As Singapore’s only formally registered Sikh women’s society, the Istri Sat Sang (ISS) commemorated its 80th anniversary with a special event on March 25 at the Central Sikh Temple on Towner Road.
The event drew around 250 attendees from various gurdwaras, whose collective voices filled the prayer hall, or diwan, with joyful recitations of the Sukhmani Sahib Path and kirtans (sacred hymns).
“I see some familiar faces, and for some, I have visited your homes. I also found out today that some of the members know my parents, so it is indeed a homecoming,” said Guest of Honour, Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC Shawn Loh, when addressing the congregation after the kirtan session.
Reflecting on the anniversary event’s theme of “ekta” or “unity” in Punjabi, Mr Loh noted that unity operates at multiple levels: within families, communities, nations, and the world at large.
He also observed that today’s geopolitical conflicts and uncertainties closely echo the global atmosphere of the post-WWII era in which the society was established.
The ISS was founded in 1946 as an informal organisation and became an important communal space for Sikh women immigrants to participate in religious and social activities, at a time when most of them were largely confined to the domestic sphere.
The society was formally registered in 1964, after its members held a meeting to elect its inaugural executive committee. This democratic tradition continues to this day, as the ISS holds an election every two years, noted ISS president Hardip Kaur Gill, 75.
Since its formalisation, the ISS has maintained a consistent slate of activities and programmes for its over 250 members, centred around a weekly Wednesday prayer session for the women’s congregation.
Many members have dedicated multiple decades of service to the society, including Mdm Gurmail Kaur, 84, whose long-standing involvement since the 1980s exemplifies the women-led society’s enduring community spirit.
Over the years, Mdm Gurmail, a housewife, actively participated in sewa (selfless service), including preparing langar (community kitchen) meals and briefly teaching Punjabi at the gurdwara in 1971, when it was still located on Queen Street.
She taught from the lower primary levels, up until the students were able to read the Guru Granth Sahib (holy scripture).
“All my students, until now, are very respectful. The older ones, if they see me anywhere, they will come up to me,” Mdm Gurmail said. “It makes me happy that they still remember me after all these years.”
Another member, Mdm Gurdev Kaur, 78, has served the society in nearly every executive capacity over the past 40 years. In addition to being the second elected ISS president, she served as vice-president, treasurer, and secretary.
She joined ISS because she visits the gurdwara often to pray. “It also helps to keep me occupied. At my age, that’s the most important,” Mdm Gurdev said.
Professor Berinderjeet Kaur, 72, ISS secretary, noted that ISS has remained vibrant and relevant for Sikh women in Singapore. “The weekly fellowship and bonding over cha (tea) and tidbits have been helpful for the mind and body,” she added.
