BC Surrey Gurdwara elections- Analysis/outcome predictions?

[N30S1NGH]

So the BC surrey Gurdwara Elections are coming up tommorow, any veer here who can write their analysis on this whole election thingee? which party is there? whos going to win? what are the underlining issues with sikh youth slate committee and how come they are giving up? I heard Bikramjit Singh JI is quite good when it comes to handling gurdwaras, he has bought lot of positive results in sukh sagar- khalsa divan new westminister and other gurdwaras in BC. Whats happening with him? I heard he is not running anymore? Please confirm?

Can anyone write unbias analysis on the BC surrey Gurdwara committe and committe who are running for election?

[singhgsingh]

There are two slates running, the Sikh Youth Slate (http://votesikhyouth.ca/) and the Moderate Slate (http://bcmss.org/Home.html). The Sikh youth first won the election in 2008 but the Moderates led by Balwant Gill didn't want to lose power so they took the youth to court over some errors in paperwork. So another election was called in 2009, which a new Sikh Youth Slate (but still supported by the old one) won by 2/3 of the votes. There was overwhelming support for the Sikh Youth. The day of the elections in 2009 many kids with huge signs reading: Vote for our Future, Vote For Sikh Youth stood outside in the rain all day long. Many Kattar(strict) moderates called into the radio after and during the election and said that these kids have melted our hearts, when we had left home we had planned to vote for the Moderates but when we saw the kids standing in the rain and cold weather asking us to look at their future it hit our hearts. We were acting out of ego voting for the moderates just because of some petty issues like tables and chairs, we realized that Youth were the future and we need to protect our future so we voted for the Sikh Youth.

This years election:

It is a different Sikh Youth slate but it has the support of the old slate and there are 3 members from the old slate on the new slate. The president on the new slate was the Treasurer on the previous slate. The Sikh Youth have done a lot to improve the Gurdwara Sahib and the community. They have had many Smagams, seminars, camps, weekend programs etc. There have been many many amrit sanchars. When the moderates were in power for 13 years there was not even ONE AMRIT SANCHAR!! For a list of what the Sikh youth have done go to: http://www.gurunanakgurdwara.ca/cat_1/2010-2012-gnsg-program-recap

I can go on and on about what the good the youth have done and what the moderates did (basically nothing) while they were in power. But that will be pointless.

The moderates run on the platform of putting tables and chairs back in the langar hall, and putting thapars for those wanting to eat on the ground. The youth took away the tables and chairs but left some on the sides for the elderly and those that have physical problems. They also have some other points, most of which are good things, like making a gym, cleaning the gurdwara, following Akal Takhat Maryada etc. But the Youth is already doing all of these. The Youth already follow Akal Takhat Maryada. The youth is already doing construction and a gym is part of the plan.

The Sikh Youth have done so much in the past 3 years. It can't all be counted. I'll give my personal experience. I helped out with the Sikh Youth since the beginning From the first elections till now. Politics will always happen, but these guys are truly dedicated to doing parchar of Sikhi and Gurmat. Three main camps are held every year for kids. I've been lucky enough to do seva in every single one of them. Hundreds of kids come to these camps, they learn about Gurmat, they meet other Gursikh kids their age and they get to eat nice food and play games. How else do we keep kids away from gangs and drugs? Join them to the the religion and community. When they have good sangat they won't go to drugs and gangs.

One of the biggest accomplishments of the Sikh Youth is the Sunday Youth Darbar. This is one of the best programs ever to run in a Gurdwara. Both parents and the children come into the darbar and a little bit keertan,simran and katha in english is done. The darbar gets so packed that there isnt a place to sit when these darbars happen. I can speak from personal experience here again, my neighbors who are not into Sikhi at all and are the kind of family you wouldnt expect at the gurdwara go to these programs every week. My other neighbours who are radhasoamis also started going to these programs. Its not just the kids the parents come as well, and they learn as well.

There can be no mehma done of the Sikh Youth. They've brought the entire community together. This is a BIG Gurdwara and it has lots of media attention. Whenever something big happens in the world the media looks towards this Gurdwara for a statement, for a program. When tragedy in Haiti happened the entire community got together with the Gurdwara and raised money and sent sevadaars to Haiti. When the shooting at the Gurdwara in wisconsin happened the Gurdwara Sahib did collective simran and an Ardas for the victims, and raised money. The media all came to the Gurdwara that day. This Gurdwara is the centre of the Community. There are other Gurdwarai in the Surrey area, but this is the oldest and biggest and the one everyone looks to whenever something happens. If the Sikh Youth lose this election the Gurdwara will fall from the Panths hands.

So everyone in the Surrey area that is a member of the Gurdwara Sahib, don't be lazy, don't be worried about the cold and rain (and snow as it just started snowing here but who knows how long that will last) and go out VOTE FOR THE SIKH YOUTH!!

