   |
Upcoming Events
27 November
Sikhi 2020: Challenges & Response
Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society
Richmond Hill, NY, USA
December 2010
1 December
San Antonio World AIDS Day
6:30 - 9:00pm CST
UTSA Downtown campus
San Antonio, TX, USA
4 December
What Constitutes a Sikh?-Saneha
10:00 - 4:00pm PST
Sikh Center of Orange County
Santa Ana, CA, USA
11 December
Discovering Happiness-Saneha
9:30 - 4:00pm EST
Bridgewater Khalsa School
Basking Ridge, NJ, USA
|
|
Sponsor Liv
Give the Gift That Never Goes Out of Style!
Looking for a really unique way to mark a significant occasion next year? Or a unique team building exercise or event for a weekend retreat? Consider sponsoring one of SikhRI’s Liv webinars! You can sponsor a webinar as an individual, or as an organization or business too! Our sponsorship rates include everything you'll need to have an unforgettable session -- administrative costs, technology fees, presenter and facilitator involvement-- and your session will be archived so you can access it as many times as you would like afterward.
SikhRI is also offering a special promotional rate of 20% off our regular sponsorship price on all four kids' webinars planned for 2011. You can read more about the details and benefits of sponsoring a webinar on our Liv page.
If you aren't familiar with Liv sessions yet, or would like a sample of what we have to offer, our Recordings page features more than two dozen archived sessions. In just the past three weeks, we've put on two great sessions:
"Sohila: Preparing for the Divine Wedding" was aired 30 October and presented by Inderpreet Singh. "Bebe Nanaki's Brother" was aired just this past Saturday, 20 November, and was presented by Inni Kaur. "Bebe Nanaki's Brother" will be available soon on the Recordings page, and, along with "Sakhi, Kavita & Shabad Time," are prime examples of the exciting, engaging webinar we can design for the kids in your life!
|
Sevadar
Kulvir Singh Gill
This month, we would like to introduce newsletter readers to members of SikhRI's Board of Directors and Board of Advisors.
Kulvir Singh Gill was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. He graduated from the University of Calgary with degrees in biology and commerce. After working for a top-tier management consulting firm and a major gold mining company, he has recently launched his own independent management consulting and coaching firm. In addition to his career, Kulvir Singh has been actively involved in his local Sikh-Canadian community. He has served in leadership roles with the Sikh Centennial Foundation, Spinning Wheel Film Festival, and Toronto Sikh Youth Retreats.
Currently, he's mobilizing a group of second-generation Sikh-Canadian youth to simultaneously launch several new non-profit organizations including the Sikh Arts Council and the Seva Food Bank. Kulvir Singh serves on the Board of Directors for the William Osler Health System Foundation and Habitat For Humanity - Brampton. He is also a recipient of the 2010 Action Canada fellowship. Kulvir lives with his family in Brampton, Ontario. He is also Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Coordinator for SikhRI.
SikhRI would like to take this moment to congratulate Kulvir and his wife, Birender Kaur, on their newest baby boy! Mokhem Singh Gill was born 11 November! We wish health, love and happiness to them all.
|
New Workshop for Teens
SikhRI Adds A New Workshop for Young Teens
On 13 November, Jasmine Kaur, Director of Education, and Harliv Kaur, Developer for SikhRI educational material, presented the inaugural session of a new workshop, which was designed through a collaboration between SikhRI and ENSAAF. The session, "The Sikh Ghallughara of 1984," is an afternoon-long series of activities and events aimed at middle school-aged children (Grades 6-8).
Participants in the workshop are given an interactive history lesson on the events of June and November 1984, and asked to reflect on their feelings and responses to the attacks through writing, poetry and artistic expression. Gurbani is also incorporated into the afternoon as the teenagers are able to relate the Guru's teachings on justice to their own reactions.
The lesson plan and all of the supplementary materials and resources necessary to lead "The Sikh Ghallughara of 1984" in your own classroom or Gurduara, are available at www.sikheducatorsnetwork.org. The Sikh Educators Network is an extension of SikhRI's Strategic Solutions work, and is home to many other kinds of tools and resources to inspire creativity and confidence in today's Sikh educators! To download the materials, you will need to join the Network if you are not already a member. The process is free, fast and easy-- Join today!
