Sikh Educational Conference in Washington focuses on Sikh Scriptures

Washington, August 4, 2008: Guests from all over East Coast participated in Sikh Educational Conference titled Guru Granth Sahib – Its power and Transformational Impact on Human Life and Development. This was organized in Shady Grove Campus of University of Maryland, on August 2nd, 2008. There were speakers from USA and Canada who presented their thoughts on various topics assigned to them. In an auditorium full of more then 200 people the conference was officially opened by Secretary of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, Amrit Kaur. This was organized by GGSF in celebration of the 300th-anniversary of the Sikh Scriptures Guru Granth Sahib as Eternal Shabad Guru .It is being celebrated world wide  in October of this year.

 
Some of the Participants at the Sikh Educational Conference 
 
Bhai Gurdarshan Singh, Granthi of GGSF, delved deeply on the concept of of Shabad Guru- its history and origin. He elaborated on the mysterious concept of Shabad Guru and its introduction by Guru Nanak in his writings. He was followed by Prof. Atamjit Singh, Professor of Punjabi Studies in San Jose State University, California. He explained in detail the cultural impact of Guru Granth Sahib in changing caste system and the age old notion of considering women inferior. He emphasized that Guru Nanak’s method of dialogue with people of other faith is a model which needs to be adopted in the present world.  
 
 

 
Then it was Dr. IJ Singh, a professor at New York University and writer of several books on Sikhism from western perspective and a scholar of Sikhism who elaborated on Guru Granth Sahib’s present role in society. He cautioned the audience that Guru Granth Sahib can not be treated like an ordinary book nor it could be an object of blind worship. It is only useful if it is read deeply and applied during the entire life span. It was very stimulating session and attentive listeners asked many questions.

After the lunch break appeared Ambassador Macdonald and Dr. Rev. Clark Lobenstine , Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington. Rev. Dr. Clark Lobenstine, who is a big cementing force in various communities here, spoke about the role of religion in a plural society and challenges in the present world. He elaborated on how intra-faith dialogue on critical issues prepares one to contribute in the interfaith dialogue and exchange. He reiterated that each religion needs to strengthen the inclusivist notions among the believers rather than allowing the exclusivists in each community to build walls which hamper the growth of pluralistic society.
 
From left to right:Inderpal Singh Gadh, Chattar Singh Saini, Gurpreet Singh, Mrs and Mr. John Macdonald, Harminder Singh Jassal, Darshan Singh, Dr. Gurinder Singh, Dr. Karandeep Singh
 
Ambassador Macdonald and his NGO have done great deal of efforts in starting the bus service between India and Pakistan. He recently visited the border between India and Pakistan in Punjab and proposed a corridor to connect Kartarpur Gurdwara in Pakistan to Dera Baba Nanak in India to create Peace Corridor. This prompted the visit of Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to the same spot to support this idea of the corridor. His NGO is doing feasibility study there. He created much enthusiasm among the participants at the conference.
 
This was followed by a very interesting slide show by Sutinder Singh Dhanjal from New Jersey. His presentation was about Science and Sikhism. AS an astronomer he had made several beautiful slides of the galaxy depicting the cosmos and creation as explained in different hymns of Gurbani.
 
Then it was Mr. T. Sher Singh from Canada. He is founder of website Sikhchic.com and spinning Wheel Film Festival. An attorney by training, he spoke on peace and reconciliation emphasizing the role of each individual to focus within to find the strength to spread peace in the world thru service to  humanity. He quoted extensively from Guru Granth Sahib on finding the peace and love within.
 
Last speaker was Bhai Sarbjit Singh from Glen Cove Gurdwara, New York. He is a graduate of Punjab University and holds masters from Gurmat College, Patiala. He spoke on Shabd Guru- How and Why? Both he and Bhai Gurdarshan Singh expressed themselves in English. This certainly was an added pleasure for many youngsters in the audience to engage in this discussion.  
 
The audience had chance to ask questions from every speaker. Panelist with each speaker had opportunity to compliment the presentations.  Among the panelists who contributed, were: Paramjit Singh Sarin, Dr. Rajwant Singh, Dr. Kamaljit Kaur Sethi and Darshan Singh, a scholar from Pennsylvania. Various sessions were moderated by Dr. Harminder Singh Sethi, Dr. Harjit Singh Bajaj, Harminder Singh Jassal, Ravi Singh and Gurcharan Singh.
 
Amrit Kaur thanked the distinguished speakers, audience and all those who helped in to organize it said, “This is a historical moment for us when we have been able to bring together speakers from diverse backgrounds together on a common platform to talk about the transformational impact of Guru Granth Sahib and how it changed the society and revolutionized the thinking of masses.” She also thanked the audience for their time and patience for being there so long and interest they have expressed by being an active participant in the dialogue.
 
Dr. Rajwant Singh, Executive Director of GGSF, said, “We Sikhs still have a great task ahead of us to create an awareness about the spiritual wisdom in Guru Granth Sahib. Many in the world are still deprived of this healing force which brought together so many people of diverse backgrounds in the Indian subcontinent and created an oasis of peace. He stated, “Many in India still do not know that this great treasure contains the writings of Maharasthraian Saint, Namdev, Jaidev from Bengal, Farid from Pakpatan, Pakistan, famous mystic Kabir of Benaras and 15 other holy souls of South Asia. It is our moral responsibility to pass on this gift to all.”
 
 
Sarabjit Singh Sidhu, President of GGSF, said, “ We  have been organizing various programs since January to celebrate this great event in the Sikh history which included study circles, kirtan darbar and kavi darbar and this conference was another way of showing the important role Guru Granth Sahib plays in the Sikh society.”
 
The Conference was co-sponsored by the Sikh Council on Religion and Education and it was televised on the internet This will be archived for a year. www.passionfortruthtv.com.
 

Pictures by SS Manku and Gagan Naran

Guru Gobind Singh Foundation
13814 Travilah Road, Rockville, MD 20850
www.ggsfusa.com
 
Press Release