By Dr. Grinder Singh Grewal, President World Sikh News Inc.
ON behalf of the manage-of World Sikh News we would like to congratulate our readers and all the Sikh nation on the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji which incidentally is also the 3rd anniversary of the World Sikh News.
In September, 1984, at the Sikh Convention in Stockton Gurdwara a historical decision was taken by various Sikh organizations and Sikh leaders to start a Sikh newspaper preferably in English to further the Sikh cause for justice and freedom and also to increase Communication among Sikhs in the Western World. This responsibility was given to Sikh solidarity of Stockton which later merged with the World Sikh Organization as directed by Sikh panth in New York Convention.
On the Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, December 28, 1984, the 1st issue of World Sikh News was released. Since then World Sikh News has been published every week without any delay for the last three years. With Our meagre resources, a shoestring budget and with the dedication of all those persons involved in its publication we have been able to successfully carry out our assignment so far. Within a short period, we have been able to provide an alternative to the Sikh readers who had noption but to read anit Sikh newspapers, However to bring it up to the standard of Christian Science Monitor or New York Times is a herculean task which will require more time and resources. Prof. Manjeet Singh Sidhu was entrusted with the responsibility of editing the newspaper. With a very small staff he is doing fairly well.
Khalsa Ji, Sikhs always have paid yery little attention toward developing their own press. This is clear from our history. The first Sikh newspaper “Ahluwalia Gazette” was started by Lehna Singh in English from Amritsar in 1876. From 1876 to 1905 total’ of 32 Sikh newspapers were started in Punjabi, English and Urdu. The Tribune was started with Sikh resources and went into the hands of anti-Sikh elements because of the lack of priorities among the Sikhs and non-appreciation of the importance of the media. Even after partition Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and Akali Dal have failed to create a viable Sikh press. Is it not a shame that 16 million Sikhs who have succeeded in all walks of life have no press of their own? Sikhs today are scattered all over the world. It is a time of trial for the Sikh nation. To keep Sikh identity and to have our own homeland we need to communicate among ourselves and with others. This can be only done by newspapers and not by sending letter sand circulars, —your help we can make it an effective instrument for projecting the true character and scope of our religious tenets. –
World Sikh News has no private owners. It is the property of the Sikh nation. Its management has been entrusted to a corporation named World Sikh News Inc.
Khalsa Ji, World Sikh News does not thrive on sensationalism. We want to report the facts and give proper perspective of the current Sikh plight through our editorials and selective articles, With ‘our small resources we cannot compete with international news agencies in getting the latest news: However, we do try to cover important events and topics of interest to the Sikh nation, We will be happy, the day every Sikh will realize the importance of having our own press and support it by subscribing to it and by making contributions for its improvement.
We have made some mistakes and probably will make some more in the future. We are learning from our mistakes and will try not to make the same ones twice, We work against heavy odds, particularly against the malicious propaganda of the Indian government agents. Thank God we live in this free world and India government can not seal our office the way it did with the Indian Express.
We would like to thank all the organizations and individuals who are supporting World Sikh News and appeal to others to extend their valuable support.
This is an age of communications. The whole world is trying to improve communications. Let us wake up and respond to our need. Sikh children in Western countries need to be educated regarding their culture, religion and future. Khalsa Ji, remember, “The Press and Nation Rise and Fall Together”.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 25, 1987