We would love to talk with you about bringing this event to your area, or designing another workshop which fits your sangat's needs and interests for programming for children or young adults. Contact our Director of Education, Jasmine Kaur, to talk about all the possibilities today.
|
Malaysia Tour
Propelling Sikh-Malaysians to Become Agents for Change
SikhRI spent 10 days in October working through five cities and presenting 12 events in Malaysia. It was SikhRI's first tour of the country, and the busy schedule included opportunities to interact with women's groups, youth organizers, educators, and many interested in becoming activists for educational progress in their local communities.
The reception at each event was extremely positive, and many said they felt inspired on a personal level, and at the level that they organize and interact as a community. “I found the talks very thought provoking – always encouraging the listeners to reexamine the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of our actions and practices,” said Amarjit Singh, Jathedar [President] of Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia. SikhRI is grateful to the many people and organizations who assisted in the orchestration of the tour and sponsored speaking events.
To read the complete story of the Malaysia tour, please open our Press Release.
|
British Columbia
SikhRI-Canada Celebrates Registration as Charity
On 30 October, volunteers and coordinators for Sikh Research Institute-Canada (SRIC) opened the doors of the Riverside Banquet Hall for an afternoon of speakers, visiting and food. The event was a celebration of the Canadian chapter of SikhRI's operation having recently achieved successful registration as a charity with the Canadian government. Canadian donors and supporters of SikhRI can now enjoy the same tax benefits and recognition for their support of the nonprofit's work as those who donate in the United States.
The event featured a presentation by the President of SRIC, Baljinder Kaur Narang and the keynote address on the topic of "Sikhi 2020: Challenges and Responses" was delivered by SikhRI's Chief Programming Officer, Harinder Singh. Contributors who donate at Membership Levels to SRIC were also recognized at the event.
The event was given coverage in the Asian Journal. The full article can be read here.
SRIC celebrated their new status with several other events that weekend, both in the Gurduara and on radio and television. On 28 October, Harinder Singh was interviewed on Sher-e-Panjab Radio by Harjit Singh Gill and later that same day on Radio India by Harpreet Singh. The next evening, he was interviewed on APNA TV, and returned before leaving to APNA for a second interview on 1 November. An interview with Harinder Singh that was taped over the weekend also aired on OMNI TV.
On 31 October, Harinder spoke on the topic of "Darkness, Light & Freedom" at Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar. He reprised the same talk twice more that same day, presenting at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara and Gurdwara Sahib Dashmesh Darabar as well.
|
District of Columbia
SikhRI Around the Capitol City
SikhRI flew into Maryland for a series of events over the weekend of 13 and 14 November. The first event, on the 13th, was a talk on "Guru Nanak Sahib & Relationships" given by Harinder Singh to an intimate audience of about 45 people. The talk was held at the Guru Nanak Foundation of America in Silver Springs, MD. The next morning, Harinder spoke at the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation in North Potomac, MD, on "Befriending Guru Nanak" to an audience of more than 500 people.
It is possible to bring these talks to your area! Please get in touch with our office by writing to info@sikhri.org to discuss SikhRI's scheduling options for 2011.
|
Bandi Chor Divas
Realizing Freedom
In November, SikhRI asked: How can we deal with the two extreme emotions encompassing the 1984 Ghallughara (anti-Sikh pogroms) and Bandi Chor Divas (Freedom Day), within the same week?
Harinder Singh takes us on his journey from darkness to light in a six and a half minute video produced by Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) entitled “Realizing Freedom.” Darkness (ignorance) feeds hatred and revenge. Light (wisdom) demands love and justice. Let us light more than symbolic candles today. SikhRI continues to do this worldwide; can you help us light the fire in the gut?
