FREMONT: The Fremont Gurdwara rededicated their building to the Khalistan martyrs special Shaheed Somagam held July 10-13. Paying homage to the Khalistan martyrs and especially four recently murdered freedom fighters the Sangat was privileged to honor Bhai Rashpal Singh Chhandran BTFK: Bhai Jagdish Singh Disha BTFK: Bhai Amar pal Singh Badeshi KLF; Bhai Surinder Singh Shinda KCF and many other recently martyred figures.
The special service was organized by the Khalistan Affairs Center and Sikh Youth of America with participation from Sikh Student Federation Fresno.
In an effort to especially honor the young martyrs the Bhog of Akhand Path began Friday and ended Sunday with the recitation of Guru Granth Sahib presented by young members of the Sangat rather than the traditional recitation by the priest.
A special Kirtan was presented by the esteemed Bhai Dilbag Singh and Ragi Jatha Reshaa Singh. The Katha this day was given by Bhai Harbhajan Singh.
The standing room only” audience was fortunate to have a wide selection of speakers take the siege. These included Bhai Jaswinder Singh Jandi President of the Gurdwara Management Committee Bhai Harminder Somana Sikh Youth of America; Dr .Amarjit Singh Khalistan Affairs Center; Bhai Bhajan Singh Bhinder Sikh Youth of America; Bhai Dhana Singh former Panthic Committee member; Bhai Mandip Singh Dhillon student-Duke University; Bhai Parminder Singh Sanghera Pres. Sikh Student Federation: Fresno; Bibi Amandeep Kaur student Berkeley; and two very young people: Barjinder Singh and Mandeep Kaur.
The focus of the day was the homage paid to Khalistan Marty’s. Most also appealed to the Sangat 10 offer support both economic and emotional to the families of the martyrs who have lost husbands brothers and sons to the civil war in the Punjab. The family of Sikhs the Sikh Nation itself will depend on the support that all Sikhs can give the sacrifices that all Sikhs can make.
Dr. Amarjit Singh on this day dedicated to the martyrs gave the background of the Khalistan movement since the inception of the Panthic Committee Jan.26,1986. He elaborated on the many achievements Sikh organizations have made culminating with the recent passage of Dan Burtons Justice in India Act in the US. House.
He said that it was important for the Sangat to recognize that the many elite doctors scholars and lecturers who come from afar to appear on western gurdwara stages sometimes seem to neglect the Punjab problems in their efforts to present their points of view and appeal for funds.
The English axiom “he can’t see the forest for the tees” seems particularly apt in these cases of elite Punjabi Sikhs who don’t recognize the problems in their own backyard.
It is somewhat ironic that the US a nation with less than 1/2°% Sikhs can see the need to take action against India and some of those who should be most fervent in their speeches fail to see the issue right before their eyes.
He appealed to those present to recognize the concept of Sikhism and to acknowledge that the Indian govt through its generals has admitted that there is a war against the Sikhs being waged.
University students Mandip Singh Dhillon Amandeep Kaur and Parminder Sanghera spoke of the recognition that Amnesty Int Asia Watch and now the U S .
House has given to the atrocities committed by the Indian govt.
They strongly emphasized the need to lobby the Senate for passage of the Burton Bill and said that telegrams letters and petitions could send a signal of public support for this very important piece of legislation.
Throughout the hall rang out “Khalistan Zindabad.”
Langar was served by S. Sukhdev Singh Sandhu and family.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 24, 1992
