by Yong Soo Heong
JELEBU, Aug 4: In less than 48 hours after touching down in Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne, renowned kirtan (hymn) performer Dya Singh (in white turban) was already in his element at two gurdwaras in Mantin and Kuala Klawang, both in Negeri Sembilan on Sunday, Aug 3.
Accompanied by tabla maestro Sharab Iqbal Singh, Dya mesmerised his audience with the versatility of his vocal range when delivering many of his heartfelt ‘kirtan’. Spellbound were the members of his audience.
Dya will be in Malaysia until Aug 28. His next official engagement will be at Khalsa Land in Ampang Pecah, Kuala Kubu Bahru, about an hour’s drive north of Kuala Lumpur, from Aug 8 to 10.
Khalsa Land’s 20-acre campsite, owned and managed by the Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM), is touted as the biggest Sikh campsite in Asia outside India.
While in Kuala Klawang, I had the privilege of visiting Gurdwara Sahib on the day that Dya performed. Seeing is believing — this pleasantly modern-styled gurdwara, nestled in the surrounding verdant hills.
Manmohan Singh Ji, 83, has cleverly designed it for the sole purpose of functioning efficiently and without fuss for the benefit of the Khalsa community.
Gurdwara Sahib Kuala Klawang traces its long history to the days when many Sikhs served in the police force in Malaya. Jelebu’s first Gurdwara Saheb was opened on Aug 15, 1911, at the town’s police barracks.
On Sept 9, 1928, the gurdwara was relocated to the home of Hari Singh Tharu, the father of Manmohan Singh. In 2022, the gurdwara was moved to the family’s farm land in Kuala Klawang and was opened in May 2024.
The gurdwara in Kuala Klawang is more than just a place for Sikh worship and ‘sangat’ or fellowship. It’s also a place for learning about what matters in life.
Yesterday and today, Manmohan Singh showed children from the Gurpuri Foundation how latex is obtained from a rubber tree. But Manmohan Singh, a sprightly, witty and visionary man, has more than rubber trees on his land. There are oil palms as well as trees and plants producing sandalwood, durian, rambutan, langsat, papaya, and the list is almost endless.
Certainly, an eye-opener for the kids from Gurpuri Foundation, a charitable organisation at Ulu Klang in Kuala Lumpur, run by Sukhdev Singh. It provides care, education, and guidance to orphaned, underprivileged, and abandoned children in accordance with Sikh values.
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