FRESNG: On Oct.29, Sikhs from Fresno spoke on the importance of a responsible and powerful media t¢ speak up for the community. At a fund raiser organized for the World Sikh News. The Fresno Sikh community expressed its support for the newspaper by calling it @ true voice of the Sikhs which has been speaking on behalf of the community for the last nine years.
Dr. G.S. Punia, an eminent Physician said, “some newspapers depend upon sensationalism and cheap stories to increase circulation but the World Sikh News is not such a newspaper. Its reporting has quality and it represents the true feelings of the Sikhs.” Speaking upon the significance of media in the modem age, he said, “media is the most powerful weapon of today and the Sikhs must not lag behind in working for a strong media to project our views.”
He quoted from a Urdu couplet “a community which loose is voice cannot last for long” He called for Sikhs all over the United States to support the “World Sikh News” which he said is a non-political entity not affiliated to any party or organization.
Mr. Narinder Singh Somal, Secretary of the World Sikh News who is a leading Real estate broker of Stockton, told the audience the history of the newspaper since its birth in the wake of Indian Governments attack on Akal Takhat and the Nov.84 massacre of Sikhs in India. He said the paper has lived through many hardships but it survives and has made good progress, He said the office bearers of the Newspaper received no pay or any monetary by benefits from it. Even while travelling to distant places in connection with activities of the paper they spent their Own money, He called upon the audience to offer suggestions for improvement and to offer wholehearted support.
The occasion was used to herald the release of a book of Punjabi Poems by Dr.H.S.Shergill, who writes prolifically on the agony of people of Punjab. The book entitled “Main Han Dhart Punjabi Di” is a collection of Poems by Dr.Harbhajan Singh Shergill on trials and tribulations, the joys and sorrows and heroic deeds of people of Punjab. “The proceeds of the book will go to the World Sikh News,” said Dr.Shergill.
The audience was entertained to a program of songs and ghazals on heroic themes by the famous singer Jagat Singh Jagga. He sang one of the latest composition of Dr.H.S.Shergill “whose words were” “Sambh Le Je Sambh Hunda, Ujhar Chale Aj Punjab Tera— Sheti Aja Punjab De Vaarsa” meaning, “Save herifyou can, today your Punjab is being destroyed Come soon O” Savior. of Punjab.” i The Editor in Chief of the World Sikh News, Dr.G.S.Grewal said that the newspaper was trying 118 best to project the voice of the Sikhs and he welcomed any suggestions or constructive criticism.
Inderjit Singh the Manager of World Sikh News congratulated the audience. For their sense of commitment to the cause of the Sikhs, He said, “if the freedom fighters of South Africa and Palestine who were dubbed as terrorist yesterday can get Nobel prizes today, we too who are for the freedom of Sikhs from India have a future.”
Article extracted from this publication >> November 12, 1993
