Singapore Khalsa Association (SKA) Hosts Inaugural National Day Dialogue

Singapore

The Singapore Khalsa Association (SKA) Hosts Inaugural National Day Dialogue: On 6 September 2025, the Singapore Khalsa Association (SKA), in collaboration with the Young Sikh Association (YSA), the Sikh Advisory Board (SAB), and the Singapore Sikh Education Foundation (SSEF), hosted its first-ever Community Dialogue under the National Day Dialogue 2025 series. Themed “SG60: The Sikh Community – Yesterday | Today | Tomorrow”, the event drew about 80 participants, including students, Sikh institution leaders, and community members, to reflect on the past, assess present challenges, and envision the future.

The dialogue was graced by Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Manpower, as the Guest of Honour.

A Platform for Intergenerational Voices

The afternoon featured group discussions on the Sikh community’s contributions to Singapore, its evolving priorities, and aspirations for the decades ahead. Participants later presented their ideas directly to the Minister of State, who also engaged in an open dialogue with youth and community representatives.

A symbolic moment came when the Sikh community presented Mr Dinesh with a Saropa (shawl), a gesture of honour and respect. The event concluded with a tea reception, offering attendees a warm, inclusive space for networking and idea-sharing.

Youth Concerns Take Center Stage

One of the most compelling discussions highlighted the educational challenges Sikh youth face. Mr Rohanveer Singh, a 17-year-old student, shared his experience:

“I have to take a third language. I have 5 hours of extra language classes every week,” he said, explaining how Punjabi’s absence as a Higher Mother Tongue Language (HMTL) subject at O Levels prevents Sikh students from earning bonus points for top junior college applications.

Others raised concerns that Punjabi is also not offered as a core subject in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Singapore schools, limiting education pathways for students studying the language.

Acknowledging Challenges, Building the Future

Minister Dinesh acknowledged these concerns, praising the Sikh community’s deep-rooted contributions:

“I find the Sikh community one that’s very much forward-looking, very passionate in what you do. The sense of service is strong within the Sikh community, and you are very well represented in terms of sports, legal, political and civil service.”

He encouraged the community to involve youth voices in shaping its future:

“Young people will have a very different lived experience and worldview. Listening to them will help us form a stronger social compact for the long run.”

Preserving Traditions, Encouraging Role Models

The SAB introduced a creative “Bank, Bin & Garage” workshop model, urging participants to preserve valuable traditions, discard outdated practices, and rework initiatives for the future.

Key takeaways included preserving the community’s strong religious presence, improving coordination of major events like Vesakhi celebrations, and nurturing new public role models for younger generations.

Community elder Dr Sorinder Singh, co-founder of the Sikh Welfare Council (SIWEC), observed that the community’s needs are evolving:

“As people get older, caretaking and depression become issues. The elderly feel more isolated, so we must find ways to keep them socially engaged.”

Lawyer Ms Simran Toor emphasized the need for younger role models, noting that while the community has prominent figures like Mr Davinder Singh and Dr Kanwaljit Soin, new voices must step up to inspire the youth.

A Milestone in Community Building

YSA president Mr Harishpal Singh praised the dialogue’s inclusive nature:

“Past dialogues involved either students or institution heads only, but this session successfully brought everyone together to find common ground.”

Preserving Traditions, Encouraging Role Models

The SAB introduced a creative “Bank, Bin & Garage” workshop model, urging participants to preserve valuable traditions, discard outdated practices, and rework initiatives for the future.

Key takeaways included preserving the community’s strong religious presence, improving coordination of major events like Vesakhi celebrations, and nurturing new public role models for younger generations.

Community elders emphasized that while basic needs remain constant, evolving issues such as caretaking, depression, and elderly isolation must be addressed through stronger social engagement. At the same time, participants underlined the importance of showcasing younger role models to inspire the next generation, alongside established leaders in the Sikh community.

A Milestone in Community Building

The event marked a milestone for SKA in bringing together students, leaders, and members of the community in a truly intergenerational dialogue. Unlike past forums that involved only select groups, this inclusive session allowed participants from different backgrounds to exchange opinions and find common ground.

This inaugural National Day Dialogue, hosted on 6 September 2025, stands as a significant step in community engagement. It showcased the Sikh community’s resilience, its commitment to inclusivity, and its determination to contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s social harmony as the nation marks SG60.