The role of Sikhs in todays society was highlighted on the 9th April at the Ramada Hotel Sutton Coldfield as Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street brought together dignitaries, public figures, entrepreneurs faith leaders and community champions to celebrate Vaisakhi.
In the beautiful Ramada Hotel, formerly Penns Hall hotel and the location for Crossroads, the gathered group included former Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Paul Sabapathy CVO CBE, Deputy Lieutenants Satinder and Jagjit Taunque as well as Ninder Johal, and representation from a number of faith leaders from across the city.
The actual date of the Sikh Festival is the 13th April, although this year it is to be celebrated in Birmingham by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham (CSGB) on the 29th April, and is expected to draw over 100,000 people from around the region and beyond, culminating in a large open air community celebration open to all in Handsworth Park.
After recently opening it’s Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies, Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar from The University of Wolverhampton spoke passionately about the history of Vaisakhi, and also more information about the 5 K’s.
Vaisakhi is the holiest day in the Sikh faiths calendar. It marks the ceremony in 1699 when on the first day of the month of Vaisakh, the tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj created the order of the Khalsa. On this day, the Panj Pyare (the 5 beloved ones) came forward to offer their heads to their Guru. The Amrit ceremony marked their “rebirth” as the first of a new order.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave them an identity (Five Kakar), a strong sense of self-discipline and a moral code of conduct. The combined code of conduct made them Saint Soldiers with a commitment to defend faith and the oppressed.
“What I’ve learned over the last few years since standing as Mayor, is that the Sikh community is numerous, nearly 150,000 across the region, and the contribution made is incredible across business, professions, the health service, and education,” beamed Andy Street.
“What you do to set the standards for larger society. If I look at the values that you profess, they are the values that I hope are shaping the West Midlands society as we build it. This is seen so clearly at every Gurdwara, and in Langar, with Midland Langar Seva Society, and Langar Aid being seen in day to day life by everyone.”
This year also marks 100 years since the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on the same date, the 13th April, an atrocity recognised by Andy Street, who called upon the government to issue an apology for what happened following his visit to Amritsar back in October.
“It is my honour to have drawn everyone together tonight. Thank you for making one of the things I said I would do when I was elected Mayor possible. I said that I would be Mayor for ALL communities, whether they voted for me or not, but I am a firm believer that this role has to unite everyone in the West Midlands, and the Sikh community above all communities has come forward and said lets work together in that spirit.”
Ninder Johal DL also spoke of his upbringing as a very “different” child at school to all of his classmates. “I didn’t change my beliefs, or my name and I’m glad. As I grew up being a Sikh began to become more acceptable, and I suddenly realised that the Turban was a massive asset and a competitive advantage in Business, as people regard Sikhs as those with integrity, authenticity and trust.
“Sikhs are entrepreneurs, in engineering, hospitality, and in the highest levels in professions such as health, accountancy and construction. The UK is now a multicultural society where how you look, the colour of your skin, or how you spell your name no longer matters.”
“All of you should be proud of what you have achieved in the past, what you have achieved today, and what you are going to achieve tomorrow, for your children, the younger generation and the UK.”
And in the spirit of celebration, it couldn’t have been put better.
