After a very busy first weekend (Jan/Feb) in Bradford and Huddersfield where we were hosted very lovingly by Jutinder Singh Birdi and family, we had our first day of 'rest' on Tuesday 3rd. Jan.

Wed. 4th. Shepherd's Bush Gurdwara Sahib - the oldest gurdwara in the British Isles! I used to come here in the 70's when I was doing accountancy here.. We used to come to listen to Ragi Bhagwant Singh and Jatha who were then resident here ... and of course - langgar!!

We have had some 'ideological' difference with management and especially Granthi Sahib during our last visit. Bhai Sahib whispered in my ear just as we were about to start - that I am only allowed to do gurbani kirtan here. My retort to him in reaction was that I was not an idiot and would certainly not be singing Hindi songs or doing bhangra.

Very irritating habit of some committees, secretaries and Granthi Sahibs to give instructions, or to tell you that non-Sikhs cannot 'participate' in kirtan, just as you are about to start. Also happened at the Dixie, Toronto, Gurdwara last year where we were not allowed to do kirtan, due to my non-Sikh musician colleagues. In 1999 we were instructed in the Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Surrey, Vancouver, that we were not allowed to sing Hindi songs (!!!) I think the learned secretary meant shabads in Hindi Bollywood melodies!! I then replied that I will not, as I had decided to do kirtan, that day, in 'qawali form'. That confused the poor guy completely!

Bhai Sahib at Sherpherd Bush gurdwara, had also got up to make some pointed remarks generally running us down very subtley - must have been urged to do so by some 'mischief seeking' sangat or even committee members - not the first time!

There appears to be a split, firstly in the committee and Bhai Sahib was told to draw his remarks in, this time round - and all in all we had a great programme though numbers were down. The reason was that one 'faction' had invited us, so 'naturally', sympathisers of other faction/s were not going to turn up. Pity, I was told, as many did want to come!!!

On Thursday we made a quick trip to London in typical UK weather - cold and slight drizzle! In the evening I met a gentleman from Canada who wants us to reproduce some shabads in old melodies as sung by Sant Baba Nand Singh of Kleran. A very interesting project ...

Friday -6th. Birmingham - Graham Street Gurdwara. A very well attended program to the surprise of the committee and Bhai Sahibs. (Nobody comes to weekday programmes, they said! Someone forgot to tell the sangat!!) You see, most programs are now organised by true Panthic sewadhars who understand the worth of our mission and who then publicise the programme so that youth (especially) will turn up in numbers. When we arrived, committee members and Bhai Sahibs sized us up furtively but as the sangat rolled in, they warmed to us. Youths turned up in good numbers including youth who do not normally come to gurdwara... We were back in Southall at base camp by midnight. We had an early morning flight to catch to get to Dublin!

Dublin is a beautiful city - a little like London, perhaps a more simplified version. One main street - O'Connell Street plus a river running right throught the city with plenty of beautiful bridges across. Beautiful old churches, cathedrals and old buildings and the great Trinity College which houses the oldest book in Ireland - The Book of Kells which goes back to around 400AD.

Sewadhar Kuldeep Singh Chauhan who now lives in UK but has very strong sentimental and financial interests in Ireland sponsored our visit and we were accommodated by Chadha Sahib and family - a fellow brother who has been in Ireland for 14 years!!

THERE HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT THAT YOUR DAUGHTERS DANCE AND CLAP TO GURBANI, IN GURDWARA!! Kuldeep was rather embarrassed that he had to raise the issue because apparently a fellow brother Sikh had complained to the Dublin gurdwara committee that 'a friend' had phoned him from SINGAPORE that Dya Singh should not be allowed to do kirtan in the gurdwara because of the above practice. Kuldeep did not even want an explanation - he just wanted us to know that such an issue had been raised.

Though I shall not go into this issue once again, it suffices to say that if I had ever carried out such a practice, I am sure I would have been physically stopped and sorted out!! Let there be no doubt - that my daughters are accomplished dancers in bhangra, kathak, bharatnatyam and contemporary western and Australian aboriginal dance but not in gurdwaras and never to Gurbani - I consider that a sacrilege. They also clap to SUFI QAWALIS, but not in gurdwara because we do not sing Sufi qawalis in gurdwaras - that is against general gurdwara protocol. We certainly do so in concerts.

The Dublin sangat - about 300 families and about 150 young migrants directly from Punjab turned out in force for our program on the Sunday (8 Feb) morning - I should say noon, as most sangat members, as in many parts of the world, turn up, after noon. We began at about Noon and performed kirtan for almost two hours!

