Commemorating the 550th Birth Anniversary of a Great Leader in 2019
Supplied Content
Dr Rajwant Singh
Washington DC, June 9, 2018
EcoSikh, an environmental organisation based in Washington DC, is planning to engage the Sikh community to plant one million trees throughout Planet Earth to mark the 550th birth-anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
The organisation’s goal is to reach out to Sikhs all across the globe to plant 550 trees at 1820 locations in different parts of the world or in Punjab, as a gift to Earth.
EcoSikh will initiate this plantation drive at a select location related to Guru Nanak in Punjab, India and in Punjab, Pakistan.
Guru Nanak was a nature-lover, and in his writings and pronouncements, he always inspired people to look at nature as the divine presence of the Creator and to form a loving relationship with nature.
Celebrating a Visionary
Planting trees to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak will be the best way to celebrate this visionary.
We appeal to all Sikh institutions, gurdwaras, and colleges and Punjabi organizations all across the world to take on this initiative to plant trees in their respective locations between now and the end of 2019.
“Guru Nanak always spoke on the issues affecting the common people and he raised his concerns against social injustices and discriminatory practices.
He would have raised his voice against the current degradation of the environment, especially what is happening in South Asia and in Punjab. Guru Nanak said “Pavan Guru Paani Pitha, Maata Dharath Mahat (Air is the teacher, Water is the father, Earth is the Mother).”
He wanted his followers to have a harmonious relationship with these gifts of nature.
Inspiring youngsters
Supreet Kaur, EcoSikh India President, said, “The 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak is an occasion which would excite a lot of young people to take meaningful action like planting trees in celebration. This would be the best way for them to relate to his teachings and to make other people’s lives better.
“We appeal to people to plant native trees suitable to respective areas. We would also suggest planting fruit-bearing and herbal trees which would be beneficial for the masses, particularly the poor. This is another form of langar.”
Volunteers in Punjab
EcoSikh has formed a network of young volunteers all across Punjab who will be engaged with grassroots to do plantation in different parts of the state and other parts of India.
EcoSikh will also invite members of the Punjabi diaspora to sponsor or facilitate plantations in Punjabi villages during this celebrations of Guru Nanak’s Gurpurab. There are over 125,000 villages in the state.
The EcoSikh team in Washington has already helped in planting 475 trees in the Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore in USA. During the last monsoon season, the team coordinated plantation of over 3000 trees in various parts of Punjab, excluding 2800 trees planted in Amritsar alone during the last five years.
Special Website planned
EcoSikh plans to launch a special website for people to register all over the world for this task and it would encourage Sikhs to work with their respective governments and local administrations to work out a plan.
EcoSikh will also collaborate with other international environmental organisations and the United Nations on this initiative.
Dr Rajwant Singh is Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of the National Sikh Campaign, Chairman, Sikh Council on Religion and Education, Chairman, EcoSikh, Communications Director, Sikh Human Development Foundation and many other Sikh organisation in the Washington DC Metropolitan area.
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Photo Caption:
- EcoSikh Team planting trees near Baltimore in America (Picture Supplied)
- Guru Nanak Dev, the Founder of Sikhism (Sourced Picture)
