The SFV hosted third seminar of its seminar series on Saturday, July 28, 1990 from 9 to 6 PM. The topic of this seminar was “Sikh Youth in Modern Times”.
Program was started by Ardas by Mrs. Dhillon of North Carolina, Mr, Balwant Singh Multani, Secretary, Sikh Foundation of Virginia welcomed the Sangat and introduced Mr. Manbir Singh Kathuria, Seminar Coordinator. Mr. Kathuria gave a brief introduction about the objectives of the seminar and read the guidelines for the speakers of the seminar. He then introduced the moderators. They were Mr, Surendra Pal Singh, Mr. Harinder Singh Bawa and Dr. Barinder Kaur Deu.
Nine speakers representing four states participated in this seminar. These speakers were: Dr. Balwant Singh, Dr. Ujagar Singh Bawa, Dr. Kamaljit Kaur Sethi, Guruganesh Singh Khalsa, and Mr. Sundeep Singh Dhillon, Mr. Mandeep Singh Dhillon, Mr. Jaideep Singh Kathuria, Mr. Harshivinder Singh Bains and Mr. Kamal Neil Singh Dass.
The subtopics covered include: Self experience during student life, personal experience in college on drugs & alcohol, communications among Sikh youth and others, youth movement including Sikh camps, religious education for Sikh youth, and Sikh identity in the western world, drugs and alcohol.
The recommendations made in the seminar include:
Parents should talk to the school and neighbors about Sikhism.
More Sikh youths should participate in camps.
Separate time should be allocated for the youth in gurdwaras.
Sikh sangat should encourage youth in participating in large numbers in these seminars to discuss the Sikh youth issues.
Gurdwara should appoint a counselor for providing Sikh youth avenue for communications and solving youth issues.
Gurdwara should make legal services available to Sikhs at no charge for fighting discrimination in the work place.
Gurdwara should prepare pamphlets and video tapes on Sikhism for distribution to general public.
It was generally felt that this seminar was educational and informative for bot youth and par strong feeling be more program. There was a strong feeling that there should} be more pro- grams of similar nature. Those who missed this Minar missed seminar something really significant .Sikh nation must pay attention to the youth issues now if Sikhism has to survive and flourish in the western hemi sphere.
Amrita Mad summed up the seminar from youth point of view. She added that those who did not come really lucked out. The Chairman Amarjit singh thanked all the participants and the sangat.
The entire program was taped professionally. Copies of video cassette can be obtained by contacting Sirmukh Singh Manku at (703) 2506702 at nominal Donation of $10.00. Moderators (L to R) Dr. Barinder Kaur Deu Surendra Pal Singh Harinder Singh Bawa
Article extracted from this publication >> August 24, 1990
