#Seva also #Sewa, short for the word Karseva refers to "selfless service", work or service performed without any thought of reward or personal benefit. In the Punjabi language the person performing such service is called a Sevadar - ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਤ ਹੋਇ ਨਿਹਕਾਮੀ॥ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਹੋਤ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ (SGGS: p286)
– (Source: sikhiwiki.org)
This concept applies to all or most aspects of life whether you are a #Sikh or not, but the fact that our Guru jis placed this at the forefront, highlights its importance to all Sikhs.
Now, Sadh Sangat jio, you lot may be thinking, ‘what has this got to do with a couple of PCs and projectors at the #Gurdwara’? ‘Why am I reading about this in a blog under the heading for Digital and IT Team?!’ ‘Hang on, our #Guru Ghar is blogging?!?’
Well, a Gurdwara’s information #technology in the 21stCentury is no longer just an ‘Uncle ji’ at the back of the Diwan Hall collecting paper receipts and making bookings on a Ledger style book. Our Sangat has grown and evolved; there are opportunities to offer even more community focused services that were not tapped into previously, but that which the sangat would benefit from; information is now consumed at the click, a swipe, a pinch of a button or context menu on internet connected devices.
What’s this got to do with IT and seva?!
Well, sevadars constitute not only our brothers, sisters, uncles and aunties dishing out and preparing for langar in the langar hall and kitchens, but also those bunch of talented and dedicated individuals that want to develop, evolve and revolutionise (in our small kind of way!), our Guru Ghar befitting the 21stCentury.
This is why a group of Sevadars have formed a Digital and Technology group that will fit into the Gurdwara Management Organisation structure as constituted in the manifesto of newly elected Gurdwara Mukh Sevadar, Manpreet Singh Dhaliwal. The team consists of people of all ages and professional backgrounds, that can contribute as much time as they can around busy home lives and jobs or even studies! Even this blog, I am fitting around work, family and other commitments…
Why are we blogging?
Well, the sevadars want to reach out to a wider audience another communication channel in addition to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tik-tok….wait, Tik Tok?!? Only kidding!! It’s just another string to our bow of platforms that help to create transparency to the sangat and allow the sangat to participate and be inclusive.
Why this focus on technology? Well, COVID-19…
As we shall explore in upcoming posts, the Covid-19 devastation has made a huge impact on all of our lives. Sevadars from across the Gurdwara teams have really stepped up to the plate; and have in many ways naturally become cohesive ‘squad units’ working with each other to provide much needed services through-out this crisis. Technology is playing a huge and crucial part in the void left by the need to close our Guru Ghar as per Government directives.
What’s next…?
Well, we will delve into our thought processes, the behind the scenes (BTS) view of the technical backbone serving our Guru Ghar and sangat. The innovation that was required to bring the Gurdwara to the sangat through technology and some of the obstacles we had to overcome. We shall also look into projects that have been completed and those in the pipeline or in progress. We shall look at how technology has helped all teams and even the Giani jis to fulfil their duties to the sangat.
Btw, this is not an exclusive club, please reach out to us if you want to help with D&T seva, we have skills ranging from project management to Audio Visual. We want to encourage more women to join our team and those that would like to learn new skills and offer their ideas and input into how we can develop the Guru Ghar’s technical infrastructure…
As the bachoos say, keep it locked in, until next time…
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh…!