SAN JOSE: A commendable job is being done at the San Jose Gurdwara Sahib in teaching children Gurmukhi, Gurmat, Sikh tradition and history to children. Classes are held every Saturday. The response is overwhelming as the five week old program already has over 130 children.

The children range in age from 6 to 20 years. They have been divided into eight groups based on present proficiency.

The program starts by reciting of the shabad “Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Ehe …” After Ardas the children divide into eight groups for classes. Each class is taken by one or two volunteer teachers. In the first 45 minutes the children are taught Punjabi speaking and recognition of Gurmukhi letters. The first goal is to enable the children to converse in Punjabi and to read Gurmukhi.

This is followed by a 15 minute recess followed by refreshments. They recite Japji Sahib and learn the Sakhis from life of Sikh Gurus. The senior children also learn the meaning of Path and discuss the message in the Sakhis. The aim of the program is increase the general awareness about the Sikh religion, its message and relevance to the present world in the minds of children.

The program started due to the zeal and drive of S. Mohinder Singh Kohli and S. Tara Singh Sahni. They convinced the young parents that it was important to provide an environment here to the young children where they could learn Panjabi and the Sikh traditions. The idea received enthusiastic support from the Gurdwara Committee led by S. Jiot Singh Bainiwal. They offered the Gurdwara premises for holding the classes and support for all other aspects of the program.

The school is presently managed by a committee consisting of Dr. Gurinder P. Singh (Chairman) S. Teja Singh (Chief Administrator) and S. Harinder Singh Anand (Treasurer). They are helped by an advisory panel consisting of Prf. Gurbax S. Sachdev, S. Jagwant S. Sabherwal, s. Mohinder S. Kohli and S. Tara S, Sahni.

The school would not be possible without the efforts and help of the volunteers who contribute every week several hours of their time to prepare the material and teach it to the children. S. Kewal Krishan Singh Atwal is the headmaster of the school.

He has several years of experience in India as a school headmaster. Bibi Pushpinder Singh who is training at the San Jose State University for teaching in elementary school has been given the responsibility for preparing the material for Punjabi teaching and coordinate the efforts of the teachers. The Gurmat program is presently directed by the Advisory panel. The panel of teachers includes S. Sukhdev S. Bainiwal, Bibi. Naranjan Kaur, Bibi Tripta Sachdev, Bibi Gurinder Kaur, Bibbi Harjit K. Sabherwal, Bibi Ram Ratan K, Khalsa, Bibj Kawaljit K. Sahni, Bibi Preetam Kaur Bibi

Barjinder K. Sabherwal, S. Kultar S. Sachdev and Bibi Ranjit K. Sachdev. The members of the managing committee and the advisory panel also lend their lend their hands for teaching the classes. The school is only a five week old effort but the impact is already visible. Several students can already recite first three pauris of Japji Sahib and understand the meanings of Mool Mantar. Several of them can already read and write Gurmukhi alphabet and are on their way to learn simple words, In addition to learning, the school also provides the children a chance to make friends with other Sikh children and fosters a sense of identity.

The past experience on such efforts has shown that the success of the program depends heavily on the interest the parents take in the program. We strongly urge the parents to follow up with children the lessons they learn at school so that we can successfully impart to them our Sikh heritage and culture.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 8, 1989