Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle ( AP Unit) Annual Report Oct 2008 - Sept 2009

The AP unit of GURU GOBIND SINGH STUDY CIRCLE carried out a number of activities during the period Oct.2008 to Sept.2009 under the dynamic leadership of S.Hazur Singh ji (President) and the team members which included Col.R.S.UPPAL, S.Mohinder Singh,S.D.B.Singh, Dr. M.S.Bhalla, Dr (Mrs.) J.K.Bhalla, S. Surjit Singh Oberai, S.Harcharan Singh , S,Gurmeet Singh ,Bawa Baljit Singh and Dr. Balbir Singh Sukhija.

The main activities included:

1. Preparation of a Quiz Booklet on Guru Granth Sahib
2. Organization of a Kirtan Darbar on the new year eve of 2009
3. Organization of a Quiz Competition On Sri Guru Granth Sahib
4. Organization of Summer Gurmat Camps
5. Conducting of Gurmat Mukabala
6. Participation in Gurbani Kanth Mukabala

Preparation of a Quiz Booklet ( Oct 2008-Nov 2008)

Keeping in view of the 300 years Celebrations of the Gurta-Gaddi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, very sincere efforts were made to bring out a Quiz Booklet containing questions and answers .The Booklet was targeted to cater the needs of students so that they know why Sri Guru Granth is so valuable to humanity in general and to Sikhs in particular. A large number( about 450) of questions and answers we
re prepared initially and later from them about 275 were selected. The different topics included were 1) General Compilation of Guru Granth Sahib and Historical prespective,2) Its main theme, purpose and philosophy 3)Main Banis , 4)Raags ,5)Gurmat Concepts like Naam, SatSang, Langar, Ardas, Hukam, Humai, Jeevan Mukat, etc 6)contributions of Bhagats and other Banikars and their main significance of their Banis. This Booklet was finally printed by the AP unit in Nov.2008.

Organisation of a Kirtan Darbar on the New year Eve (2009)

The AP unit of the Study Circle has been organizing a Kirtan Darbar for almost a decade on the eve of every new year. The main purpose or the objective of this activity was to provide an opportunity to celebrate new year together by listening to Kirtan of one or two top Raagi Jathas of the country besides the local talent and at the same time prevent the Sikhs not to indulge in drinking and other such activities generally associated with the new year celebrations by providing them with a better alternative . This effort of the Study Circle is financially fully self-supported has been greatly appreciated . The Annual Kirtan Darbar is extremely popular with young and old generations alike and is attended by a very large number.

Organization of a Quiz Competition on Sri Guru Granth Sahib ( Jan 2009 )

A quiz competiton was conducted in collaboration with the Prabandhak Committee of Gurudwara Sahib Secundrabad during the Pongal ( Lohri) holidays in Jan 2009. The students ( Boys and Girls) aged from 12 years to 25 years were enrolled from different parts of the twin cities. Booklets containing the questions and answers especially printed for the purpose were given to the participants for preparation about a month and half before the competition .A great effort was made to enroll a large number of participants and more than 250 students registered for the quiz. About 33 teams ( 200 participants ) each comprising of six members finally participated. Participants were encouraged to make their own teams. Elaborate arrangements were made to display the questions by power point slides, and selection of questions , randomly for each team ,proper judgment by competent and patient judges who would listen to the answers from each and every participant and later award the marks. A very special feature of the quiz conducted was that it provided opportunity to each and every participant to answer at least one question each. Thus the quiz conducted by the AP unit is different than generally conducted which generally encourage a few bright students. Here emphasis was on the participation of all. The best three teams were selected and they were given the Prizes of Rs 6000/ for the best team and Rs5000/for the second and Rs 3000/-for the third position by the AP unit of the Study Circle. The Parbandhak Committee of the Gurudwara Sahib Secundrabad was gracious enough to provide the participation prizes to all the participants. The Quiz competition was a grand success and we have aleady a request from the Ladies to exclusively organize such an event for them.

Organization of Summer Gurmat Camps ( April –May 2009)

The AP unit of the Study circle , by conducting several Gurmat Camps over the years have inspired the children as well as the Management Committees of Gurudwaras to organize Gurmat camps during Summer holidays. The camps were organized in both Hyderabad and Secundrabad Gurudwaras , providing benefit to about three hundred children. The study circle played the pivotal role of conducting the Gurmat camps by way of providing the syllabus, time table , placing of students in different classes as per their capabilities, , supervision of the teachers and students in the classes, conducting examinations and preparation of the results . However all the expenditure for the camps was borne by the Gurudwaras. The camps laid emphasis on teaching Gurumukhi, , Gurmat Concepts, Sikh history, Kirtan, dastar-bandi and even Gatka. The students were divided in to different classes (and stage 1 or 2 ) according age group (Primary, Junior, Middle and Senior ) and their knowledge of Gurmukhi and Gurmat. The main outcome of the Gurmat camps was that at least 200 new children learnt Gurumukhi,apart from strengthening the knowledge of Gurmat for 200 students who have been attending such camps for last two or three years.

Many children learnt Ardas, and some others were oriented to reciting of GURU GRANTH SAHIB, some learnt Kirtan ,Dastar-Bandi and Gatka. The children and their parents look forward to the camps which in fact need to be organized more frequently .

Conducting of Gurmat Mukabala 2009 (July –August 2009)

The Kesh Sambhal Sanstha, Amritsar and New Delhi requested for conducting a Gurumat Mukabala 2009 at Hyderabad , rather at a short notice of one and half month.

The Mukabla is on the national level and attractative prizes are offered and the students are divided in to different categories depending on their educational levels. The examination syllabus included the Books supplied by the Sanstha . At Hyderabad , we registered about 65 students for the examination and 50percent appeared for the exam in different categories. The results of the of the first round of about 7000 students at the national have been declared and we are pleased to know that two of our participants have made to the top 10percent. This provides some satisfaction to the members of the Study Circle.

Participation in the selection of participants for Gurbani Kanth Mukabla (300 Saal Gurbani Kanth the Naal) being organized by Bhai Guriqbal Singh Ji .

Drawing inspiration from the above National program, a large number of children participated for the selection in the mukabla. The management committees of both ( Hyderabad and Secundrabad ) Gurudwaras encouraged the children by giving them prizes for the Gurbani Kanth . The Study Circle was responsible for motivating the children for this important national programme and organizing the selection of the children by competent judges.