First I must make mention of the gurdwara - an old theatre close to city centre! It was purchased - by one gentleman, for the congregation, for £45,000 (sterling) about six years ago. The value quickly rose to £3 Mil. Though in need of repairs, it is a grand building and serves the Guru and small sangat very well! The second is a concern, shared by many, in many parts of the globe. Most youngsters arriving directly from India make it a point to come to the gurdwara first, but their very first outing is to the barber's. So much so, one local barber has commented on the business he is getting from freshly arrived 'Sikhs'!

An Amrit sanchar - first one in Ireland - has been arranged for 3 March. An amrit-sanchar team is to come from UK to perform the ceremony. So our job for the programme was to inspire youngsters to take amrit and those who had become 'patits' to turn back - as the Guru is all forgiving. It was reported back to us in UK after our trip, that they expect about50-60 'abhilakhis' to take amrit. This is encouraging. It is also noteworthy that youngsters who have been raised in Ireland, are, in the majority, keshadhari. A Punjabi class has been ongoing for some time and we were able to spend an extra one hour with these lovely children. Waheguru Ji bless them with a long life of Sikhi, Naam dhan, rehat-dhan, gurbani nal pyar and kirtan dhi dhaat.

Very strong links have been forged in Dublin and on our next visit we expect to go to the second gurdwara in Ireland which is in Northern Ireland. Our manager, Keith is very pleased. (He is of Northern Irish origins!!)

FRANCE TO PASS BILL AGAINST OUTWARD SIGNS OF RELIGION ESPECIALLY SCARFES, TURBANS, OTHER SYMBOLS ETC. WITH OVERWHELMINGLY MAJORITY!!

On the day of writing the above - Tues.10th. Feb. - the above news takes its sad place in the headlines. Though this is being pushed through in the name of secularism, it is actually a direct affront to religion (especially Islam and Sikhism) and does not augur well for world peace. If France persists, we are certainly racing towards a man-made Doomsday - September 11 was just a warning sign. This, in my opinion is Fascism (Nazism) in the guise of secularism. No different from what Hitler did to the jews.

Tuesday 10Feb.- Northampton (G.Singh Sabha) : A very young sangat - a most delightful program. Young president Amarjit Atwal even emailed me a 'thank you' note the next day. A 'first' from a gurdwara Pardhan! As the program had been arranged last minute, naujawans had been hand-delivering flyers till the early hours of the morning the day before! Well done, fellers! Waheguru Ji give us more programs like these.

Wednesday 11Feb.- Birmingham (G.Guru Nanak, Smethick) : Left Southall early in our hired six seater to travel first to Oxford and then to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare country. Going to a 'Singh Sabha' type gurdwara is like walking into a lion's den! Nevertheless, we were given a warm reception by the committee members and I was also asked to address a youth meeting and talked about our identity as a universal community. Leading gurdwara member and current President, S.Daljit Singh Shergill discussed the political scene as it is unfolding and now especially with the 'scarf/turban/headgear' issue of France. The programme too, turned more towards the need of active youth participation in the 'secular' affairs of Sikhs and also the need for gurdwara leaders, young professionals and retired professionals to work together as collective representatives of the community.

Friday 13Feb.- Nottingham (G.Ramgharia): This lovely program was organised by the Sikh Academy of Nottingham, and sangat came from as far as Kettering (they want a programme next time), friends from Birmingham, Bradford and Huddersfield. The Langgar Hall had been decorated and each Langgar Hall table had bouquets of flowers! A festive mood was prevalent and everyone had a very uplifting time including us. On the way back we stopped at Sardar Patwant Singh Ji's place in Nottingham. He is one of our good friends and helps with sponsorships for our cd's (including his daughter Makinder) and also is helping us in our tour of Kenya. We look forward to coming again to Nottingham and may the sangat be always as loving and as responsive as they were!

Saturday 14Feb. - Southall (Ramgharia G.Oswald Rd.) This was a great program - well publicised and first of two programs. The second on Sunday night, by popular demand was even better attended. There was Langgar shortage on both evenings! This is home territory as I used to stay on Oswald Road when I was in UK!

Sunday 15Feb. am - Coventry (G.Guru Hargobind) A gurdwara practically run by youth! Our second visit here and ably anchored by youngman S. Davinder Singh Panesar. This program focused very much on the turban issue in France. Youth are organising themselves to do protest marches in Paris.

Sunday 15Feb. pm - Southall (Ramgharia,G.Oswald Rd.) Second program by popular demand!

