By Zile Singh
On the auspicious occasion of Sri Guru Nanak’s 554th birthday, the Khalsa Diwan Society, Ross Street, Vancouver organized the first-ever poetry recital program on November 25 from 6 to 8 pm.
The following poets participated: Amrik Lehal, Amrik Sangha, Dr. Gurbax Sidhu, Harmohan Singh, Joginder Sunner, Kuldip Jagpal, Mohan Gill, Pritpal Gill, Palwinder Randhawa, Rajinder Pandher, Surinder Jabal, Surjit Madhopuri, and Zile Singh.
Mr. Joginder Sunner, General Secretary, KDS managed the stage gracefully. The poets, in their own way, highlighted the message of love, logic, and equality of the first Sikh Guru. Guru Nanak came to this world at a time when society was dominated by the dogmatic and superstitious atmosphere of the local religions and the tyrannical treatment of the invaders.
Guru Nanak showed a different path for the benefit of mankind. Befitting the occasion, it is important to tell that Nanak himself was a poet and a singer par excellence. He delivered his message through singing. Let us see what Guru Nanak did as a poet.
Nanak, as a poet captured the essence of the world and society in his own unique manner and reflected it with the use of masterful words to be understood by all. He also meditated on internal emotions, including joy, sadness, fear, hope as well as any other feelings. In addition, Nanak forced his audience and readers to assess life at a deeper and more meaningful level which adds a new dimension to life.
He exhorted man to lift himself above all undue rites, rituals, class, caste, and gender. Poetry, like any other form of artistic creation, is one of the pillars of humanity. Better still, it shapes the human mind and soul. Like art, poetry does not have reason, nor grammar. Poetry is omnipresent. A quatrain from my upcoming book of poetry:-
We walk, we talk, we read, or we write.
We weep, we sleep, or even if we fight.
Flower, plant, grass, and a swaying tree.
Stand, and stare, it is nothing but poetry.
This article will be incomplete without mentioning Khalsa Diwan Societ’s contributions? The Khalsa Diwan Society founded in July 1902, was formally established in 1906. In 1908 it built the first Gurudwara in North America at 1866 West, 2nd Avenue, Vancouver.
Keeping in view the space, the Gurudwara shifted into a made-to-order architecture- savoy building at 8000 Ross Street, Vancouver on Vaisakhi Day, 1970. Since then, it has remained a combination of poetry and prose. Prose in the sense that it was instrumental in fighting for the basic fundamental and human rights of South Asians in Canada. For this, man and material were put at stake. As for poetry, the singing of scriptural hymns from the holy book of Sikhs is a daily affair. Trials and tribulations of over a century have resulted in day- today’s celebrations.
The participating poets were presented with an insignia of the Gurudwara by Mr. Kuldip Singh Thandi, President of KDS and his team.
Finally, as a befitting tribute to Guru Nanak, it is important to remember Guru Nanak as if he is among us today and not as he was more than five hundred years before. Let us evaluate how much we have imbibed his message in our personal life and let us ask ourselves how humble, logical, and equal society we have created.
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