SACRAMENTO: The Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana, Old Students Association got together at the gurdwara sahib here on the occasion of the 52 1st anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji’s birth on Sunday, November 3.
Congressman Vic Fazio and Mr Patrick Johnston who is running for State Assembly graced the occasion and were introduced to the congregation by S.G.S. Dhillon, president of the World Sikh Organisation, soon after the bhog of the Akhand panth and kirtan.
Mr Fazio speaking on the occasion said his friendship with Sikhs went a long way back and he was proud to maintain that relationship. He spoke also of his friendship with Mr Johnston and the need to support him in his campaign.
Mr Fazio spoke of the intolerance of the Hindus in India and how the Muslims were being killed every day defending their places of worship. The attack on the Babri Masjid was not isolated. Many Sikhs had died defending the Golden Temple and other places of worship, he said, Intolerant Hindus had undermined the very basis of democracy which even one had hoped would flourish, he added. Mr Fazio was hopeful things would improve but he feared many more temples would be destroyed before that would happen.
He said he tried to go to India but was refused permission to visit the guests and spoke about Guru Nanak and the philosophy of the Guru Granth Sahib. He explained the difference between Guru and God. The way to salvation was through the Guru and the blessing of God. Sikhs, he said were honest, hardworking and God fearing people who believed in equality and sharing what they earned. He made an appeal to support all such American politicians who were true friends of Sikhs. ’
S Wadhawa Singh, the head Priest on behalf of the Gurdwara Committee presented Mr Fazio and Mr Johnston siropas and a scroll was presented to Mr Johnston by Dr Narinder Singh Dhaliwal.
A check for the money raised at an earlier dinner was also presented to Mr Fazio.
Eight year old Harmandeep Singh, son of S Narinder Singh Dhaliwal read a small piece on Guru Nanak which was much applauded.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 9, 1990
