Columnists
I Received a Letter from the Global Head ...
of United Sikhs, no less!
T. SHER SINGH
It’s true.
I received a letter about the recent opening session of the UN General Assembly, not from a mere General Secretary of the United Nations, not from the President of the United States, but actually from … and I swear it’s true, Scout’s Honour! … the very Global Head of the United Sikhs.
Sure, it’s labelled a ‘Press Release’ and it’s been mass mailed to millions around the world, but it’s an honour, nevertheless, having been signed by one no less than the Global Head herself.
A grumpy fellow that I am, I have a few bones to pick over it, though, but don’t get me wrong: I’m not ungrateful. I know all the great seva the United Sikhs does everywhere.
But when one does seva, one remains virtually immune from accountability. Who dare question the quality of what a sevadaar does?
But since the United Sikhs and its Global Head have chosen to do some PR as well, I get finicky and pernickety because they then enter the realm of the ego, and it becomes fair game to ask questions, to demand a minimum standard of professionalism. Quality, that is.
I’ll start with the basics.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
The Press Release is dated February 26, 2013 and was e-mailed on that day to everybody.
Telling us of an event at the United Nations in New York that took place on February 14, 2013.
That’s almost TWO WEEKS after the event. Twelve days, to be exact.
Anybody any where with the most rudimental knowledge about press releases, public relations and the media knows that the time to send that press release is by the end of the day on February 14, 2013 … certainly not two weeks later!
A news-item such as this has a life-span of about 24 hours. After that, it’s a dead story. Sure, some news outlets who have a vested interest in the content of the story will still publish it, but the zip is gone by then. There’s no mileage left in the story.
Imagine … it’s like telling your colleagues around the water-cooler at work how much fun you had at the party last night.
Compare that with trying to tell them about how much fun you had at a party one night about two weeks ago, and see how much enthusiasm you’ll generate.
Pick up any newspaper, click on to any news-site: Can you find any news reportage on anything but what happened yesterday, or in the last few hours? "Breaking News!" are the going buzz words, aren't they?.
GURBANI TRANSLATIONS
The translation of a few words from the Mool Mantar -- as read at the General Assembly, and as reproduced in the Press Release -- is atrocious.
It is the most oft-translated words in Sikhdom. There are dozens of beautiful renditions of these words available at the mere click of the keyboard.
And yet, the United Sikhs managed to find words in English that are ill-chosen, grammatically and compositionally wrong, make no sense, and are bereft of all poetry, beauty and meaning.
“There is only one God, the God’s name is the truth ..” reads the press Release.
The God’s name is truth?
THE God?
I’m giving you but one example.
Sorry, O Global Head, but you’ve had the incredible privilege of being allowed to represent us on the world forum and speak to the nations of the world, and you managed to mess up a handful of words which even a 5-hear-old child in the US or the UK will recite to you in perfect poetry!
You’ve let us down. Deeply disappointed us.
There’s no excuse for this carelessness.
PHOTOS
There’s a link to photos of the event.
Lots of photos.
The only problem is they’re out of focus. The subject -- the speaker, Jatinder Singh, for example -- is off center, as if his presence is an intrusion, an afterthought, an accident.
Did he take along a 4-year-old and left him in the aisle with his cell-phone to snap the shots?
THE TEXT OF THE PRESS RELEASE
Normal, simple, basic punctuation is either missing or misapplied. Periods (‘full-stops’ for you) are absent, or replaced by commas left dangling at the end of paragraphs. Brackets are thrown in here and there, willy-nilly, often without rhyme or reason. Capital letters are sprinkled around, for mere decorative purposes, it appears.
* * * * *
I have given you only a few examples of what is glaringly wrong in a single document.
This is not isolated. Either with this organization, or with most other Sikh groups, institutions, organizations …
It’s time we were told more.
I’m told the Global Head of United Sikhs is based in the UK and is well-educated in languages.
Good. Then what’s the explanation?
