Highlights

The Bi-monthly Newsletter of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board

The BI-Monthly Newsletter of the Central Sikh Gurdwara Board

Issue No : 44
NEW BHAI MAHARAJ SINGH MEMORIAL
GURDWARA Aug/Sept 2010

Inside this issue

2. CST– The shifting of
Darbar Sahib to
Langgar Hall

3. CST– Renovation
update

4. BMS Opening
Ceremony

5. BMS Renovation
photos/report
- CST Renovation
photos/report

6. Speeches on the
BMS Opening
- MM Lee Kuan Yew
- Mr. Karpal Singh

7. Holiday outing
Enhanced ambience within the larger Darbar Sahib -Home visits

8. Down to Memory
Lane
-Bhai Esher Sin
Weekly Forecast
Book of the month

Objectives:
 To promote Sikh
heritage.
 To meet the needs of
the Sikh Community.
 To organise and
promote the learning of
Gurbani and Kirtan.
 To lead the Sangat to
become and remain
Amrit Dhari Sikhs.
 To propagate Sikhism
by providing quality
religious services.
 To inculcate the practice
Officially opened on 3 July 2010 by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew of the Sikh way of life.
 Page 2 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

The shifting of Darbar Sahib to temporary location in the Langgar Hall

at Central Sikh Temple

"The Darbar Hall at Central Sikh Temple was temporarily located at the 1st storey on 18 July
2010 after the morning Kirtan programme. The Langgar Hall was partitioned for this purpose.
This is necessary as the 2nd floor is undergoing upgrading.

The Sangat can look forward to a bigger Darbar Hall to accommodate a larger sangat. The two
staircases will also make way for an attractive lobby on the first floor.

If you have not yet contributed to the Building Fund, please make your donations soon and
receive Guru Ji’s blessings.
By Management Committee
Central Sikh Gurdwara Temple

Preparations completed to move Guruji moves to the temporary Darbar Hall.

Last view of the staircase before it is replaced

Ardas taking place at the temporary View of the temporary Darbar Hall
Darbar Hall
 Page 3 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

An Update
The renovations at CST is moving into the most important stage - the Darbar Hall. The Darbar
Hall was shifted to a temporary location at the current Langgar Hall on 18 July 2010. The old lift
was then shut down on 19 July 2010 to replace with a new larger lift and work on the Darbar Hall
and pool area has commenced. The ceiling of the Darbar Hall has been removed. From 10 Aug
2010, the 2 staircases leading to the Darbar Hall will be torn down to make way for the new
reception area. A new staircase will be built by end Sep 2010.

The main works on the 3rd to 7th floor have been completed pending the final touches. The new
windows on the exterior walls have been installed and the finishing touches are being done to all
the exterior walls. The contractor is working
under challenging conditions as there has
been extreme weather conditions over the
past few weeks.

We appeal to the Sangat' for their

understanding in view of the inconvenience
caused. Please continue to attend the
regular programmes which are on-going.
Your support in the upgrading works is truly
appreciated. Please approach the Manager
to make your kind donations.

New Members
Central Sikh Gurdwara Board welcomes the following :
Dalvinder Singh Sidhu Piarah Singh

Jatinder Singh Aman Singh

Baljit Kaur Sarabjit Singh

Sunjeet Singh Sandhu Jaswin Kaur

Dimppy Sandhu Kertar Singh Kapure

Jigindar Singh Sandhu Charanjit Kaur

Gurdip Kaur Sandhu Anil Singh Sandhu

Darshan Singh Pakhopur Harjit Singh Sidhu

Saranjeet Kaur Darvinpal Singh Raipura

Manpreet Singh Sidhu Pereen Kaur Bandal

We request all members of the Sikh Community to join us. We look forward
to your active involvement, participation and contributions.
Page 4 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Highlights—Opening Ceremony Memorial Gurdwara

Nishan Sahib Salami

Moments of Bliss
Guruji moves into the new Memorial Gurdwara
Page 5 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Highlights—Opening Ceremony Memorial Gurdwara

Arrival of Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew

A Huge Honour for us…..

 Page 6 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

Speeches - Opening of Bhai Maharaj Singh Memorial

Gurdwara
Excerpts from the Speech by MM Lee Kuan Yew at the opening cere-
mony of the Bhai Maharaj Singh Memorial Gurdwara 3 July 2010

“ I am happy to join your community

today for the auspicious opening of the
Bhai Maharaj Singh Memorial.

Your Gurdwaras and Institutions have

also kept up with the changing
times. You have set up youth wings, as
part of the Sikh institutions, to support
the work of the Sikh community, like
Sik h Se wak s and Young Sik h
Association (Singapore) that includes
other ethnic communities.

Your community’s contributions to the

nation have been significant. Sikhs have
done well under our meritocratic
system, in the uniformed services, the judiciary, like Justice Choor Singh, in the civil service and other
professions. We have two Sikh MPs. Sikhs are also successful entrepreneurs and businessmen.”

Excerpts from the Speech by Mr. Karpal Singh Melhi,

President, Central Sikh Gurdwara Board

“Today, we are gathered to declare open the newly built Bhai Maharaj Singh Memorial Gurdwara. Bhai
Maharaj Singh spent his earlier life meditating and serving the community in Punjab. His community
kitchen never ran out of food for the devotees. When the British captured Punjab, he led in organising
resistance. By then he was a well-known spiritual leader. When he was arrested in 1849, the British found
it risky to detain him in India and exiled him to Singapore. He arrived in Singapore in 1850 and died in
captivity in 1856”.

