A pair of young parents have to make a decision concerning their five year old, only son. He suffers from a form of cancer affecting the back of his eyeballs and brain. If surgery takes place the cancer 'might' be removed BUT, he will lose his eyesight FOR EVER. If no surgery takes place, he will be able to see until he dies - in a year or two. This is the local news here right now. The parents have asked him who he would like to see most. Two of our best footballers are spending the day with him, as he wanted to see them. Tomorrow he goes into surgery which 'might' save his life but... he will not be able to see for the rest of his life. Ask the parents how much they love their boy - they will struggle for words, but you will be able to see it in their eyes or when they hold him tight.

How did Kalgidhar Pita, Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj feel as he sent his two sons into battle and certain death at Chemkaur? Those with children will understand. those without, might not. THOSE WHO ARE GOD'S OWN, AND WHO LOVE GOD, CANNOT EXPLAIN THEIR LOVE FOR HIM, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT IN THEIR EYES AND ON THEIR FACES, just like the love of these young parents for their little boy. You can see it in their eyes but they will struggle to express their love. When asked the question of how much they loved their boy, the father, fighting back his tears said, "I will give my own eyes to have him with the ability to see and live a long long life". I am not making any point here - just moved by what I have just seen on our news. Let us be happy with what Waheguru has given us and remember Him day and night. He is the ultimate support.

In this month I have to complete my pet project - Asa Di Var. I also have time to reflect, maybe do some writing, do my Tax returns for last tax year (!) and continue work on my ongoing pet project - recording 31 shabads in their appropriate raags. Then we have the Commonwealth Games (at home) where we are performing!

KIRTAN LEARNING/TEACHING

I have also taken on a student of kirtan - one who has taken a keen interest in Sikhi. I have enjoyed teaching in Sri Singh Sahib Yogi Bhajan's town - Espanola, New Mexico in previous years. Now it gives me the chance to write something down on the learning and teaching of kirtan which I personally believe can be done in a better fashion than what I see around me worldwide. I might not be fully qualified to do this but then ... who is? One who holds a doctorate or professorship in gurbani sangeet? I am not so sure... . I was once told by a very prominent Sikh that he can get me a degree from a prominent university in Northern India which will allow me to call myself Dr. Dya Singh (doctor in gurbani sangeet) which will give me credibility and make me an authority in gurbani sangeet and then students of kirtan will flock to me! This is with apologies to all those Doctors and Professors of kirtan in India, and outside India. I am sure they got their credentials after years and years of painstaking research and 'riaz' of gurbani kirtan.

I WANT TO HANG YOU. SEND ME THE ROPE!

Beginning of the month, I had a very interesting phone call from a Sikh gentleman (I use the term loosely) from the US. First he abused me, politely I must add, for my supposedly vagrancy with kirtan with non-Sikh group members and at concerts and in contemporary music - 'bay-adbi' on all fronts. He said that all efforts should be made to stop miscreants like me. Sadly he could not find any redeeming factor with our renditions...until I asked him if he had actually heard our kirtan.

He said that was why he had rung. He wanted me to send him all our music cd's so that he could listen to them and also get the proof he needed to take the matter further with our authorities about stopping the likes of me. AND, of course, he wanted me to send them to him free of costs as it is sacrilege on my part to make money on gurbani. So, this guy wants to hang me and wants me to send him the rope too, that too, free of charge!!!

This is the month of the Commonwealth Games - the Games that take place every four years where Australia 'bullies' all the other Commonwealth countries including the 'British Raj' itself - England! This time in our own backyard - Melbourne. So expect a further slaughter. I think 71 countries worldwide will know the Australia National Anthem by heart, by the time this is over!!!

NEW PREMISES FOR ADELAIDE SIKHS (AUSTRALIA)

On March 10, we drove overnight to Adelaide from Melbourne especially for the opening of the new Adelaide gurdwara. Passengers were my oldest daughter Jamel with her two children, Saahiel and Saffal; my youngest Parvyn, and I.

The new 'Gurdwara Sahib, Adelaide Sikh Centre', opened with pomp, ceremonies and local dignitaries on Sunday March 12, 2006 after a 3-day Akhand Path and 'Jorh Mela'. Our (music) group who happened to be in Adelaide for the world music festival 'WOMADelaide' were on duty for an hour of kirtan. There was also a bhangra demonstration by students from Punjab after the formalities.

There are a number of reasons why the opening of this gurdwara is special to me besides the fact that I have lived in Adelaide and amongst this lovely community for 25 years and two of my three daughters were born here.

