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94ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH <strong>2006</strong> / 537-38 NSSector 28-A, Chandigarh. Sardar Gurdev Singh, President IOSS,Chandigarh, while welcoming the gathering <strong>of</strong> eminent <strong>Sikh</strong>s includinga large number <strong>of</strong> foreign delegates <strong>of</strong> outstanding <strong>Sikh</strong> Organisations,spelt out the role <strong>of</strong> the IOSS and also the Action Committee <strong>of</strong> theISC in the organisation <strong>of</strong> this historic event.Dr Kharak Singh, the Convener, outlined the events leading tothis historic convention, succinctly spelt out the dire need for a global<strong>Sikh</strong> Organisation. He then went into great detail to explain the role<strong>of</strong> the ISC, its overall structure and the tremendous response receivedfrom all sections <strong>of</strong> society to quickly bring the ISC into being. Thespeaker’s impassioned speech was heard in pin-drop silence and isreproduced in the Abstracts <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sikh</strong> <strong>Studies</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jan</strong>-<strong>March</strong> 2005 issue. Itleft the audience convinced about the need for the ISC, and also thesincere efforts initiated towards the launching the same.It was then the turn <strong>of</strong> Lt Gen Kartar Singh Gill PVSM (retd), aCore Group member, to explain to the audience the concepts andbasic principles that helped in the formulation <strong>of</strong> the draft Constitution<strong>of</strong> the ISC. He compared the tenets adopted by the <strong>Sikh</strong>s with those<strong>of</strong> Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Against the hierarchical system<strong>of</strong> the Christians (2000 million) we have approximately 23 million<strong>Sikh</strong>s worldwide. While the Christians elect their Pope, we have anAkal Takht Jathedar appointed by the SGPC. While <strong>Sikh</strong>s worldwidepay obeisance to the Akal Takht Sahib, we have no globally representedorganisation. Hence the need for the ISC, one <strong>of</strong> whose vital roleswill be to give strong representation in world <strong>Sikh</strong> affairs, and alsodeal with the multifarious problems faced by us in all spheres.ADDRESSES BY EMINENT SPEAKERSThe first speaker from abroad was Sardar Sarjit Singh <strong>of</strong>Vancouver Gurdwara Sahib. He expressed the hope that the ISCelectorate would consist <strong>of</strong> genuine Gursikhs and thus elect an effectiveand dedicated Executive Committee. He advocated morerepresentation for the USA and Canada in the Governing Council.Sardar Charanjit Singh, Khalsa Diwan Vancouver who is an experiencedand respected <strong>Sikh</strong> shared his experiences with the audience inorganising various youth camps abroad along with the redoubtable Dr
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