Annual General Meeting Saturday 5 th May 2007

Press Release

Annual General Meeting Saturday 5 th May 2007

1. The ISC came into being on 13 Nov as a result of a Resolution passed on that day by an International Convention of Sikh scholars and thinkers gathered at Gurdwara Sahib, Kanthala at Chandigarh.

2. The first AGM was held on 09 April 06 at the Auditorium of Shivalik Public School, Mohali. HQ of the ISC is located at the address given above in Sector 28/A, Chandigarh.

3. The ISC is holding its second AGM today (5 th May 2007) in the same location as last year. Over two hundred members from Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and others places are attending the AGM.

4. Presentations were made by Chairmen of all five Advisory Councils of ISC namely:-

(a) Religious Affairs: Giani Harinder Singh, President Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha.

(b) Education and Social Affairs – Dr Sardara Singh Johl, former VC Punjabi University and former Dy Chairman Punjab Planning Board.

(d) International and Legal Affairs – Dr Gurmit Singh, Advocate M S Rahi.

(e) Media Publication and Public Relation - Dr Charan Kamal Singh, Sect. Gen Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle.

5. All subjects were totally debated by the audience. Excellent projects were presented and approved. Some highlights of projects planned are.

(a) Rural Education: The ISC has already sent detailed letters to the Punjab Government

(CM and Governor) in Dec 06 highlighting the major deficiencies in education infrastructure and actual teaching in rural Govt. Primary and Secondary Schools along with detailed suggested remedies.

(b) ISC Rural Projects: We plan to start two coaching centres to prepare selected class XI and XII students for various competitions for entry into professional institutions. These are located at Mukandpur in Distt Nawanshar. Our allied organization, Gian Sewa Trust, Delhi has already started coaching centres at Nawanshahr and Khadoor Sahib.

(c) ISC Long Term Education Plan: is to strengthen the rural Middle Schools in English and Sciences by giving extra coaching in these subjects from class VI onwards.

(d) S. Devinder Singh Bedi has offered to admit upto 20 selected boys / girls from rural areas as Boarders in Shivalik Schools in class IX each year. He is ready to support these deserving students upto class XII. We are working out details to implement this from this year.

(e) TV Project: The ISC plans to launch its own TV Channel in the near future to enable us to communicate Sikh ethos, Punjabi culture and literature, our history and the sacred contents of the Guru Granth Sahib. Project Report is under preparation.

6. Clarion call to all Gursikhs : Young members of the Sikh Samaj Sudhar Sub-Committee who are working in alliance with Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha gave a clarion call to all Sikhs to join them in executing a special programme on ‘Gurmat Chetna’. Their sole aim is to revive the Sudhar Lehar as witnessed in the good old days of the Singh Sabha movement. The ISC is fully supporting this movement and further programmes will be posted on the ISC website.

7. The ISC plans to co-ordinate the good work being done by Sikh organization globally. The ISC seeks representation for Sikhs in all international organization such as UNESCO etc. We have already taken up the Turban issue in France at the highest level and our AC on Legal Affairs is fighting a relevant case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

8. With members of stature such as Dr Kharak Singh, Dr Gurcharan Singh Kalkat, Dr Sardara Singh Johl, Lt Gen Kartar Singh Gill, S. Gurdev Singh, IAS, S H S Phoolka, Advocate Supreme Court, S. Patwant Singh, noted author and thinker, S. Anup Singh EX VC, PTU and Bhai Ashok Singh Bagrian, the ISC has established itself as a premier Global organization.

Our Motto is Sarbat Da Bhalla .

Lt Gen Kartar Singh Gill, PVSM (Retd)

Chief Executive Officer.