Sometime later, his devotees erected a shrine for

him on the grounds of the current Singapore
General Hospital. The Memorial grew in popularity
and attracted a large following. The Memorial was
shifted to Silat Road Sikh Temple in 1966 to
facilitate the expansion of SGH.

The Memorial was originally located in front of the

temple. In the 1990s, a structure was built where
the new Memorial stands today. To accommodate
the growing congregation, a temporary extension
was added to the structure. However, the temporary
structure did not provide the right ambience. It was
exposed to both vehicular noise and inclement
weather. The newly built Memorial Gurdwara
addresses these shortcomings.”
 Page 7 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

June School Holiday Outing Visit to Jamiyah Children’s Home

On 22nd June, 2010, parents, volunteers and enthusiastic
children gathered at Silat Rod Gurdwara for the much
awaited June Holiday Outing.
After the rousing Ardaas, the group set off for East Coast
Park. As soon as they alighted the bus the kids made a
beeline to collect their bowling shoes and headed to the
lanes. After the game, all present were treated to a
scumptious lunch amidst the breath taking scenery!
The next activity after lunch was kite-flying. In their groups
they assembled their kites and proceeded to unleash them
into the open sky. The presence of this large number of kites
attracted the interest of the other beach goers, some of
whom joined the kids and shared the finer points of kite
flying with them. All present were thoroughly exhausted but
they had a meaningful and memorable outing. They are
already looking forward to the next activity during the
upcoming school holidays.
On 25th July 2010, 55 children and volunteers from
the Silat Road and Katong Gurdwaras teamed to
celebrate Guru HarKrishan Ji’s birthday by bringing
joy to the children of the Jamiyah Home.
The children were treated to a tour of the home
where they saw the tidy accommodation, dining hall
and other facilities. The visitors were impressed
with the facilities of the home where one young
guest was overheard saying “Whoa so nice, living
together like this….” We adults felt good knowing
that the children were taken care off in such a
pleasant environment.
The Jamiyah staff gave a talk which was followed
by “bhangra” and “bollywood” performances.
Through an ice-breaker and subsequent games the
children interacted with each other and made new
friends. At the end of the day all of us left with new
friends and a deeper understanding of each other’s
cultures.
By Simar Kaur Gill
“It was a very enriching experience for
me and I’m very thankful to Waheguru”
( Jaskirat Singh, P4)

Sewa at the home of a community member

A group of 5 passionate Sikh volunteers headed

to perform sewa at the home of a community
member. Armed with pails and mops, we were
welcomed by two bright and cheery little girls
and their mother. We interacted with the family
sharing a few stories and got to know them
better. We were eager to get started with Uncle
Ranjit and Kaushalya rushing to clean the toilets.
Jaspreet, Harjit and I focused on cleaning the
rest of the house and ended with replacing some
lights. We felt good seeing the house looking
spick and span. Our efforts were appreciated by
our new friends. I look forward to working with
more members of the community in future.

If you are interest in volunteering for the cleaning

of homes program please leave your details with
the Sikh Centre.
- By Harjit Kaur
 Page 8 Central Sikh Gurdwara Board Highlights

A Walk
Down Memory
Lane
Tribute to Master Wazir Singh Ji
By Ambassador-At- Large
Master Wazir Singh
Professor Tommy Koh
“ The fact that he is a Sikh and a Punjabi and a good man is fortuitous. It helped me to overcome the
virus of racial and religious prejudice. I have learned from him to judge a person, not by the colour of
his skin or his religious faith, but by the quality of his heart and mind.
Mr. Wazir Singh is an example of the many good teachers I had at Raffles Instituition. Good parents and
good teachers produce good children “

“ If not for My Teacher” by COMPASS

Bhai Esher Singh Ji’s Weekly Forecast

Mon - Fri 5.45am - 6.30am Japji Sahib Main Darbar SRST
Mon,Tue,Fri,Sun 7.00pm - 8.15pm Katha ( Discourse) Central Sikh Temple
Tue 11.00am - 12.00pm Katha– Senior Citizen Sikh Centre
Wed 3.00pm - 4.00pm Katha- (Discourse) SRST
Sat 6.00am - 7.00am Asa Ki Var CST
Bhai Esher Singh Ji is available for family & religious counseling at SRST - 12.30pm - 2.30pm ( Daily)
Forecast:
22 Aug– 12.45pm– 2.15pm: Talk on Mool Manter & Gur Manter @ Level 7, SC
29 Aug– 12.45pm– 2.15pm: Talk on “ Simran” @ Level 7, SC

SIKH CENTRE Book of the month

Sikhi Courses
Great Sikh General
Asa Ki Var- Saturday,10.30 -11.30am
Banda Singh Bahadur
Bhattan Ke Swaiye - Saturday, By Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer
12:15-1:15pm
Gurmukhi(Punjabi) - Friday – 7pm - 8pm This is a recent publication on the life
and achievements of a great Sikh
Nikke Khalse / Fathe - Saturday,
:1:45pm to 2:45pm general Banda Singh Bahadur.
Banda Singh Bahadur established
Chardi Kala : Alternate Sunday,
10am to 11am the first Sikh state and issued the first
Sikh coin in 1710. The book covers
Creative Writing P1, P2,P3, all aspects of his life, his initiation into
P4,P5 & P6 the Khalsa, his struggles, his
English, Math's & Science martyrdom and his contribution to the
Sunday, 12.30pm to 3.30pm Sikh history. The book also sheds
8 Session
light on some of his controversial
Tae-Kwon-Do episodes.
Saturday, 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm
For info on Central Sikh Gurdwara Board activities, Please visit
and 2.45pm to 3.45pm
our Website @ sikhs.org.sg