Sikhpoint interview with international Gursangeetkar (Sikh musician) Dya Singh of Australia. Our correspondent Mike Singh, met Dya Singh in Washington DC at the Smithsonian Institute where the group Dya Singh was performing on July 24^th

Sikhpoint: Dya Singh Ji, you are on tour in conjunction with the 400th Anniversary of the Compilation and First Parkash of the Aadh Granth. Can you tell us something about that?

Dya Singh Ji : About the tour or about the 400th Anniversary?

Sikhpoint : About both

Dya Singh Ji : Yes, our tour starts here in the Smithsonian which is mounting a five year exhibition of Sikh artifacts and completes on 26^th September at the Royal Albert Hall in London celebrating the 400th Anniversary.

Sikhpoint: Can you tell us the significance of the 400th Anniversary?

Dya Singh Ji :. This auspicious occasion is, like all Sikh celebrations, firstly, a celebration of the founder of Sikhism, Sri Guru Nanak Sahib. Specifically, this is the 400 years celebration of the compilation and editoring of the Sikh scriptures, by our fifth Guru Sahib, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1604.

This was made necessary because though our scriptures existed, they were not in one place or in one book. The original 'Pothi Sahib' of Guru Nanak had been multi-copied by then and also, some copies added onto, by the following Guru Sahibs. There was a fear that unauthorised 'bani' called 'kechi bani' would creep in diluting the authentic messages and God inspired scriptures as received by our Guru Sahibs. Furthermore, there was a need to sift through the God inspired writings of other sages from the 12th century which had been collected by Guru Nanak, which he considered appropriate to the 'spirit' of Sikh thought.

So this monumental task fell upon our fifth Guru Sahib and due to his efforts we can boast that we are probably the only major faith which has the original 'word', as it was compiled and written down by the 'Guru', the teacher and God messenger, himself.

Sikhpoint : Can you tell us something about the Aadh Granth itself?

Dya Singh Ji : The Aadh Granth, as compiled by Guru Arjan, has some unique features. Firstly, it is sectionalised according to musical modes- raags, it is not topical. Secondly, it includes selected God-inspired writings as chosen by Guru Arjan, of over 30 'sages' of the Indian sub-continent from the 12^th to the 16^th century. This shows the multi-racial nature of the scriptures strengthening the Sikh belief of 'goodwill to all mankind', not goodwill exclusively to 'Sikhs' alone. This makes it uniquely different from other faiths which have the tendency of professing or inferring that 'theirs' is the best, and every other faith is inferior.

Sikhpoint : So, you will be celebrating this marvelous accomplishment of the 400th Anniversary of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib in London?

Dya Singh Ji : Firstly, let me correct you. This is not the 400th Anniversary of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. We are celebrating the compilation and the first 'parkash' which means the first 'revealing' of the Aadh Granth by our fifth Guru Sahib. The Aadh Granth was finally established as the 'Guru', officially, by our tenth Guru Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708. So this year we celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the compilation of the Aadh Granth and in four years time in 2008, we shall be celebrating the 300th 'Gurpurab' of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib - the passing on of the 'Guruship' to the Aadh Granth making it the eternal Guru.

And, yes, we as a group will be involved in the celebrations in London from 1^st September with attendance at the Ramgerhia Gurdwara Sahib, Southall, through various other celebrations throughout UK culminating with the 'gala' celebrations of over 5000 Sikhs at the Royal Albert Hall on 26^th September where royalty is expected.