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Getting Through To Our Young

GURMUKH SINGH ([United Kingdom)

 

 

 

 

 

In April 2001 Panjab Times (UK) published my translation of late Bhai Rama Singh ji’s autobiography in English with the title, “In Search of the True Guru”.

The Punjabi original with the title, “Roop Gobind ka, Raaj Khalsay ka, Sikka sonay ka” had been edited with great dedication by S. Harjinder Singh Mander of Panjab Times.

The “translation” was more in the nature of an interpretation of this 400-paged book about the life of a deeply spiritual and saintly person. Bhai Rama Singh’s conversion to Sikhi from a Brahmanic background will make most interesting reading for the coming generations.

When late Sardar Kesar Singh Mand and a dedicated Gursikh couple from Southall, Bhai Sukhdev Singh and Bibi Amarjit Kaur, dropped in to talk about this project a while ago, we realised that an English translation would be a most challenging task. It was not just a matter of literal translation. For me it also meant making it meaningful for those born in the diaspora. 

Interpretations of Sikh concepts had to be generally meaningful to all, regardless of family or Sikh ideological (sampardai / school of thought) background. Even a non-Sikh reading this remarkable life story should be able to relate to it.

I undertook the work with much apprehension and with one precaution -- that as I interpreted the narrative, each part would be read by two or three young Sikhs of different age groups and I would get their continual feedback. I won’t go into detail, but that is how the work started. The project was completed, with Bhai Rama Singh himself dropping in from time to time.

A fairly comprehensive glossary of Sikh terms and concepts was developed as the work progressed.
           
My most recent experiment, as part of the translation project, was with some parents and children who watched a short power-point presentation at the Sikh Missionary Society UK, showing images from nature and Sikh tradition, to convey the concept of Miri-Piri.

Again, the test was whether the children understood and were able to get a fair idea of how and why Guru Harbobind Sahib’s inculcation of Miri-Piri as a foundation of Sikhi was unique and is necessary to us for a full and ‘successful’ life.     
           
The point brought home to me through the entire process, and the one I wish to make here is that it is now long overdue that gurdwaras and other institutions turn their attention to this urgent need of young Western and diaspora born parents and their children. The gyanis and parcharaks should increasingly be selected by them in view of their changed needs – not by the elderly first generation immigrants who mostly constitute the parbandhaks today. Their comfort zone no longer caters to the needs of today’s generations.

The start can be with a quota of at least one granthi / parcharak in each gurdwaras who is fluent in proper English, not the desi variety used on the subcontinent. He/she should be one who can relate to the diaspora-born youngish parents and children. Let them whet him or her during the selection process and be integrally part of the approval process.  
           
With more and more Sikhi ethos schools, the time has come for that need to be met. Time is of the essence.

The Sikh Council UK is ideally placed and available, ready, willing and able to give further guidance to gurdwaras regarding such parcharaks to ensure that the missionary needs of an increasing and changing Sikh demographic are met.


March 6, 2015

Conversation about this article

1: Harsaran Singh (Indonesia), March 06, 2015, 11:07 AM.

Gurmukh Singh ji, your efforts in using innovative methods in getting across the message to the younger generation is commendable. Truly, we need to radically change our Dharam Parchar methods. We have to admit that while the level and quality of education is growing within our community, but sadly Gurmukhi has taken a backseat because for most of the parents the priorities lie elsewhere. In order to compensate for this handicap among the younger generation we need to use English as a power tool. It will be a great change if parcharaks can give explanations in Punjabi and English. I am sure it will go a long way in keeping our children connected, or getting them back to the roots and it will also be an interesting learning experience for them.

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