Q&A’s with the president of guru nanak gurdwara (surrey-delta), bikramjit singh

1. What is your educational and professional background?

I am working towards finishing my university degree at Simon Fraser University with a major in Criminology and minor in Psychology. I am also an Insurance and Mutual Fund Broker and President of Roadways Insurance Corporation.

2. As the President of Guru Nanak Gurdwara, what does your role entail?
“President” is merely a technical title. At Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara we are all sevadaars who share an equal role and responsibility in the honest, transparent, and efficient management of the Gurdwara Sahib. My role, along with my fellow sevadaars, is to ensure the programs and services provided by the Gurdwara, run smoothly and that we fulfill our mandated objectives and provide new programs, services and facilities for the ever increasing numbers of Sangat.

3. What are your short and long term goals for your position?

My short term goal as a sevadaar of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara is to reach out to the entire community to ensure that everyone has a voice in the future of one of North America’s largest Sikh institutions. Our community has been divided for too long and to move forward, we need input from the entire community. On a long term basis, I would like to see the establishment of programs and services, which will strengthen our future - the youth. I want the community to be proud of its Sikh institutions as a pillar of success for our future generations and be able to work with organizations and agencies on an equal footing to tackle common issues.

4. When the Haiti earthquake happened your leadership propelled great volunteerism by our community, how important is volunteerism to you and our community?

The Sikh nation has an unprecedented history and philosophy of selfless service and sacrifice. From Guru Tegh Bahadur who sacrificed his life to save the Hindu religion to Bhai Ghanayia Ji who served water to enemy and foes alike on the battlefield and to Guru Gobind Singh Ji who said “Recognize the Human Race as One”. The Sikh Community was meant to do this type of seva and with the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, it was time for us to step up to the plate and do seva in the true spirit of Sikhism, just as our Gurus intended.

5. What plan of action was created for Haiti relief efforts and volunteerism by the community?

The community came together to raise an unprescedented amount of money for relief efforts. Through a unified effort, Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, RED FM, Shere Punjab Radio, and Radio India collected funds, which went towards initiatives by Doctors without Borders, Government of Haiti, United Sikhs, and Rose Charities. In addition to raising funds, the Gurdwara Sahib organized two relief teams consisting of food and medical operations, which went to Haiti to help with relief efforts on the ground.

6. What Haiti relief efforts are still happening by the Gurdwara?

The Gurdwara Sahib is currently identifying long term projects such as orphanages and schools as Haiti moves towards a rebuilding phase. Funds collected by the Sikh community will be put towards the construction and long term sustainability of these projects. The Gurdwara Sahib currently has a dedicated team of volunteers who continue to monitor and follow the rebuilding efforts in Haiti.

7. What volunteer programs, other than Haiti are coordinated by our community and the Gurdwara?

Current volunteer programs which the Gurdwara Sahib is involved in organizing and supporting include Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen - a weekly free kitchen for the less fortunate in the Downtown Eastside, each Saturday. Dastaar.ca - a program to educate the public about the turban and Sikh identity, Sevadaar.com - a website which links community volunteers with various volunteer opportunities at the Gurdwara Sahib and in the community at large; Khalsa Scouts - a scout group affiliated with Scouts Canada that provides leadership and mentorship programs to children and youth. Seniors Outing Program - an initiative to help seniors pass their time in an enjoyable atmosphere; Family Literacy Program and various sports coordinator roles are just a few of the opportunities that are currently available. A full listing is available at sevadaar.com.

8. Tell DARPAN Magazine more about how you utilize social media to connect volunteer efforts to the community?

We all know how big a role that social media plays in today's society and we want to connect to the entire community especially the youth. It is also important for our Sikh institutions to be relevant in today's age and take a modern approach. Reaching out to the youth is a big part of our initiative, we use facebook, Twitter, Email newsletters, and our website to try to reach out to a broader audience. We want our message to reach the entire community and to be more inclusive.

9. Is there a goal or plan of action to get more South Asians to participate in volunteerism?

In two months of management at the Gurdwara Sahib we have noticed that the enthusiasm for volunteerism is there. What we need is a united and organized effort to ensure that the community knows where the need is and we jump into action wherever needed. That is one of the reasons we have launched Sevadaar.com and to let South Asians and others (we have had volunteers come to the Gurdwara that are not South Asians) know what is available.

10. What are the biggest challenges faced by our community?

Empower the youth with education, pride, spirituality, activism, and strength to carry on the Sikh spirit. We need to move away from our divisions and move forward as a community, which recognizes its weaknesses and builds on its strengths.