To All
My Gur Fateh
I have been reading posts regarding the school mela and would like to clarify a few misleading assumptions:
1. The schoolmela has been running for two years now and all singers are vetted before hand on what type of songs are being sung on the stage.
2. The mela is very much a family day out and if you watch the video from last years mela you will note clearly that the people sitting and listening are not your typical gig or clubs attenders. There is funfair and other school stalls. This year the RAF/Royal Navy/Army and Sikh Police unit had stands inc Helicopter on-site.
3. There was last year and this year strict control over intoxications. No one under the influence of alcohol got into the mela. If you wish to see evidence of this please feel free to call hillingdon police and they will be more then happy to verify this. We did see attempts being made by some people under the drink influence at the gate but the security personal did not allow them in.
4. There was no meat on site and all stalls were very much health and sports related. Some stalls were selling clothes and other items of decorations.
5. The khalistan crew had their stand selling videos associated with the 1984 events.
6. The morning session of the programme was dedicated to the Shaheedi of Guru Arjun Dev Ji. The school children performed Kirtan and the Dadhi Jatha were also on stage after the children.
7. Children from india also performed Bhangra.
The Guru Nanak Sikh school has gone from strength to strength with respect to education and installing the basics of Sikhi in children. The government has recognised this and this has been seen by the very fact that they have granted 16million pounds for a new school to be built. The primary school is ready. What the council has said is that the school must raise 10% of the grant and the sole purpose of the mela is to raise this 1.6 million.
Guru Nanak Sikh school is not just a religious institution it also gives a great education and sense of culture to the children. The parents are very much involved in the school and their efforts are seen in the setting up of such events as the mela. The local businesses sponsor the event with huge financial donations and see this school as the icon of the local community. The results prove the success.
If you feel that there is some wrong doing please come to the school and have a chat - we are all one and concerns should be raised but being vocal on forums with the facts can be misleading and lead to misconceptions and eventual arguments which could be avoided simply by talking.
If i have said anything wrong please forgive.
Gur Fateh
Manmukh
