CHICAGO: 100 years ago at the first inter faith gathering at Chicago, there was no place for youth to present their views on the pressing problems many of which still continue to manifest. However in the Parliament of 1993; there was an imponant place reserved for new generation 10 air their views on religious affairs and interfaith harmony.
The message that the next genemuon delivered was peace, love and unity, The clarion call of the youth resounded loud and clear in the grand ball room containing over 1000 delegates of all faiths and religions of the world. “We are one and should act as one” said Ravneet Singh who stared the plenary on the next generation in an cloquent speech on “The Oneness of Peace” the evening he said was dedicated to ‘the concept of t of everlasting peace.’ He added “my generation has pledged itself to this idealistic commitment.” and ended with an appeal, a prayer to the world community, “A prayer for peace, that we rise above class, reed, color and sex.
The next generation represented by children of all religions was a very colorful plenary session of the Parliament in which youth and school going boys and girls participated.
There were Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Zorastrian, Hindu and children of other faiths who came dressed in their traditional clothes and recited their prayers on the Stage.
A Jewish boy in a wheel chair told a touching story of human nature and evoked great applause from the large gathering.
Sikh children dressed in saffron, white and blue were most conspicuous on the stage and Updesh Deol who recited the Sikh Ardas in English did proud to her community. A skit on ‘Bhai Kannahiya’ and Simran “meditation for all” were presented by the Sikh youth of Chicago, Both the events were very well received by the grand audience, A very large many of whom had never heard of Sikhism were exposed for the first time to the message of Sikh religion. A message of humble service and meditation on the Almighty God beautifully portrayed by little Sikh boys and girls. The next generation assembled a list of issues which they demanded todays leadership to address. They called upon the leaders of the world to give spiritual guidance in these trying times. “Our goals include ethnic cleansing, halting famine, ending materialism, protecting the environment, preventing ignorance and promoting tolerance for humankind.
In another session of the next generation where the Sikh youth got together to give their views on “the Interdependence of politics and religion in Sikhism,” the elders showed lively interest, Kulmeet Singh who moderated this session in the question answer session found it no easy job to elicit questions, the elders were more keen to give their views on the subject. Gagandeep Kaur who took up the question of the role of Sikh women has strong views on the State women in Sikh society, The subject of interdependence of Politics and Religion in Sikhism was summed up by Dr.Gurpreet Singh in the words of Guru Gobind Singh, “Raaj Bina Dharam Na Chalay Hain, Dharam Binao Sabh Dalai Malay hain, “ Meaning “without political power, religion cannot flourish, and without religion all is ruin.” The common strain was that Sikhs have always stood up against tyranny and oppression because of which Sikhism has inevitably come into conflict with the rulers of India.
The next generation was clear about its role. “Because we are the future, we must never forget our simple goal of peace through love, unity and respect.”
The Sikh youth representing the next generation like Ravneet Singh, Kulmeet Singh, Updesh Kaur, Gagendeep and so many others who participated in the plenary session and various other sessions are well aware of their role they are confident and strong in their faith and it was nice to see them and hear their views.
(The World Sikh News wishes the next generation a bright, happy and prosperous future).
Article extracted from this publication >> September 17, 1993
