The Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Executive Committee led by the truly exemplary Sikh Bikramjit Singh Sandher has decided not to run for re-election in the upcoming Gurdwara Elections this December, setting an example that Gurdwara leadership is truly about serving the Sikh community and not an attempt to CONTROL TEMPLES like many other Sikh and so-called moderate Sikh slates have done and continue to do! “The Youth Committee has done all it set out to do and more. We served the Sangat to our fullest, before we came into the Executive Committee, we served to our fullest while in the Committee and will continue serving to our fullest after this Committee as Sevadaars,” said outgoing president Sandher.
By R. Paul Dhillon
SURREY – The Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Executive Committee led by the truly exemplary Sikh Bikramjit Singh Sandher has decided not to run for re-election in the upcoming Gurdwara Elections this December, setting an example that Gurdwara leadership is truly about serving the Sikh community and not an attempt to control temples like many other so-called Sikh and moderate Sikh slates have done and continue to do!
The Sikh Youth Executive Committee that is currently serving at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Surrey Delta, recently made what they and many of their supporters are calling “a historical decision not to run for re-election in this year’s Gurdwara Election.”
The youth committee, led by Sandhar, announced this decision in a recent volunteer meeting at the Gurdwara and when asked for the reason not to run, Sandher stated “..the Youth Committee has done all it set out to do and more. We served the Sangat to our fullest, before we came into the Executive Committee, we served to our fullest while in the Committee and will continue serving to our fullest after this Committee as Sevadaars.”
Although many of their supporters and volunteers were not happy that the progressive Sikh youth group, which in a very short time has made so much progress and has truly changed the shape and culture of the Gurdwara to reflect the true Sikh spirit, has decided not to run again but they understand that this is yet another act of selflessness on the part of Sandher and his team and serves as a great example of what other so-called Sikh leaders should be doing.
Sources from inside the loosely held Sikh youth alliance tell the LINK that Sandher and his committee had received opposition from within and instead of creating more slates for the upcoming election, which will again pit the youth group against Balwant Gill moderates, Sandher and his team decided to step aside so others can serve the Sikh sangat.
When asked by volunteers about the significance of this decision, the current Gurdwara Sahib Committee, expressed that last leadership (Balwant Gill and his cronies) ran the Gurdwara Sahib for 12 years and “we are setting an example that serving at the Gurdwara Sahib is a privilege and we were honoured that we were chosen 3 years ago and will complete our term.
“Our term at the Gurdwara has brought many new programs and services to the Gurdwara and the entire Community has benefited, especially the youth” stated Gursimran Kaur, the youngest Executive Member at 22 years. “The Gurdwara construction project wasn’t even part of the mandate 3 years ago, but when we saw the issues with the current building and the hindrance it had on programs, we knew immediately we had to do something. We then asked the Sangat for options and with the support of the Sangat, a new Master Plan that plans out the buildings for the next 50 years was developed and the first phase of the construction project is currently underway. The Sangat can now choose to bring forward new Sikhs from all ages and backgrounds to take this leadership role at this Gurdwara.”
The Executive Committee is currently in charge of the Gurdwara until December 31st 2012 and has also stated that it will not only transition a new replacement committee but also ensure that it assists the new committee in the programs and services, in 2013 and beyond, especially the construction project and the new Punjabi School and youth programs.
