La Habra Heights, CA: A Sikh youth symposium was held to commemorate the 290th anniversary of the Khalsa on Vaisakhi day in 1699.

Thirty two young Sikh men and women most of them born and brought up in the United States, participated in the symposium “Life and Teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji”.

The children had used Balam Sakhian Patshai Dasvi, by Bhai Vir Singh, translated by Ujagar Singh Bawa, as a source. They gave vocal and laudable expressions here to the inspiration they draw from and the lessons they learn about the noble, spiritual, philosophical intellectual and chivalrous aspects of Guru Gobind Singh’s life and their relevance to the present times.

The contest was jointly organized by the Institute of Gurmat Studies and the Sri Hemkunt Foundation.

Twelve boys and girls of the age group 15-21 and twenty of the 10-15 year age group participated in the symposium. They read or spoke extempore as a sangat of 250 Sikhs, patiently listened to them from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. The contest started with kirtan by the IIGS groups followed by Ardas, Hukam and Karah Parshad. The day long program was conducted’ in the presence of the holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Dr. Jaswant Singh Neki the former Director of Post Graduate Institute Chandigarh and Advisor World Health Organization inaugurated the symposium.

Judges for the senior group speech contest were: Dr. Jagdish Kaur, Dr. Guyjaipal Singh, Vikram Singh Khalsa, Ruhan Kaur and Ms. Yuvan, and for the junior group was: Bhupinder Singh Kohli, Dr. DS. Sodhi, Harbir Kaur, Maninder Kaur and Gupreet Kaur, Dr, J.S. Neki coordinated with the panels.

The prize winners in the Senior group were FIRST Harpreet Singh and Harpreet Kaur, SECOND, Parminder Singh and THIRD Saween Kaur.

In the junior group the first prize went to Roina Kaur, the SECOND to Manpreet Singh and the THIRD position was shared by Harmeet Kaur and Simiran Singh.

The trophies to the prize winners were awarded Bhai Jawan Singh on April 15 at a Vasakhi diwan at the 11GS house.

Captain H, Singh Kanwar director of IGS told the World Sikh News that the 1st prize winners would now participate in the international contest being organized by the Sri Hemkunt Foundation in New York on April 30.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 28, 1989