SEWA AND ITS VARIOUS MANIFESTATIONS

Sewa - help to others especially the needy is considered an important basic tenant of Sikhism. Red Cross was started around 1860 but Sikhs had similar approach much earlier through Bhai Kanhaiya, a disciple of Guru Tegh Bahadur who carried a Mashak to serve water to anyone who was thirsty during the battle of Anandpur Sahib in 1704. He did so with love and affection without any discrimination between the Guru's Sikh soldiers and the Mughal armies' soldiers. This tradition is being carried through various Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations such as 'Khalsa Aid International'. Some examples of Sikh 'sewa' overseas are given below.

1.INDONESIA

In January 2005, Global Sikhs sailed from Malaysia with relief mission to Aceh, Indonesia, loaded with thousands of boxes containing food, medicines and emergency supplies. The Global Sikhs-Waves of Mercy team of volunteers was nursing some 10,000 people in two areas. In Pulau Weh, an island just north of Banda Aceh, the volunteers were assisting some 7,000 people displaced and housed temporary in 15 makeshift camps. In Paroe and its surrounding areas - villages facing the Indian Ocean that faced the full brunt of the tsunami - some 3,000 villagers came under their care.

2.FRANCE

In Paris After the November 2015 terror attack, the Sikh community provided shelter, free cab rides, and food to Parisians. They also organised blood donation camps and gurdwaras left their doors open for anyone who needed shelter.

3. GREECE

In August 2016, United Sikhs and Gurdwara Guru Nanak, Athens delivered essentials to Syrian refugees

4. MACEDONIA

'Refugees Fleeing from Grim Future, Journey is Exhausting' - a news item dated 25 March 2016: Tabanovce, Macedonia: Since 16 December 2015 UNITED Sikhs has been offering 'langar', as well as blanket and other necessities to fleeing refugees in Macedonia. They along with their partners have served meals to migrants enroute and in the camp, with nearly 1,400 served daily.

5. BELGIUM

In March 2016, post the Belgium airport & subway station attacks where 34 persons had died, all the Sikh Gurdwaras in Belgium opened their doors to anyone in need of help. 'The gurdwara had been serving food to over 200 stranded passengers' - a news item.