[N30S1NGH]

Great post singhg veer ji, hope sikh youth slate wins..what do you reckon? you think they will win like last time? or close call?

[singhgsingh]

Great post singhg veer ji, hope sikh youth slate wins..what do you reckon? you think they will win like last time? or close call?

In my opinion I think Sikh Youth have a good chance of winning as its clear to everyone what they have done in the past three years. However you never know what might happen. The Moderates have been spreading a lot of lies and rumours to and are misguiding innocent voters, but I am still confident the Panthic Slate will win. It will be a huge shock to them lose.

Elections are happening tomorrow 8 am to 8 pm at PM Secondary School all members are urged to go and vote for the Sikh Youth Slate led by Bhai Rajinder Singh.

Neo Singh about your question about Bhai Bikramjit Singh, he has done lots of seva not just in terms of being in committees but other seva including 5 Pyare seva. He is stepping down from his position as President and wants to focus on personal sikhi jeevan. He is still very involved in the campaign and elections.

[N30S1NGH]

Bhai Bikramjit Singh, he has done lots of seva not just in terms of being in committees but other seva including 5 Pyare seva. He is stepping down from his position as President and wants to focus on personal sikhi jeevan. He is still very involved in the campaign and elections.

I think its takes very strong character and gursikh character to quit a president job with authority on its own accord and be candid about it infront of sangat and say- this is it for me thats all i can offer as seva now its time for concentrating on personal sikhi jivan..i think we can all learn from him especially our elder generation power hungry president and committee members of gurdwaras.

[Only five]

Neo Singh about your question about Bhai Bikramjit Singh, he has done lots of seva not just in terms of being in committees but other seva including 5 Pyare seva. He is stepping down from his position as President and wants to focus on personal sikhi jeevan. He is still very involved in the campaign and elections.

Dead on! The moderates will make up lies about Bikramjit Singh ji, but he is stepping down because of personal Sikhi jeevan. Everyone wants Bikramjit Singh ji to be the president again, but everyone respects his decision.

If anyone hears any other stupid reason, then it is all lies. Just ignorant, arrogant, lies coming from old men and women that are hell bent on taking Gurdwara donated funds into their own hands and using them for personal use.

If you are worried about who will win, then do Chaupai Sahib the paath and do Ardas to Maharaj. :biggrin2:

This election has nothing to do with table and chairs, although the moderate slate wants to make it out this way. Doesn't matter if the Gurdwara has tables or no tables. The goal of every individuals (Sikh Youth) is to get Gurdwaras back into teaching Sikhi to those who needed it the most and implement a platform where the message can be communicated to the targeted sangat.

So if you see a Gurdwara that is abusing funds and it has no tables or chairs, then that does not mean nothing should be done about it. Actions should be put in place so the Gurdwara does not abuse funds, or does not abuse the sangat or stop it from any other misconduct it is committing.

[luckysingh99]

Thank you Singhg

That was very informative and useful for me.

I have only been here from UK for last couple of years and I've not really been to this Gurdwara much as I normally attend one near to where we live.

Because of these politics of elections and voting as it is a public gurdwara unlike most of the others here, I have also been inclined to not get too involved because as you know settling in takes a while.

However, what I did find surprising was that you may only vote if youare a paid member of the gurdwara!

I find this rather unusual because we never had such things back in UK where also the majority are public gurdwaras. Perhaps you could shed some light and explaination on this to help me and others understand a little better.

[singhgsingh]

Thank you Singhg

That was very informative and useful for me.

I have only been here from UK for last couple of years and I've not really been to this Gurdwara much as I normally attend one near to where we live.

Because of these politics of elections and voting as it is a public gurdwara unlike most of the others here, I have also been inclined to not get too involved because as you know settling in takes a while.

However, what I did find surprising was that you may only vote if youare a paid member of the gurdwara!

I find this rather unusual because we never had such things back in UK where also the majority are public gurdwaras. Perhaps you could shed some light and explaination on this to help me and others understand a little better.

The membership fee was introduced by the Moderates for God knows what.

The Singhs have kept it now to pay for Construction of the Gurdwara. A lot of money is needed to pay for the construction of the Gurdwara. After the Singhs took control of the Gurdwara the Sangat grew so large that a bigger Darbar was needed!

[lsingh]

I find the term 'moderate' that is used in Canda quite strange. Are these the Congress, Communist/Atheist types that are not interested in Sikhi and more interested in their business interest and working for India?

[GPS]

Most of these moderates are old timers. They were of the view that sitting for langar on ground is outdated practice

and since they wear suits and neckties it is below their status to sit in a pangat. Hence they called them as moderates

and termed traditional sikhs as radicals.

I have seen some of these moderates in BC visiting Gurudawara sahibs bare headed for matha tek.They also prefer

not to take parsad as that seems to be below their diginty and sit in diwan hall bare headed. These shameless creatures

are mostly ex communists and atheists who attend Gurudawara sahib for langar.