Firstly, the building that is now the 'home' for the South Australian Sikh community is called the 'Olde Colonial Building'. It is an Australian 'heritage-listed' stone building that is about 150 years old, and aesthetically set amongst beautiful gum trees. It was recently renovated to make it into a top class convention centre and ball room. There is a beautiful garden on one side of the building with a mechanically operated running stream through it. Even though close to a highway, it is well designed to keep out traffic sound. It is based in the foothills alongside the highway descending into the Adelaide plain. Adelaide city is plainly visible from the building. Next to it stands a high-steepled Anglican church complimenting the surroundings.

All too often, we see 'white elephant' buildings put up by Sikhs which are totally out of character with their immediate environment - in short 'eye-sores'. Buildings with no imagination and even internally, very poorly thought out. (For example, I have lost count of the number of 'new' gurdwaras I have been to where one is expected to remove ones footwear outside and the 'restrooms' are built inside the building. So, one is forced to go to the restrooms without footwear before going into the Darbar Sahib.) This building was built as an old colonial rest house and then further designed as a convention centre and ballroom, now perfectly suited as a modern Sikh centre.

Secondly, it stands at the gateway to Adelaide on Australia's number one highway - the Princess Highway, which comes in from Melbourne. This highway can take one around the whole continent - but put aside at least three months if you want to do that!

With this building, the Sikh community of South Australia has come of age as one of the main 'ethnic' communities of South Australia that can trace its roots back to the camel-drivers of the nineteenth century who helped to open up the inhospitable hinterland of Australia. Finally, I can say with pride, that it is the way this new premises have been acquired, that I want to make mention.

For a small community of about one hundred regular gurdwara-going Sikh families, it would have been very difficult to come up with almost 1.5 million (Australian) dollars to purchase these premises. It took a man with vision, business skills and guts to take on this project. I do not think the Adelaide community will mind my mentioning Dr. Swaran Singh Khera who is almost single-handedly, (backed by a 'united' committee and a community prepared to support him) responsible for this dream materialising. The project involved bringing down the previous gurdwara and building nine houses for sale. The proceeds paid for these grand premises. The project had its detractors who were keen to hijack the plan because there was money to be made by any astute businessman, but for Dr. Khera and his team. The premises are already valued at 3 million within one short year!

Mrs. Khera also played her part because she was responsible for attention to be drawn to this building. Whilst looking for adequate premises for the Anand Karaj for her middle son, Dr. Param Singh Khera she came across these premises. It was whilst we were attending Param's wedding, about two years ago, the fact came out that it was for sale. Discussions started and the thought and dream persisted, materialising shortly afterwards.

This building shall serve the needs of the Sikh community for a long time to come besides giving the community status within the fabric of Adelaide's society deserving of a community that has a strong history here.

The first 'Sikh' in Adelaide appears to be a Kroppo (Kirpa?) Singh. He has the distinction of having the first bank account in 1857 in the newly established State Bank of South Australia. He was a former 'batman' of an English Army colonel in the Indian Army who brought him along as a shepherd, just after the fall of the Sikh Kingdom of Maharajah Ranjit Singh. Though further research needs to be done, it will appear that there were more than 30 experienced Sikh cameleers besides 'Afghans' just after the mid eighteenth century. This coincides with the fall of the Sikh empire and enterprising Sikhs looking elsewhere to make a living. There is mention of an Otim Singh at the end of the century establishing the first convenience store on Kangaroo Island just off the coast of South Australia.

The first official cremation in Adelaide was a Bishen Singh and the last rites were conducted by a Bhagwan Singh and about 30 other 'Indians' as reported in the main newspaper in South Australia, the 'Advertiser' which still prints today

There are about 30 graves of Sikhs in various parts of South Australia going back as far as the late nineteenth century.

The present batch of Sikh immigrants go back to the 1970's and almost all of them are alive and well except for Dr. and Mrs. Manmohan Singh Grewal who have passed away (though the family lives on). They are S. and Mrs. Joginder Singh Ji; Master and Mrs. Sardul Singh; Drs. Harbans and Harpal Gill; Dr. and Mrs. Bhagwant Singh; Dr. and Mrs. Hardial Singh Khosa; S. Ajmer Singh Randhawa; S. Jasbir Singh Sandhu and family and Harcharan Singh Sandhu, besides Dr. and Mrs. Khera of course. All of these lovely people have done great service towards the Sikh community by keeping the torch of Sikhism alive… and today, it culminates in the opening of this wonderful Sikh Center.