Monday 16Feb.- Manchester (G.Sri HarKrishan)We started early so that we could take a scenic drive through Derbyshire high country - through the Snake Pass. We arrived at 6pm to a warm reception and organisers Sardar Bawa and sewadhar Charanjit Singh Ji commented that they had not seen half the sangat before!! This tour has progressed without too much problems - Waheguru Ji has been very kind.

Tuesday 17Feb.- Reading (Ramgharia Sabha) - a very cosy small program to about 100 sangat. Gurdwara is a shop house and very small but a loving sangat mainly of former Kenyans. It was organised by good friend Satt Matharu and family. A wonderful evening. Sang some 'old' renditions like 'Mitre pyaray nu hal muridhan dha kehna' and 'Raat gevayi soye kai, divas gevaya khaye - heeray jaisa janam hai, kaudi bedelay jaye'. Sangat came from as far afield as Southall and Slough.

Wednesday 18RFeb.- The Sikh Times and SCYS Gathering - Birmingham We travelled to Birmingham for a few appointments - The Sikh Times weekly newspaper held a reception in our honour for the work we are doing in gurbani/sangeet dissemination amongst non-Sikhs and youth. The event also hosted about 20 of the top Sikh businessmen in the midlands. It was very heartwarming to see all these business people. Sikhism needs to draw in Sikhs from all different areas. Unlike other religions, most Sikhs must not just pay lip service to the faith but be involved in some way or other because one of the prime functions of a human being is to do sewa and each and every Sikh is accountable. As part of their business ethics, these business people resolved to find some aspect of life which is Sikh related and make their contribution - both financial and also in terms of expertise and time. Well done to Sikh Times for this initiative!

We also met Bhai Sahib Mahinder Singh Ji, head of the Nishkam Sewak Jatha and looking after the affairs of Sant Baba Puran Singh Ji of Kericho, Kenya - based in Birmingham. We are hoping to do a Sikh youth camp at the Gurdwara Sahib in Kericho, Kenya in August this year. Bhai Sahib was very warm to the idea and gave his blessings. We were also pleasantly surprised to meet Sri Singh Sahib Jathedar of the Akal Takhat, Bhai Joginder Singh Ji Vedanti who happened to be staying at the Gurdwara Nishkam Sewak Jatha, Soho Road, Birmingham.

No program in the evening. Supposed to be a rest day!

Thursday 19Feb.- Wolverhampton - Nanaksar Thaat : We drove early to spend some time with good friend S.Awthar Singh Harrar. He guided us to the Thaat. Sangat was below expectations but then we could not expect much on a cold weekday evening! Nevertheless, there was sangat from as far as Manchester and also from Birmingham.

Friday 20Feb.- Rest day but taken up by two radio programs - Desi radio and Akash Radio, both in Southall. The radio programs were like a de-brief of the tour and an overview. I believe we have established a base for programs in 'friendly' sangat and especially friendly comittees, gurdwaras - especially those interested in youth welfare and future. We are content with that and do not really need to push for programs in large gurdwaras which do not really feel they need us.

Saturday 21Feb.-11.30am Ramgharia Education Centre, Neville Rd. East London - children/youth programme

Saturday 21Feb.-6.30pm. Slough - Ramgharia Centre

Two absolutely wonderful programs and capacity full gurdwaras, with large portions of youth. Shabash to sewadars who worked hard for these programs. Neville Road has a Punjabi school with 400 students and they were all there with parents. Capacity sangat also turned up at Slough at night. There was great interest in youth camps and discussions augur well for the future.

Sunday 22Feb.-11.45am - Wolverhampton (Guru Nanak Gurdwara) : We left early and it is going to be a long day as we have two programmes in the Midlands and have to catch a flight to Kuala Lumpur at 10pm. from London Heathrow!

Unlike last years programme here, the gurdwara was packed full - about 800 sangat. Pity we were not able to stop to sell cd's as we had to rush to Birmingham for our second programme. Sangat members were literally plucking cd's from the van as we were driving out! Friends Awthar Singh Harrar and Mandeep Singh accompanied us to Birmingham for the second programme. Other sangat members from Wolverhampton also turned up for the Birmingham programme.

Sunday 22Feb. 2.30pm - Birmingham (Sparkhill G.) : We were able to reach in time for a quick cup of 'cha' before a one and a half-hour blissful programme to a very appreciative, attentive and 'singalong' sadh-sangat. The Naam Simran renditions were the highlights.

We left by 5pm. and did make it to Heathrow in time to take our flight at 10pm. All in all a very satisfying but tiring day.