Maybe they are participating in a noble experiment. Maybe a monkey has been brought into their offices and, as part of a grand experiment, being allowed to draft their press releases and public communications.
But then, didn’t the Global Head read the final product before she signed it off and clicked the e-mail button?
Or maybe, she did, and this is her own handiwork!
I jest not … if this was any proper corporate office in the US or the UK or any of the civilized countries of the world, heads would roll over this.
They should.
If you think I’m asking the impossible, please read … to take but one example … the missives that Valarie Kaur sends out on her projects. And compare them with the drivel that passes as press releases from many of our “advocacy” and PR organizations in the West today.
February 28, 2013
Conversation about this article
1: Baljit Singh Pelia (Los Angeles, California, USA), February 28, 2013, 12:53 PM.
T. Sher Singh ji, may I suggest that you collaborate with the scholars well versed in English and make available some general press releases that can be slightly modified for specific occasions, by publishing the templates on this website. I have experienced many such shortcomings amongst the Sikh speakers invited to public forums as well as government invocations, in reciting a Sikh blessing or prayer, for example.
2: R Singh (Canada), February 28, 2013, 1:20 PM.
Our new leaders are generally not accountable. Being western and all, English language is assumed to be their forte. Rest of it is about 'praying'. Since when has the UN become a venue for prayers? That is perhaps just a nagging uneasiness, but when even those prayers are misrepresented, it turns into a full-fledged fear, that there may be a repeat of the Republican party convention 'prayers', with the worst stereotypes being resurrected, that have just been allayed by the likes of gutsy Fauja Singh. Can we cut back on ill-worded prayers and use these forums to actually promote the well-being of the community, but putting forward the Gurus' vision of a world, as envisioned in the Guru Granth, in a simple but eloquent language?
3: Harminder Singh (Kent, United Kingdom), February 28, 2013, 2:37 PM.
I don't think we will be able to change ourselves whether we live in the East or West: that is, learn to not say or do about something which you are not well versed in.
4: J Singh (USA), February 28, 2013, 3:56 PM.
I talked to some of United Sikhs directors and they mentioned their Global Head in UK and in NJ is very capable and has good command over many languages and they review everything with eagle's eye. I also heard they brought new people and seems like it's true: "Maybe a monkey has been brought into their offices and, as part of a grand experiment, being allowed to draft their press releases and public communications."
5: Bir Kaur (Illinois, USA), February 28, 2013, 4:58 PM.
So, that's it, J Singh ji? No further explanation, no investigation into why things always go off the rails, and why they did yet again this time? Doesn't sound like the Directors are as talented as they claim to be. Certainly not the Global Head, if such goof-ups are common occurrence. As the author of the article suggests, and rightly so, maybe it's time to fire the dead weight and hire new, competent ones.
6: Morrissey (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), February 28, 2013, 5:35 PM.
It needed to be done: Sher ji delivers a rightly deserving "pimp slap" to this ill-prepared press release.
7: Kanwaljit Kaur (California, USA), February 28, 2013, 6:27 PM.
Let me start with firstly complimenting the author for some nice articles in the past. I have high regard for your penmanship and your views. You are right in what you say about the lack of accountability in Sikh organizations and yes, the fact that non-profits that represent us should do so in a dignified manner. But that begs a question - why are they getting away with it or continue to be the only ones at the forefront, despite all the flaws? Because educated Sikhs like you and me do not have the time to labor - without compensation - to build the Sikh presence in the sphere of human rights advocacy or charitable work. The person who calls herself Global Head gave up a career to devote herself full time to use her legal expertise to fight for Sikh and minority rights. She is responsible for taking up the rights of Sikhs in many countries including the right to wear a turban against the French Government in the UN. Let's not condemn her or her likes, but help them with our time and daswandh. And I hope the organizations are listening too and will take the necessary steps to improve as well.
