UK Seminar Boosts Strong Links Between Sikhs And The Armed Forces

October 28th, 2009 by Mandeep Kaur

The relationship between the Sikh faith and service in the Armed Forces was boosted at a seminar at the Nishkam Centre in Birmingham, UK.

Hosting the seminar, the Sikh Chaplain to the Armed Forces, Mandeep Kaur, gathered a number of guests including military chaplains of other faiths and Major General Martin Rutledge, General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Army’s 5th Division, who paid tribute to the service given by Sikhs over the last 200 years up to the present day and welcomed their contribution to the diversity of the Armed Forces. He said: “Our Armed Forces share the core values that the Sikh community holds so dear: honour, loyalty, and integrity.

“Those values and skills will be vital if we are to deliver the battle-winning people and equipment we need to keep this country safe.”

Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh, Chairman Nishkam Sewak Jatha, reflected on the teachings of Sikh faith and described how merciful living act as foundation of Sikhi.

The event, held in the Nishkam Centre, was an opportunity for Sikhs from the Service community to talk about their experiences and to listen to the chaplains from the other faiths, in keeping with the Sikh value of respect and understanding for other religions.

Commenting on the seminar, Mandeep Kaur said: “I feel that the day was successful as it gave many Service personnel who came, an opportunity to speak freely and honestly about any issues they are facing. It gave them platform to share their experiences with all others.

The two objectives of the day: raising awareness of Sikh faith within the Armed Forces and bridging the gap between the Armed Forces and civilian community- were achieved very productively. After attending the seminar, it is now much easier for a everyone within the forces to understand why a Sikh wears turban, Kirpan,  beard etc and what are their values.

We, as Sikhs, have got such a rich heritage given to us by our Guru and I feel very proud to say that we shared our rich values with all the communities and faiths and we were able to educate many about what Sikhi brings to this entire humanity. Thanks to Waheguru.

I am hugely satisfied with the day.





Comments

November 3, 2009 - 8:04am sekhonjames

UK Seminars

WJKK, WJKF, Veerji's comments are absolutely right and most relevant. We need to pay attention towards declining sikhi among youths, we need to prepare Granthis who should be able to deliver in English, French, Italian and many other languages of the African world. We msut stop spending lavishly on splendid Gurudwara buildings. What is the use if these buildings if these remain empty in the morning and evening and especially younthgs are absent. In one mail today sent by my friend says that in UK muslims boys have been trained to induce or seduce young sikh girls to convert them in muslims. Even we have already stories of some gilrs falling pray to such inducements. One reason in the mail for their easy pray is lack of knowledge of gurmat philosophy among sikh boys and girls. We are more inclined to westernise our kids, we don't teach them our values, our mother tongue and Gurmat ideology. This is one of the most dangesrous trend among sikh immigrants. We need not to launch a drive for any sort of conversion, thousands of people would be willingly converted into Sikhi, if we are able to deliver them what is there in SGGS in their own languages, and our rahat maryada should conform the principles of sikhsim and gurmat philosophy. Sadhu Singh
November 1, 2009 - 8:12am randeep singh

October 30, 2009 - 2:52pm ?

October 30, 2009 - 2:52pm ? Kamalroop Singh Investing money in Bricks. Vahiguroo Ji Ka Khalsa Vahiguroo Ji Ki Fateh! It seems that our community has lost its senses. We are investing Sangats hard earned money into buildings but not into Sikhi. In the Punjab there are massive Gurudwaras that are empty every evening, and morning in many villages. In the UK we have the same disease spreading. Is making a massive building really a success? Is it really such a big deal? Or is it a big deal that one child learns Japji Sahib by heart, or the Sikhs aid the local community, provide shelter, or provide other facilities. In the U.K, Sangats have spents hundreds of millions of pounds, in making large buildings, which will burden the future generations with cost of repair. Southall has a huge heroin problem, but over 20 million was spent on bricks. Now we have another example of gross mismangement of Sangats funds. Why not buy an estate with 5000 acres with that amount of money. Small minds do small things. We have a made Sikhi a form of materialism, that a huge building reflects our faith. Our dedication to Gurbani and form is what the Guru asked for, but to deflect from this, we build large idols. What could we have spent 11 million on: 1. Sikh research. We have no permanant Sikh Chair in the UK. Therefore we have no academic represention by Sikhs at that level. 2. Invest in the youth, pay for peoples education. Invest in people not cement. 3. Provide care for our elderly citizens. 4. Tackle alcoholism and drug abuse amongst Sikhs 5. Domestic violence 6. Campaign against female infanticide. Real issues for real people. Buildings are fake issues for the fake Khalsa. Every week a Sikh in the UK converts to Islam. Why havent we funded youth Parchar? Why isnt Katha done in English to an English speaking youth? The reason people convert is that our Muslim brothers fund their youth, and spend money educating their youth in Islam. We only educate our kids to make money....to have bigger cars, and bigger houses. The reality is we are empty inside, like this Gurughar will be most hours of the day. How many Muslims kids know the Qu'ran and how many of our kids know Guru Granth Sahib? Our kids dont even know why they have Kesh, or Mathha tekh. They dont even know why they wear a Kara! Do we make bigger Gurdwaras because we have bigger and bigger weddings, for marriages that sometimes last less than 6 weeks? Thats probably one of the reasons. Sri Darbar Sahib is modest in size compared to these modern American size Gurdwaras yet because of the devotion, it is the heart of Sikhi. In the past we had visable enemies, the Moghuls, the turaks etc.....now our biggest enemy is the materialism, and cozy comforts that are eating our community up. But I spose we are all going to say 'its not my problem', the Gianis is like this like that.... If your sending your son or daughter to university this year, just remember our Muslim brothers have over 5 millions pounds to fund conversion each year. Kamalroop Singh Nihang reply Flag as offensive

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