Students Personality Development Camp - Yol, Kangra, Himachal

Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Himachal State organized a three day camp in the beautiful foothills of Himalyan Mountain series Yol Cantt. (Distt. Kangra), Near Dharamshala. This camp was at Gurdwara Sahib, YOL (Young Officers Learning place, a cantonment of English men times) with the co-operation of Ropar Nawan Shahar Zone from Friday, 25 May to Sunday, 27 May, 2012.

H.P. State Organiser, S.Parvinder Singh worked very hard to make the camp a success. In this Students Personality Development Camp about 35 students of Primary, Middle, Senior School and College level participated from mainly nearby areas of Yol Cantt. At the very outset, there was a slide/film show on big screen depicting Sikh history and tenets in the show named: “Peerhan de Panghure Palya Panth”. This show depicted atrocities of contemporary governments on Sikhs including ’84 carnage. Tips on how to develop personality was revised very well by Mr. Harmohinder Singh Nangal. Dr. Jaspreet Kaur from YOL made the students aware of History and teaching of the Ten Great Masters (Das Guru Sahibans).

One of the attractions of the camp was on the spot Question-Answer Game named as GHOLU wherein prizes were given on the spot to the right answer giver. In this game, children are made to sit in a big circle in a playground and a toy (eddy etc.) is given to one of the students. He passes the same to next while background music is on and passing of toy next to next goes on until music stops. Wherever music stops, a question is put up to the Gholu (toy) holder and after answer/explanation and on the spot prize, the music starts again and so on. Topic of Prominent Sikh Martyrs was shared with the students by S.Harjeet Singh, Nangal Dam. Main Objectives and Learning from Shri Guru Granth Sahib were shared by S.Tejinder Singh Khizrabadi. In the afternoon session there was Bal Kavi Darbar. Many tiny tots showed their talent by reciting poems from Sikh history and against common social evils. Highlighting the “Role of Sikh Women in today’s time” by Khizrabadi touched many hearts as was evident from Camp Review Session at the end.

3rd day, Another attraction of the camp was a Quiz comprising of 3 rounds among 4 teams of 4 equal level students each. They were put to questions from Sikh History, Gurbani, Sikh Philosophy and Sikh Rehat Maryada. Audio Visuals and MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) were shown on big screen before all the Sadh Sangat which sangat liked very much. There were two prizes. 1st and the Runner-up. Teams performed very well with a very close fight. As such, all the participants and answering representatives from general sangat were also honored adequately. Before quiz competition, Sikh Marshal Art – GATKA performance was shown very well by Little kids S.Gurharpreet Singh and S.Brahmjot Singh specially invited from Nangal Dam for this show. They also tried to give live tips and trained their fellow campers at YOL in this special art of self defence. YOL Gurdwara Committee President S.Jagjit Singh (Jiyaji), S.Parvinder Singh, S.Inder Pal Singh, Dr.Jaspreet Kaur, S.Khushwinder Singh and other Gupat Sewadars whose name could not be noted were also present for various sewa karaj during the Camp. Students and Sadh Sangat enjoyed all the sessions particularly Nitnem in the evening by chanting jointly in Sadh Sangat roop.

This was a day boarding camp as there were challenges on night stay arrangements to accommodate all the students/campers. Certificates were given to all the participants. Getting inspiration from the teachings of Gurmat taught and revised during the camp and last session of an animated movie of Bhai Taru Singh, 6 students from this little town, showed their willingness to get baptized (Amrit Chhakna). Gurdwara Committee was requested to make necessary arrangements for fulfilling their this pious and keen desire. “Mera Sir Jaavetaan Jaave, Mera Sikhi Sidak Na Jaave”. These inspired campers were called on to the dias and were honored. Camp dispersed with a prayer of thanks and welfare of all (Sarbat da Bhalla) before Guru Sahib with the hope to meet again.