8: Gyan Kaur (Birmingham, United Kingdom), February 28, 2013, 7:02 PM.
Sorry, Kanwaljit ji, but you haven't convinced me that there are ANY excuses for doing a job badly, especially carelessness that is repeated, it is about basics and it is of fundamental importance. Giving up a more lucrative career is NEVER an excuse or permission to a job badly. Similar issues have been raised in the past, and it appears no heed has been paid to previous serious concerns over sloppiness. We admire the work she and United Sikhs do, but we have every right to expect professionalism nevertheless. What's the point of leaving India and coming to these wonderful countries if you're going to behave like the desis that are weighing down that sinking ship?
9: Harjit Kaur (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), February 28, 2013, 7:06 PM.
Kanwaljit ji: I'm still waiting for the reason why it took TWO weeks almost for the press release to go out. If it is determined necessary to circulate a press release, then what's the point of doing it in a way that is totally counter-productive to the exercise? I agree with T. Sher Singh ji 100%. There is NO excuse for such sub-standard work dome in our name.
10: Inder Pal Singh (New York, USA), February 28, 2013, 7:19 PM.
A note to all Sikh organizations and their staff, paid or volunteer: If you don't have the resources or the manpower, here's how you can do your job better, and you don't need a single cent or penny more to do it: Use existing translations of gurbani ... you can pick them up on the internet. If you don't have the staff that can write correct English, then, a) look for volunteers who have the skills and utilize their services, or 2) DON'T send out a press release. That is, just do the prayer ... PROPERLY! I might add ... and then go home, without having your ego stroked. If you genuinely think it is important to share the news with the world -- and I can see the merit of that -- then do it RIGHT or not do it at all. You DON'T need big brains to understand this simple plan.
11: Onkar Singh (Belgium), February 28, 2013, 7:34 PM.
It breaks my heart to see that there is a whole platoon of incompetent staff involved in the sloppiness described here. Surely, United Sikhs has a New York office. Well? Did their staff learn English in Haryana? How about the Associate Director himself? How about his competence, or the lack of it? Couldn't they find someone who had all the right language skills? How about the cameraman and the terrible images posted on the site? That brings us to the point the author keeps on bringing to the forefront? If the grand poobah, the GLOBAL HEAD, thinks it is essential to affix her name to the document and take all the credit, how can she claim it wasn't her incompetence? For heaven's sake, guys, you wouldn't last two minutes in a job in the real world if you behaved like this. So don't you tell me about all the career opportunities she gave up. Balderdash!
12: Inderjit Singh (Malaysia), February 28, 2013, 7:42 PM.
I agree: We need to give more money to United Sikhs and such other organizations, to ensure a higher quality of work from them. But, I would also suggest that we make it conditional upon them hiring better staff: people armed with impeccable skills, practicing Sikhi in its purity and not in some quirky and eccentric and fringe way, meticulously groomed, smart as hell!
13: Izhaarbir (Madison, Wisconsin, USA), February 28, 2013, 7:51 PM.
Someone please wake me up when it becomes politically correct for me to yell and cry the need to call out our self-proclaimed leaders. I fear right now may still be the time to sleep. It may still be the time to blissfully taste the ambrosia of unconscious living, while the entirety of what Sikhism is and what it means is reinterpreted, reinvented, and represented by a moronic mass of excess dead skin clinging to a shriveling corpse that is disconnected from its soul.
14: Ajaib Kaur (Los Angeles, California, USA), February 28, 2013, 9:06 PM.
It's been said before, though some time ago, but it bears repetition: to date, you do excellent work in performing seva, but you do poorly when you turn to looking for pats on the back. So, stick to the first, and stay away from the second. The two are not compatible, and you don't fare well when you try and combine the two. Stay away from press releases: you don't need to do them, especially since you don't have the wherewithal to do them right. However, if the reason you resort to them is to raise funds, then you need to revisit your strategy and even redesign the approach. And hire the right people to do the job.
