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Yaad:
Remembrance & Renewal -
Individually & Collectively

T. SHER SINGH

 

 

 

Saturday, November 1

Sunday, November 2

Monday, November 3

 

 

This year, already loaded with so many significant anniversaries and commemorations, is the 30th since 1984, now seared in our collective memory and history as the year of yet another ghallughaara -- holocaust.

Three days -- November 1, 2 and 3 -- mark the commencement of the massacre of tens of thousands of innocent Sikh men, women and children not only in New Delhi, India’s capital, but across the length and breadth of the sad country. Their only ‘crime’ was that they were Sikh, as they were singled out by mobs organized and led by government officials, who were in turn aided by politicians, bureaucrats, media, police, and a pliant populace. 

The three days were only the beginning. What followed was a decade of pogroms, constituting nothing less than a state-sanctioned genocide.

This year, Sikhs around the globe will mark the three days in silent remembrance and prayer.

We ask you -- wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever you‘re doing -- to set aside, wherever possible, five minutes on each of those three days and observe them in silence, remembrance and prayer.

At work. At home. At school. At play. On the road.

There is endless strength in our collectivity. Doing it together, at the same time, will remind us that we are united in the One and stand strong, tall and invincible.

There is magic -- barqat, actually -- in doing it together.

A simple observance: simran, meditation, mool mantar, ardaas or just quiet time.

Do it for a minute if you can’t spare the five. For a brief moment, if you can’t find a minute. Do it on one day if you can’t do it on each of the three days ...

If you’re home, have at least a brief discussion with your children and explain the context.

If at work or school, explain if necessary the ‘why’ to your close friends and colleagues, but don’t waste this time in advocacy ... find other opportunities to do so.

But on each of these three days, for a simple 5 minutes: Just. Silence. Remembrance. Prayer.      

We suggest the following coordinated times around the globe. If you live in other time zones, adjust your inner clock to match 5:30 pm in New Delhi on each day.

VANCOUVER
LOS ANGELES
5:00 am [4:00 am on Nov 2 & 3, because of Daylight Saving Time]

NEW YORK
TORONTO
8:00 am [7:00 am on Nov 2 & 3, because of Daylight Saving Time]

HALIFAX
9:00 am [8:00 am on Nov 2 & 3, because of Daylight Saving Time]

NEWFOUNDLAND
9:30 am [8:30 am on Nov 2 & 3, because of Daylight Saving Time]

LONDON
12:00 Noon [Daylight Saving Time]

KENYA
3:00 pm

PUNJAB
NEW DELHI
5:30 pm

KUALA LUMPUR
SINGAPORE
8:pm

SYDNEY
11:00 pm



If you can’t, not to worry. Tailor-make your own time and manner of honouring, in the words of our daily ardaas, the memory of “those Singhs and Singhniyaan who sacrificed their lives at the altar of Sikhi …”

But, if you can, please do join us.

Let’s do it together.


P.S. Please share this plea with your loved ones, friends, relatives and colleagues the world over. There is no ownership in this project … it’s yours.

 

October 24, 2014

Conversation about this article

1: Jind Kaur (Chandigarh, Punjab), October 24, 2014, 9:59 AM.

Thanks for reminding us to do this. Yes, it's so important that we observe the anniversary with sehaj and solemnity. Have already asked my entire contact list to join us.

2: GC Singh (USA), October 25, 2014, 12:02 AM.

Thanks for the suggestion and I hope the Sikh nation will never ever forget 1984. I don't know if it would be possible at such a short notice to organize a candle light vigil in every Sikh Gurdwara throughout the globe on Saturday evening, November 1, 2014. The biggest candle light vigil should be held in Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi, the epicenter of the planned genocide. Instead of political speeches, the entire sangat should chant Waheguru, Waheguru.

3: Sukhindarpal Singh (Penang, Malaysia), October 26, 2014, 12:11 PM.

Gurdwara Sahib Bayan Baru in Penang shall be observing the 'Yaad' at the designated time -- 8pm -- on all three days. Rehraas at 7:30. Kirtan at 8 pm. Smaapati (concludes) at 8.15 pm.

4: Biren Kaur (Los Angeles, California, USA), October 27, 2014, 5:02 PM.

There are three families (including ours) in the neighborhood we live in. We like the idea of the Yaad and have decided to get together in the early hours (whether it is 4:00 or 5:00 am, depending on DST that day) to do simran together. Our children (there are a total of 7 young ones between us) are excited by the project and are -- which makes it all not only do-able, but special too! -- on board! We'll be joining you, with our hearts and spirits, at the appointed hour each day. GurFateh.

5: Sant Singh (Patiala, Punjab), October 27, 2014, 6:57 PM.

Thank you for publicizing this program. We've put together a bunch of people here within our circle who will gather and will be there with you, heart and mind and soul, on each day.

6: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), November 05, 2014, 6:42 PM.

Sher ji, what you have written is the gist of what Simran is all about, and how to keep Waheguru on the lips at all times ... just like one remembers the misplaced bunch of keys. This is best illustrated in Bhagat Namdev's shabad (GGS 972.13). Please read the full shabad. Here are the opening lines: "Aaneelay kaagad kaateelay goodee aakaas madhay bharmee-alay ..." - 'A boy takes a paper, cuts it and makes a kite of it, and flies it in the sky. While talking with his friends, though, he never for a moment forgets his vigilance on the string and kite ..."

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Remembrance & Renewal -
Individually & Collectively"









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