In earlier times, Sikhs remained true to the teachings of Sikhism and held a firm and undying faith in the rules of Sikhism, which was the secret of their success in whatever they did, feels Kirpal Singh, vice-president of Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia, Penang.
Singh stated that “Whatever they did — whether they were watchmen or milkmen, they were successful because they practiced the teachings of Sikhism.
"Being responsible and accountable for your actions, sharing and caring for everyone and everything around you, living honestly and being grateful for God’s blessings — these religious philosophies led to their success despite the fact that they were a small community.”
However, the younger generation of Sikhs seems to be ashamed of their Sikh identity most probably under the influence of social ills, Bollywood films and peer pressure. So, they are dropping Singh and Kaur from their names to become a part of today’s hip-hop culture.
“These days, about 80% of the youths don’t wear turbans. Some even start adopting Christian names and even drop the Singh or Kaur from their names thinking that they will be more hip and more acceptable to the community at large,” Singh added.
To inspire and guide the Sikh youth, the Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia had recently organized the Vaisakhi Fest 2009 and will organize a fellowship camp later this month to help Sikh youth come back to their roots.
