Catching them young and changing them for the better
The younger lot in Punjab has been deeply affected by drugs. Their life is getting ruined. The worried parents are eager to find any escape route since only a few recover. The Sikhs Helping Sikhs have been worried too. The new generation of Sikhs is getting lost into the wilderness of the drug world; they are losing faith in their fundamental values including in their religion and becoming apostate. They have to be saved from the evil designs of the drug lords. They find the baptizing (amrit paan) as the best course. Those who are baptized, become different to drugs. Their value system changes to a higher pedestal. Jatinder Singh Uppal appeals to all students and congregations to partake amrit and become Guruwala. His message is propagated by Sikhs Helping Sikhs vehemently and very painstakingly coordinated by S. Satnam Singh Slopuri and S. Rajpal Singh. They go village to village, school to school, door to door, person to person, student to student for days together and convince them of the merits of partaking Amrit and wearing five kakaars. Parents and teachers easily give in; the students however take lot of time to be convinced. Mothers being more worried; are very keen that their ward is baptized and is kept off from drugs.
Their relentless effort brings fruit. Students are getting convinced. Gradually the numbers increase. As a result, mass baptising is planned for 19 October 2014 from 10.30 onwards. Khadur Sahib, Alamgir, Patiala, Jalandhar, Patiala, Moga, Mahil Kalan (Barnala), Ropar, Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda, Dhamdhan Sahib Jind, Batala and Cheema Sahib, Sunam are the twelve historic Gurdwaras chosen for mass baptizing.
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| Recording of students for baptsing in progress |
As I reach Alamgir close to my home, the enthused students and their parents are seen getting their names registered in large numbers. I find Satnam Singh Slopuri in hot communication with all the centres getting report of the progress of baptizing process. All the arrangements have been made meticulously. Jathedar Akal takhat, Shromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Baba Sewa Singh ji Karsewa Wale Khadur Sahib have been actively assisting in Amrit sanchar ceremony and other organizational problems. The team of Sikhs helping Sikhs which included Jaswinder Singh Khalsa and Bhai Jasbir Singh Khalsa of Sukrit Multiuniversity Ludhiana, S. Harkirat Singh Satnam Kalyan Trust, Chandigarh, Sant Baba Iqbal Singh ji Baru sahib, Principal Baljit Singh Gurmat Missionary College Chaunta, S. Jagjit Singh President Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, Jallandher have been helping in preparation for the function.
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| Some organizers. S. Satnam Singh Slopuri in blue dress with the author third from right |
All the students have been being given five kakaars and Nitnem Gutkas free. All the present are provided free langar and tea. Transportation from the homes of the students to the place of Amrit Sachar is also organized free. These all require a massive effort; but all have been well planned, organized and conducted.
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| Material for Free Distribution |
The number of the students at Alamgir Gurudwara, who have entered the hall for the baptizing is around 800! As the reports of other centres are received, the number goes above 8,000! What a number! Over 8,000 students getting baptized in Sikhism in a go! It is the largest number ever of students being baptized in to Sikhism!
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| The Baptised Students |
The Amrit Sanchar ceremony starts at about 12 AM and goes on till 4.30 PM. Parents and organisers wait eagerly. Every event passes on smoothly. There is no confusion anywhere. That way the organizers especially Satnam Singh Salopuri work flawlessly. As the ceremony closes the hall reverberates with the joyful feelings followed by Jaikaras by the young baptized students heard all around. As I retreat, it turns out to be the most memorable moment of my life. I bow myself to the Sikhs Helping Sikhs.