15: Gurteg Singh (New York, USA), February 28, 2013, 10:49 PM.
While I admire the work of these organization, they (including 'United Sikhs') have to be careful in choosing the person that represents the Sikh community at international forums. We have recently lost three occasions when our representatives were sub par with their delivery and the content lacked the true message of Sikhi. United Sikhs should also STOP giving every Tom, Dick and Harry the title of Director. I may also point out that it is time for all Sikh advocacy efforts here to merge into a single organization best known as The Sikh Coalition, for handling Sikh advocacy affairs in the United States and possibly in Canada. The United Sikhs should focus solely on humanitarian crises and similar problems of the community around the globe.
16: H. Kaur (Canada), March 01, 2013, 2:31 AM.
They really ought to be ashamed of themselves if they can't even translate properly at the United Nations. Please, why can't we get leaders who don't fall short in meeting their obligations?
17: Jaimal Singh (London, United Kingdom), March 01, 2013, 5:58 AM.
Apart from the silly translation and the goofy grammar and the sporadic punctuation, the real question, which remains glaringly unanswered, is: Why was the press release sent out TWO WEEKS LATE?
18: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), March 01, 2013, 8:21 AM.
Lost opportunity after lost opportunity! This 'villager' type 'leader' has become the bane of our community, alas!
19: Dr Birinder Singh Ahluwalia (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), March 01, 2013, 10:59 AM.
Hmmmm ... Let me just concentrate on the calibre of leadership of just one country in the past 200 years ... you guessed it right - USA! George Washington, Adams, Jefferson ... Lincoln ... Roosevelt, Kennedy ... and now, Obama. We in the Sikh community too have had our fair share of real giants ... starting with Banda Singh Bahadar and Ranjit Singh ... on to Bhai Vir Singh, Baba Kharak Singh, Malik Hardit Singh, Sirdar Kapur Singh ... But, since mid-20th century, we have suffered from a marked dearth of real leadership. No wonder we are left to deal with mediocrity after mediocrity, each one then giving himself or herself pompous titles such as "Global Head", but refusing to do what is necessary to be able to stand in the shoes of giants!
20: Pawanjit Singh (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA), March 01, 2013, 4:03 PM.
I am one of the Directors of "United Sikhs". However, I am leaving this comment as a Sikh who volunteers with an organization that has achieved a lot, but also has room for improvement when it comes to PR/Media. It is important for the readers to know that "united Sikhs" does not have a dedicated/paid media/PR team. Most of our work is done by grass roots volunteers. So, as a volunteer and as a Director, I urge Sher Singh ji to join the United Sikhs media team as a volunteer. Can you give us 5 hrs a week and be part of initiating a positive change? If you are too busy too, can you help spread the word through your magazine and help us find a good volunteer? Of course, we always have an option to find a paid staff. However, that would mean less money going to direct seva.
21: T. Sher Singh (Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada), March 01, 2013, 5:23 PM.
Dear Pawanjit ji: Thank you for your forthright response. It is because we in the community appreciate the work your organization does that we keep on pushing you to raise your standards to the point that they meet the professional levels of the community at large, and higher! Yes, not only will I be glad to volunteer but will also bring together other experts to train your key people in tackling the media. I suggest that you put together, to begin with, five of your key media front-line people. sikhchic.com and I will gladly host them here at The Macauliffe Centre in Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada and start them with "Media 101" over the course of a 48-hour, Friday-evening to Sunday-evening period. You set the dates most convenient to you. Thereafter, we will be glad to repeat the course for successive teams from your organization once every four weeks, for a full weekend. There will be no charge for our time. Or for the accommodation. I think it will be a good beginning. Once you give us a date and a commitment, we'll provide you with all the requisite details.
22: EDITOR, sikhchic.com (Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada), March 01, 2013, 6:44 PM.
This discussion is now concluded and closed to further comments/postings. Thank you, all, for your thoughtful ideas and opinions.