Fundraising for documentary on Guru in US

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 17

The Washington-based National Sikh Campaign (NSC) has launched an initiative, ‘Guru Nanak 550 Campaign’, in which a documentary on Guru Nanak will be made and broadcast on TV stations across America.

The Sikh community worldwide will be celebrating the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in 2019.

A fundraising dinner will be held at Cerritos Sheraton in Los Angeles on Sunday where 300 guests are expected to join to support the initiative.

The National Sikh Campaign is working with a reputed movie company, Auteur Productions, to produce the documentary.

As per a release issued on Wednesday, Dr Rajwant Singh, co-founder of the National Sikh Campaign and its senior advisor, said, “There is a dire need to create awareness about Guru Nanak and his message in America and the world. According to our polls and survey in 2014, not many Americans know about Guru Nanak and a vast majority of the people in the world has no clue about his life and contribution he made 500 years ago. We are hoping to change that with this community-supported effort. Guru Nanak is a towering personality from the Indian sub-continent and his thought process changed the course of history in the region and the world. We feel that it is critical that the young generation gets connected to Guru Nanak’s practical philosophy.”

Amritpal Singh, Co-chair of the NSC from Visalia, said, “This is the first of its own kind of endeavour to introduce Guru Nanak and his message on the world stage. We are encouraged by the response of the Sikh community. We and to our future generations have the responsibility to share Guru Nanak’s life and teachings, and appropriately place him among the world’s greatest figures.”

Gurwin Singh Ahuja, executive director of the NSC from Cleveland, said, “Our research shows that once Americans learn about the values Guru Nanak spread across world, such as equality and religious tolerance, they would have enormous respect for his life and contribution.”

The NSC is planning to eventually provide the documentary to various universities across United States with an accompanying study guide for students.

Connecticut Public TV Station will be coordinating this effort, along with the film company, and it will be shown on over 200 TV stations.

The NSC has run a successful TV ad campaign, ‘We Are Sikhs’, in 2017. The campaign was awarded by PR Week for the effectiveness of its message. The NSC is also planning another phase of this ongoing campaign in the coming year.