FREMONT: A unique camp was organized under the Management of Gurdwara, Fremont 300 Hillside Ave, California, and with the active involvement of Khalsa School, Fremont run by the Gurdwara Management for the language, religious and cultural development of the young Sikhs in and around Fremont. The preliminary spade work for the successful completion of the Gurmat Camp was entrusted to an Organizing Committee comprised of Bhai Jaswinder Singh; Bhai Balbir Singh Tut; Bhai Rajinder Singh Mangat and Bhai Tarlok Singh Sandhu.
However, Khalsa Elementary School Vancouver in collaboration with Khalsa School, Fremont designed the entire schedule and the instructional program. The schedule was as follows: §:30am-6:30am Awakening, 6:30 am -8:40 am Nitnem Simran 8:40 am-9:40 am Breakfast, 9:40 am-1:00 pm Gurmat classes 1:00 pm-2:00 pm Langar, 2:00 pm-5:00 pm Recreation 5:00 pm-5:30 pm Tidying up, 5:30 pm-8:00 pm Kirtan & Rehras 8:00 pm-9:00 pm Langar, 9:00 pm-5:30 am Sleep The Instructional Program:
The main emphasis during Gurmat classes was on Sikh History; Scriptures; Sikh Philosophy N-History; Gurdwara Protocol; Nam Simran; Kirtan and practice on Tabla & Harmonium, During Recreation young Sikhs were taken either to San Francisco or Elizabeth Park nearby for games or learning Gatka from Sarbjit Singh of L.A. There were no fees for the camp or for the program.
In all 114 young Sikhs participated in the program, ranging in age from 8 to 19 and from various parts of California and British Columbia (Canada). All the young Sikhs were classified into four age groups corresponding to the ages of four Sahabzada of Guru Gobind Singh Ji From California
Los Angeles =11, Union City =21, Hayward =13, Milpitas =6, Newark =4, San Jose =5, Fremont =23, Santa Clara =1, San Ramon =], Vallejo =1, Selma =2, Watson Ville =1,Sacramento=5, Modesto =1, Fresno =5, Total California =97,
British Columbia, Canada Abbotsford =10, Clayton =2, Surrey =1, Prince Rupert =3, Victoria =1, Total Canada =17. Total of campers =114
The Camp lasted for six days and the young Sikhs arrived in the afternoon of Sunday, August 23,1992 for the orientation of the camp, The camp continued from August 24-28, In the evening of August 28, there was Amrit Pan and around 40 young Sikhs accepted the Baptism and endorsed the acceptance of fundamental doctrines of Sikh Faith, This proved to be an astounding success of the camp.
All the parents, camp organizers, the staff of Khalsa School Fremont and Khalsa School Vancouver and the Management of the Fremont Sikh Temple deserve praise and congratulations for the excellent coordination, cooperation and for maintaining unique discipline during the camp.
President Jaswinder Singh Jandi, Supervisor of the camp Balbir Singh Tut and Principal Rajinder Kaur Sandhu spent day and night for the successful completion of the camp, Pritam Singh and Bibi Sarbjit Kaur too added support to the camp.
The exceptional success of the camp lies in the fact that except one in the youngest group of Baba Fateh Singh could memorize the Mool Mantar, names of 10 Gurus, Panj Pyaras and four Sahibzadas.
Dr.Hardyal Singh Bains and Bhai Amarjit Singh Nijjar of Vancouver with their teaching support cannot go without special appreciations in doing marvelously a dedicated task in teaching the participants.
At the concluding ceremony, the young Amritdharies Singhs came out in a colorful procession, following the Panj Pyaras attired in Saffron robes from the old temple building to the new abode of Guru Granth Sahib. This was a touching event as parents were busy in filming the march and taking photographs. Each participant was presented with a siropa, Nitnem Gutka or cassette of Daily Banis.
However, Khalsa School Fremont and Gurdwara Sahib Management awarded certificate to each participant of the camp, Bhai jagjit Singh Ji Head Priest of the Fremont Gurdwara Sahib, the biggest in the United States honored the participants with the certificates, All campers left the Gurmat Camp by the morning of August 29,
Article extracted from this publication >> September 11, 1992
