By Zile Singh

“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”

Founded in 1977, the Sunset Indo-Canadian Seniors’ Society is perhaps the oldest society of seniors in the region. It not only wears the tag of “the oldest” but the society is non-political, non-profit, and secular in nature. It upholds the lived experiences of almost all professions of life, whether it is farming, teaching, law, banking, business, and industrial services.  The Society meets every Thursday.

Last Thursday of each month is celebrated as “Seniors’ Birthdays.”  falling during the month.  This week the birthdays of Mr. Satwinder Singh Kemoh, Mr. Harbhajan Singh Jagpal, Raghbir Singh Kular and Mr. Gurdeep Singh Mann were celebrated. They were duly garlanded.A tea party was arranged in their honour. 

This week’s other highlights were the observance of Guru Gaddi Diwas of Guru Har Rai, and the MartyrdomDay of Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru, and Sukhdev. They were hanged to death in the Lahore conspiracy case on March 23, 1931. To start with, Gen. Secretary Surjit Minhas told the audience about the martyrdom of SubegSingh and his son Sehbaz Singh in 1745 in Lahore when they refused to convert to Islam.  Dr. Jagjit Singh, a prominent Sikh scholar,mentioned that Guru Har Rai was an environmentalist. Therefore it is our duty to protect the environment to save our future generations from the scourge of environmental degradation. He talked about the food and water wastages also. He cited a survey by the UBC of one Gurughar in Surrey where tonnes of food go in waste on a monthly basis.  Speakers recited poetry on Sardar Bhagat Singh. Manjit Dhillon recited his father’s patriotic poetry.  Mr. Mukhtiar Boparai, Vice President spoke about the struggle of farmers in Punjab.  Mr. Rajinder Singh Pandher shed light on the deteriorating political culture in Punjab. Mr. Joginder Sunner spoke about his recent visit to Punjab.  He expressed concern about the way Christianity is spreading in Punjab, especially in Gurdaspur region. Mr.Tarlok Arshi, Mr. Surjit Bhatti, Jaswinder Bajwa, DineshMalhotra, Avatar Singh, Mr. Gurpal Pandher, Kuldip Jagpal, Sheetal Dosanjh and Gurnam Khangura spoke about the Shahidi divas and importance of good values in life.  Mr. Ajant Singh Sandhu briefed the seniors on current national and international affairs.

Mr. Zile Singh, the Public Relations Director spoke about Bhagat Singh’s views on religion and creation of a harmonious society without any discrimination. It is important to note that Bhagat Singh fought for the freedom of India not as a Hindu, a Muslim, a Sikh, or a Christian, but as an Atheist.His last words were “Stay Together”.  One of his famous quotes, “Revolution is an inalienable right of mankind”. Finally, let us all be brave enough to die the death of a martyr but let no one lust for martyrdom dying in a road accident in inebriated condition or spreading violence in the name of religion or some other vested interest.   The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies, and his rule begins. It is the cause, not the death, that makes the martyr.

About the food wastage, Mr. Singh said that we eat at least 15 to 20 per cent more than our stomach needs for a healthy living.  We overeat.  Attract ailments and become a burden on health care.  It is more harmful than food going in the gutter.  

Zile Singh is a well respected Columnist, Writer and a Vipassana Meditater. He has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Rights.  He can be reached at zsnirwal@yahoo.ca