Click Here to View the Video
|
National Sikh Convention
SikhRI Represents at the National Sikh Convention
Over the weekend of 22-24 October, Inderpreet Singh attended the National Sikh Convention of the World Sikh Council (America Region), which was held in Basking Ridge, Glen Rock, NJ. As part of the schedule of events, he presented a session providing the audience with a brief overview of SikhRI, our history, current engagements and future plans.
|
Baylor Invites SikhRI
Global Awareness at Baylor
On 21 October, Harinder Singh spoke to students at Baylor University in Waco, TX. The first talk, "Sikhs: Strangers Among Us?" and the second, "Islam & Sikhi: From Panjab to Texas," were delivered to two sections of Dr. Scott Houser's courses on the History of Religion. About 50 students total attended the events.
Feedback from students demonstrated that the event had a real impact on many of their ideas and preconceptions about Sikhi, and many wrote that they were glad that Harinder was able to come speak because there was so little accurate information on Sikhi in their textbooks. One student, Jared Brimberry, commented on the unexpected connections he made during the talk: "As a Christian I surprisingly connected more to Singh’s version of Sikhism than to any other speaker we have heard this year. Singh asserted that Sikhism is not a focus on salvation, but rather an encouragement of the best within, which is God. This view is something I find everyday in how I approach my faith. If I approach religion as a means to an end I am missing so much."
|
North Texas Events
Over the weekend of 23-24 October, SikhRI facilitated two events in north Texas. The first, a Saneha session on "Asa Ki Var: Transcending Duality," was held at the WT Cozby Public Library in Coppell, TX on the 23rd. The second talk, "Guru Granth Sahib: Wisdom, Canon & Sovereignty" was held at the Gurduara Singh Sabha of North Texas in Richardson on the 24th which more than 600 people attended. Both talks were presented by Harinder Singh. Pritpal Singh co-presented the Saneha.
|
Articles
SikhRI Writings
In October, Harinder Singh had two peices of writing published online. A World Was Waiting to Be Born, published on sikhnet.com, traces the life of Banda Singh Bahadur, his role in the formation of the Khalsa Raj, and the lasting inspiration we can draw from his actions today.
The second, Fear None, Frighten None, commemorates the life of tireless contribution and compassion which Giani Harinder Singh made in this world. This article was published on sikhchic.com.
|
Thank Yous
Sikh Research Institute exists to serve the community's education needs. As we strive to fulfill our mission of empowerment through education, we cannot be successful without the endless support of volunteers. Thank you to all of our volunteers this month who continue to inspire us with their strength, dedication, and passion!
Aman Singh, Anu Bal, Arpinder Kaur, Ashu Singh Dassan, Autar Singh, Baljinder Kaur, Balwinder Singh Dhillon, Bhag Singh, Bhupinder Singh Hundal, Deepinder Singh Narang, Dheer Singh, Divneet Kaur, Gurdeep Kaur, Gurduara Sahib-Klang, Gurduara Sahib Tatt Khalsa Diwan, Gurdwara Sikh Sangat (Euless), Gurdwara Singh Sabha (Richardson), Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Prakash (Haslet), Gurvinder Singh Bains, Harbans Singh, Harbhajan Kaur Shah, Harbhajan Singh, Hardeep Kaur Sidhu, Harliv Kaur, Harminder Singh Jassal, Harsharan Kaur, Institute of Sikh Philosophy, Research & Education, Jagdeep Singh, Jagdev Singh, Jashir Singh, Jasvir Singh, Jatinder Sandhar, Jotinder Mann, Khalsa Diwan Malaysia, Kiran Bal, Mandeep Singh, Manpreet Kaur Dhillon, Narenderpal Singh, Nav Rakhra, Parminder Mann, Preetinder Kaur Narang, Pritpal Singh, Prubjot Hoonjan, Puneet Sandhar, Punjabi Education Trust Malaysia, Sarbhpreet Singh, Sardar Kuleep Singh, Sarjit Singh, Scott Houser, Shailinder Bhullar, Sikh Center of San Antonio, Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia, Sikh Study Circle (Irving), Sikh Temple of North Texas (Garland), Sikh Women’s Awareness Network, Sonny Kakar, Surinder Singh, Surjit Mann, Union of Perak Sikh Organizations, Wadda Gurduara Sahib Penang and Yadwinder Singh Malhans.
| |
|
|