This tour of UK - London area, Southall, Slough, Midlands, Manchester and Dublin has been one of our most blissful and relatively 'heart-ache' free. Sangats have been very appreciative and it augurs well for the future. I must thank Bai Ji, Principle Gurmukh Singh for all the organisation, accommodation, advice, cd sales, etc. This tour could not have happened and also be so successful if it had not been for him.

We arrived on Monday 23 February evening at Kuala Lumpur for a well earned 24 hr. break - especially the warm weather! We stocked up on Teh Tarik (Malaysian cha), roti chanai (a bread delicacy) and Nasi Lemak (Malaysian special rice with prawn shrimps) and some well earned retail therapy before flying to Sydney, Australia by Wednesday 25th.

Thursday 26th. Concert - Huskisson/Tomerong, New South Wales. We left at Noon from S. Ajmer Singh's abode in Penrith, Sydney in our vehicle travelling south for almost 300 kilometres along the coast to Huskisson. This is deep south New South Wales where Vietnam war veterans, 'greenies' and alternative lifestylists have set up home amongst rolling green hills and valleys and gum trees. About 200 turned up for a very uplifting evening of shabads, qawalis, bhajans and other spiritual renditions. Cd sales reflected the enthusiasm these lovely people had for our music.

Friday 27th. Concert - Brunswick, Melbourne, World Music Cafe. A 5am start next morning for a long long drive traversing Canberra to the Hume Highway to Melbourne. A drive of over 900km! We reached Melbourne by 3pm. rested for about two hours and then prepared for this concert. Another blissful evening. This venue did not have a stage, so we sat on carpets and about three quarters of th audience sat on carpets with chairs at the back. A cosy 'mehfil' style spiritual concert was experienced again by about 200.

Saturday 28th. Anand Karaj - Jason & Kerry (The Sondhus of Horsham) I have, in the past, been strict about not conducting Anand Karaj's of mixed couples as I believe the Anand Karaj is a sacred ceremony between two 'committed' Sikhs, preferably 'Khalsas'. My views have changed because I now believe conducting a mixed marriage is an opportunity of espousing the principles of Sikhi to at least 50% of the sangat who have no knowledge whatsoever of Sikhi (normally more for the 'Sikh' partner and family and friends who sometimes have even less knowledge of their own faith!). I only conduct them if given full charge of the ceremony. This is the fourth 'mixed' Anand Karaj I have conducted over the last three years. (I have also turned down being involved in Anand Karaj ceremonies which are carried out as a mere ritual - I think a civil ceremony is, in that case more appropriate - and I am not talking of mixed marriages alone!

The 'Sondhus' have been in the Horsham area of Victoria, Australia for 100 years and have established themselves as part of the backbone of farm folks of rural Victoria, Australia. One day their history should be written as part of the great pioneering spirit of Sikhs worldwide.

Anyway, Jason, the great grandson of the first 'Sondhu' and Kerry contacted me about a year ago to ask for advice etc. on an Anand Karaj. They then proceeded to book a date at the Blackburn Gurdwara - main gurdwara of Melbourne - for a date and very pleasantly, the committee agreed to all the terms etc. More than Jason, Kerry took a very keen interest. She read up on Sikhism and was very inspiring to watch as she warmed to Sikhi and this ceremony. Amusingly, the 'white' non-Sikh folk seemd to know exactly what to do but our own 'Sikh' folk seemed to be floundering most of the time! Nevertheless, relatives and friends from all round the globe were full of praise for the ceremony and the conduct of the couple. The whole ceremony from Milni to langgar was exactly on time and done within one hour. Congratulations to the couple and Tari and Gurjeet Sondhu (Jason's parents) and Kerry's family.

Sunday 29th. Concert - Torquay, Victoria. Rose Inn. Our final concert of this tour and appropriately, on the last day of the month in a leap year! Torquay is about 150 km. south of Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. A picturesque heavenly enclave with surf and sand and lovely people. Quentin, our recording engineer and fellow musician had arranged this gig thru his aunty in Torquay. So there were many family and friends. Again about 200 locals who knew very little about Sikhi let along Sikh music enjoyed a lovely afternoon. A test of acceptance is if we are requested to return. All three concerts in Australia have been rebooked tentatively whenever we are in the region again. Second test is when audience members start asking for information on Sikhi and there was plenty of that here.

THIS HAS BEEN A MOST INVIGORATING TOUR AMONGST SIKHS AND NON-SIKHS. MAY WAHEGURU GRANT US MORE OF THESE TOURS. WE DID PAY ALL OUR BILLS TOO, BESIDES RECEIVING PLENTY OF SEROPAS!!!

Quote: When things are going wrong causing grief pray fervently to Waheguru for help. But when things are going right causing great joy, thank Him with every single breath.