friday evening with a kirtan and a reception for visitors, the celebration got in full swing on Saturday with a conference on the Sikh Scripture Guru Granth Sahib, an apt preparation for the inauguration next day. Numerous dignitaries from the U.S, Canada, and India participated in the weekend activities. People of various faiths attended the conference and inauguration. Invited raagis as well as the local sangat, especially children, performed the kirtan on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Bhai Baldeep Singh, the 13th generation raagi of the Gurbani from New Delhi, accompanied by a renowned tabla player from England, Sukhvinder Singh, transported the audience to the old-time religion of the Gurus, raagis performing in classical style in the Guru's darbar. Saturday evening, Atlanta residents Paramjit and Archana, with their son on the tabla and daughter on the harmonium and violin alternating, were a rare example of a kirtan-performing Sikh family accompanied by their four-instrument orchestra (fourth one being the sitar). Raja Dr. Mrigendra Singh, music artist and musicologist, son of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, expounded extensively on the Scripture in Punjabi, Sanskrit, and English as he recited the katha and read from the scripture. On the inauguration day, the Honorable Mayor Patrick McCrory joined the Sikh congregation. Welcoming him, Ajay Pratap Singh took the opportunity to speak on the Sikh religion, underscoring the significance of hair and turban, and sensitizing the mayor to the problem of misidentification of turbaned Sikhs in the wake of 9/11. The Mayor, in turn, congratulated the sangat and assured them of the city's support for Sikhs as well as for other communities. Surendrapal Singh, President, The Sikh Heritage Society, and Preetinder "Paul" Singh, Secretary, honored the dignitaries and participants of the seminar with certificates for their contributions to the Sikh community. The Seminar, October 25 A very special feature of this three-day inaugural program was the seminar on the Sikh Holy Book, along with an announcement of a research center for Sikh studies, to be named the Sikh Heritage Research Institute, associated with the forthcoming Tercentennial Celebration of the Guru Granth Sahib in October 2008. Its theme was: "The Guru Granth Sahib, a Scripture for the 21st Century: The Meaning and Relevance of Sikh Philosophy" Dr. Harbans Lal, President of the Academy of Guru Granth Sahib Studies, who had initiated this very important project, worked hard to coordinate it. The seminar was divided into four sessions, each chaired by one of the participants. Speakers invited to participate were those that had devoted themselves to Sikh studies, particularly the Guru Granth Sahib, and shown leadership in different areas of faith, spirituality, interfaith initiatives, and publication in the Sikh media. Of those invited, these sixteen scholars presented at the seminar: Dr. Narinder Singh, President, Sikh Foundation; Rajinder Jit Kaur, Sikh Women Association; Raja Dr. Mrigendra Singh of Patiala, music artist and musicologist; Dr. Amarjit Singh, surgeon and activist in Sikh youth programs, Buffalo, NY; Dr. Harbans Lal, President, Academy of Guru Granth Sahib Studies, Arlington, Texas; Dr. K.L. Seshagiri Rao, President, India Heritage Research Foundation; Nirmal Singh, Academy of Guru Granth Sahib Studies; Dr. Sukhraj Singh, N.C. State University; Kirpal Singh, Author of Sikh Ideology; Dr. Baljit Singh, orthopedic surgeon, Virginia; Dr. Kulwant Singh, Academy of Guru Granth Sahib Studies; Professor Surjit Singh, SUNY, Buffalo; Dr. Sangat Singh, New York Gurdwara; Dr. Harminder Singh, N.C. A&T State University, Greensboro; Jasbir Singh, President, Maboli Corp. and Founder of Khalsa-net; and Professor Devinder Singh, Institute of Understanding Sikhism. The seminar concluded with a truly enjoyable presentation on the Sikh art by Dr. Narinder Singh, a wealthy collector of the Sikh art and President of the Sikh Foundation. The scholarly and religious views expressed during the day spread over a wide spectrum, ranging from left to right, liberal to conservative, modern to traditional, practical to ideal. Without exception, speakers pointed out the relevance of Guru Nanak's message for humankind: Break the barriers of caste, creed, and gender; treat all human beings as children of God. Guru Arjan Dev's message was heard over and again, "Ek Pitaa, ekas ke hum baarik," meaning, "One God, we are all the Lord's children." The scholars applauded the Sikh belief in human progress through personal self-discipline and sincere effort, emphasizing freedom from rituals and other human-made divisions. Some speakers expounded on the need and value of hair and turban for the Sikh Dharma and the Sikh community. They exhorted the Sikhs to follow the edicts of Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru. All religious paths lead to the one and same Supreme Being, God. This idea was driven home by many speakers quoting from the Gurbani. "Countless are Thy names," says the founding Guru. "Calling God by myriads of names, I bow to the Lord," says Saint Kabir in the Sikh Scripture. "The whole world was born out of one divine light," he continues. The same light, same divinity, defines Rama and Rahim, Allah and Waheguru, and God by any other name. The seminar was indeed a resounding success and a unique program for the Sikh community as well as for the larger Indian and American communities. The inaugural celebration will truly remain a memorable event in the minds of people. And the Gurdwara will be the anchor for the Sikh community; it will attract many Sikh families to the area. Those living in the South have seen the area change progressively. Charlotte's acceptance of the Sikh community and their House of Worship marks a commendable process of liberalization the city and the region have been experiencing. The Queen City got a step closer to becoming a world-class city when it welcomed the very first house of worship for the Sikhs called the Gurdwara Sahib or simply the Gurdwara. comment: Roshan Singh is chairman of the Department of English at Livingstone College and an appointed member of the Mayor's International Cabinet in Charlotte. Jaspal Singh is a permanent faculty member in information technology at CPCC and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sikh Heritage Society of Greater Charlotte. Write them at rattrey@aol.com. For further information, visit the website www.gurdwaracharlotte.com. Copyright
©The Sikh Sentinel 2003 |
"Deg
Teg Fateh! Panth ki jeet!!" Traditional Sikh slogans reverberated
in Charlotte's morning air. It is the Gurdwara Charlotte's inaugural ceremony.
Guru Gobind Singh's saint-soldiers, the Panj Piyaras, clad in saffron
robes, swords in hand, headed the parade up to the main entrance-- ceremonial
symbols of past glory and battles fought for the Sikh Dharma, Truth, and
freedom.