The cultural wing of India's Ministry of External Affairs, alongside Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) organised a visit to three Sikh Takhts and a seminar on the teachings of the founder of Sikhism in New Delhi. About 40 international Sikh youth and representatives from 12 countries including the UK and 20 young people from India participated in the seminar that focused on teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Councillor Charan Sekhon, Chairman of SEVA Trust UK, Councillor Gurjit Kaur Bains, Connect with Yours Roots, Coordinator Vinny Singh Khera and CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council Gurvinder Sandher were among the UK delegates at this seminar.
After the seminar, the delegates visited the Rashtrapati Bhawan and met with the President of India Ram Nath Kovind. It was followed by a visit to the three Sikh Takhts- Patna Sahib in Patna (Bihar), Golden Temple in Amritsar (Punjab) and Hazur Saheb in Nanded (Maharashtra). The closing session of the seminar was held in New Delhi and was led by Mr Hardeep Singh Puri, Cabinet Minster in Indian Govt.
“It was a great initiative by the Indian Government and the High Commission of India, London to enable all of us to be part of this spiritual and learning experience through a shared global platform. All representatives are really active in their own countries through voluntary, community activities and Seva and some of the participants never visited India before.” said Cllr Charan Sekhon who heads SEVA Trust UK, an international NGO working in the UK and India on Education, Health and Environment.
The seminar was inaugurated by ICCR president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Padma Shri Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and ICCR Director General Akhilesh Mishra. Member of the National Commission for Minorities Manjit Singh Rai, Lt General PJS Pannu, President of Rashtriya Sikh Sangat Mr GS Gill, Kamal Soi, Member of the National Road Safety Council, Sukhpreet Kaur, Dr Surjit Kaur Jolly and Namrata Kumar, Deputy Director ICCRE were among the moderators and speakers at the seminar.
