SikhLens Honour

Sikh Lens, an initiative started by Bicky Singh and Gurpreet Kaur in California, USA, 25 years ago, now has an international presence and has been brought to Chandigarh for the last seven years by Ojaswwee Sharma

Honoured: From Left: Major Guneet Chaudhary, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic, Bicky Singh, Roopinder Singh, Gurpreet Kaur.

I was honoured to be an honouree at the Sikh Lens: Art and Film Festival at Tagore Theatre on 28 February 26. The category was "Sikhlens Chardi Kala Honours To: Sh Roopinder Singh"

The citation read: "In recognition of a distinguished three-decade career in journalism and his scholarly preservation of Sikh heritage and history. Through critically acclaimed published works and weekly columns, he has demystified complex history and technology, leaving an indelible mark on India’s cultural consciousness. Beyond the newsroom, his scholarly dedication has enriched our collective understanding of Sikh history through critically acclaimed works such as Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings and Sikh Heritage: Ethos and Relics."

Students of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kendra, Delhi, performing Harmony Symphony on Tanti Saaz.

As you entered, you were surrounded by Harmeet Singh’s paintings, other artists’ works and the phulkari-dominated artefacts made by the Mehar Baba Charitable Trust. The strong line-up of films and the diversity showcased were impressive.

Watching young students from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kendra, Delhi, play the Tanti Saaz (stringed instruments) and later present a skit was wonderful. Giani Gurdit Singh, my father, would have been happy to see how the institution founded by Sardar Hukam Singh and him in 1980 has evolved.

With the students of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Vidya Kendra, Delhi, and their Ustad, Bhai Narotam Singh. 

Films screened at the event included those on the legendary runner Fauja Singh, singer Amrita Kaur, on the inclusive langar sewa and many, many others. I was impressed by the conjunction of AI techniques and the interpretation of Guru Nanak’s bani showcased by Harinder Singh’s films “Cosmic Drama of Life: Guru Nanak's Salok” and “The Universe in Worship: Guru Nanak's Aarti”.

Bicky Singh and team releasing the Sikh Lens 2026 Calendar

The acclaimed Sikh Lens 2026 Calendar showcases the personal story of Singh Twins, the acclaimed British twin sisters Amrit Singh MBE and Rabindra Kaur Singh MBE, whose contemporary reinterpretation of the miniature style stands out for its aesthetic interpretation and uniqueness. The calendars are collectables and were actually started before the Sikh Lens festival began.