Besides the Darbar Sahib and Langar Hall, there is space for a 'resource centre and library'; a Punjabi school; a 'reading and relaxation' room especially for elders; a built-in projector/video hall which can also double as a 'concert hall' with a good stage and seating capacity for about 200, and secluded premises for a caretaker and family. There is also parking space for over 150 cars with plenty of street parking in the suburb adjoining.

Adelaide Sikh Centre has no plans in hiring a full-time granthi but shall look for a suitable Gursikh 'sewadhar/caretaker'. The Sikh society has perhaps benefited from not having a 'granthi' because this has encouraged a great many of the regular 'gurdwara goers' to learn how to do parkash, samapti and even make degh and langar! Some have also learned how to do kirtan and do path. What this gurdwara needs is a Gursikh caretaker.

Though there are some great and saintly granthis worldwide, from my observation, more often than not granthis are firstly Indian trained and with no acumen to deal with youth born outside India especially not being able to communicate with them language-wise and at their level. Secondly, it will appear that granthis are professionals who are on the lookout for greener pastures especially UK, USA or Canada. They only use countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Kenya as stepping stones to get them to UK, USA or Canada. Furthermore they are in existence it will seem to do specific jobs like daily parkash, samapti, do 'path' in 'sahaj path' or 'Akhand Paths'; perhaps teach kirtan and take stabs at teaching Punjabi. They do not, as a whole cater to the true spiritual needs of the community in counselling and spiritual coaching.

As mentioned earlier, Adelaide has been home for me for the last 25 years. My two younger (of three) daughters were born here. The Sikh community and the music fraternity of Adelaide and the Arts Department of South Australia have helped me reach my present status in gursangeet and 'world music' over the last fifteen years. My oldest daughter was married in the previous Adelaide gurdwara. I have seen our community grow and become close as a community through the institution of the 'gurdwara'. Today we celebrate our community achieving a higher profile as a responsible, well-integrated group within the fabric of 'Australian society'. We contribute to the richness of the multicultural society of Australia; we live here, we work here, we contribute to the economy of this country; and we raise our children and now, for me, grandchildren, as responsible, law-abiding and spiritually well-versed future citizens, as Sikhs and as Australians. As the famous Australian song goes … 'We all call Australia home.'

One further week in Adelaide completing the Asa Di Var. Parvyn, my youngest is doing her own debut album of music reflecting her background born in Australia to Sikh parents and a keen fan of bhangra and Bollywood. Lets see what she comes up with!

Now (Mar16) back to Melbourne and the festivities of the Commonwealth Games. We are performing four concerts and also one kirtan program at the Blackburn Gurdwara on Sunday 26th.

THE 18TH. COMMONWEALTH GAMES - MELBOURNE, 2006.

Eleven days of absolute magic - the final verdict from the Games Chief was, 'Melbourne, you are simply the best' ! Australia, as was expected won more than half the medals on offer - of every precious metal - gold, silver and bronze. India, reflected its surging economic advancement by doing extremely well. The highlight for me was two young lasses from Punjab fighting it out with each other for the Gold (and Silver) for the women's heavyweight weight-lifting division!

From my perspective, the note of interest was the involvement of the arts in the Games. Perhaps no other city, has ever been able to mix arts and sports as Melbourne was able to. Our group had pride of place as the bridging of these games in Australia with the next in four years time, in Delhi, India. We were scheduled for five concerts plus a gurdwara program on the closing Sunday. This turned out, perhaps as the highlight of our group to date.

The concerts during the weekdays in Melbourne and one in the country in a small town called Moe, all went extremely well and as was expected of us, we promoted the Games in India in 2010.

Sunday26th. Last day of the Games. 12 Noon. 'Hajri' at the Blackburn Gurdwara Sahib. A surprisingly large sangat of over 800. India Cabinet Minister, S. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, MP, S. Tarlochan Singh (also Chairman of Minorities Commission, India and S. Prabhjot Singh, Editor of the Tribune newspaper, Chandigarh were Guests-of-Honour. It was a pleasant surprise to know that they all know of our group and appreciated the kirtan very much.

Sunday evening was our last concert at the Waterfront stage, at the harbour to a very appreciating crowd.

Monday 27th. I had a pleasant surprise when I had a call from the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Sheila Dixit, through the deputy High Commissioner of India, Mr. Vinod Kumar requesting a set of all our cd's and another set for Ms. Gursharan Kaur, wife of the PM of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh. We have also been invited to Delhi next year for the Delhi Music Festival organised by the office of the Chief Minister. So we do have fans in high places!

I think that crowned off a great month for us with more to follow into the future!

I can sit back for the next few days and see what adventures Waheguru Ji has for us into April!

Till then, Cherdhi Kala!