Washington:
India’s ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said Khalsa is a “unifying and not a dividing force” days after acts of violence at the Indian missions by a small group of pro-Khalistan supporters.
Mr Sandhu, who hails from an illustrious Sikh family, made the comments Saturday at an event where he was awarded the prestigious “Sikh Hero Award” by Sikhs of America along with several other prominent Sikh Americans.
“Khalsa, which was created on Baisakhi Day by Guru Gobind Singh, is a unifying and not a dividing force,” Mr Sandhu said in his keynote address at the event, which was attended by leading Sikh Americans from across the country .
The Khalsa tradition was initiated in 1699 by the tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh.
Happy with the Hero Award from Sikhs of America. Spoke about imp principles of Sikhism: seva, brotherhood, equality, inclusion and fairness.
Emphasizes the strengthening of 🇺🇸 🇮🇳 p’ship & tech/infra transformation taking place in India & huge opportunities for the youth. pic.twitter.com/octAi2ZNTU
– Taranjit Singh Sandhu (@SandhuTaranjitS) April 9, 2023
The important concepts and tenets in Sikh religion and history include universality, unity, equality, fair living, seva, meditation, peace of mind and harmony among people, he said.
The Khalsa flag — which flies at the Akal Takht and Nishan Sahibs — is a flag of unity, peace and universal love, said the Indian diplomat, who claimed Sikhism is a religion of inclusion, brotherhood, love, equality and depth. “We should keep in mind these cardinal virtues and not what a few mischievous characters spin using virtual media,” Singh said in a clear reference to the incidents of violence by a small group of separatists in the US, Canada, UK and Australia . .
In his speech, Mr. Sandhu shared with the Sikh community India’s rise and some of the country’s key achievements in key sectors of economy, digitalisation, health and entrepreneurship.
“In such a scenario, Punjab and the youth of Punjab should be connected with the economic, financial, technical and digital revolution taking place in India,” said Sandhu.
“The government, the people and especially the youth should benefit from the expanding partnership with the US in various areas that Prime Minister Modi and President Biden are trying to establish,” he said.
Noting that young people and their parents are spending millions of dollars to send their children to the US and Canada, Sandhu said that the new education policies that have been put in place and the Prime Minister’s efforts will ensure that such education is available in India as well as Punjab .
“Delighted to receive the Hero Award from Sikhs of America. Spoke about imp principles of Sikhism: seva, brotherhood, equality, inclusion and fairness,” Sandhu said in a tweet after the event. “Highlighted the strengthening of the US-India partnership and the transformation of technology and infrastructure taking place in India and the tremendous opportunity for the youth,” he tweeted.
In his welcome address, Jasdip Singh Jassee, President of Sikhs of America, emphasized the role winners play in their respective fields. He said violence has no place in society.
Others who received the prestigious “Sikh Hero Award” included entrepreneur and philanthropist Darshan Singh Dhaliwal; Gurbir Singh Grewal, former New Jersey Attorney General; former mayor of Hoboken, Ravi Singh Bhalla, and entrepreneur Manraj Singh Kahlon. Sikh police officer Sandeep Dhaliwal also received the award posthumously.