Interview of SikhGiving Volunteers Rajbir & Kulbir Kaur

Please tell us a little bit about yourselves to begin with including your hobbies, interests, your school and memberships?

First of all, Guru Fateh to all. We’re 16 year old and it’s such a wonderful gift from Waheguru that we are twins. Our hobbies are very much same, hiking, talking, do kirtan, listen to kirtan, playing sports, Gatka, eating, writing poetry (only Rajbir), shopping, going to amusement parks, squeezing babies’ cheeks, anything outdoors, etc. Our interests are 100% interest rate of a car payment…JK…interests are basically what a normal teenage girls like to do…our school is the best school that was ever invented. We’re members of a lot of organizations, such as SikhGiving, AVID, BSU, School Indian Club, Be the Change Club, Discoversikhi, KOHLS, Debate Club, and many more

Being twins, you seem to have a really special and happy relationship. How have you found growing up together, almost identical to each other? Do you find you have the same interests and tastes as each other?

Yes being a twin is kinda fun. We mean you have someone who will always be there for you. Growing up as a twin is interesting. I mean, you can enjoy life, fight but get along so well after 5 minutes, fool people, and more. People wish they were twins but we thank Guru Ji for making us twins. We do not have the same interests. Rajbir likes a different sport, and I love another. She may hate a friend, I may love them. She may like a specific food, and I might hate it. We are alike by looks but we are different by hearts. I mean if you really really know us, you would know that we are not very much alike. We have different perspectives of things. Overall, having a twin is fun.

As you girls are Turban wearing singhnia, how do your classmates treat you in school?
Actually at school, particularly everybody knows about Sikhi. And not yet has anyone treated us wrong. If you truly ask me, I think that my high school is like the best from all the other high schools. Teachers treat students equally, so do the students. I mean if you have school spirit, you will be okay I guess. Everyone understands why we wear a Dastaar to school. No one judges you the way you are, but the person you are.

What interested you in playing Gatka? How does practicing gatka makes important part in your life?

Gatka…..Gatka…..Gatka…. We love it. Absolutely enjoy playing it. When we were young, our dad’s friend, Ranjit Singh Ji, who is the gatka master, always came over to our house, and he taught us how to play it. We played gatka since we were like 6 years old, along we started doing keertan, memorized full japji sahib, and much more. Learning gatka has changed us a lot. Gatka DOES play an important part in our life. Like Shaheed Jathedarni Bibi Dalair Kaur Ji stated, “Sisters, we have given our heads to our Guru-Father. We have lived for truth- now the time has come to die for it. Remember, sisters that we are all trained warriors and we will die fighting rather than be taken as slaves.” So, if I were to paraphrase this quote that Bibi Ji stated, I would say that Mai Bhago risked her life fighting. She gave her head to Guru Ji, and we should follow Mai Bhago, and do the same.  Learning gatka is pretty easy. All you need to do is practice gatka on a daily basis. And you will get better and better without knowing it. Special thanks to “LOVELA UNCLE!”

Who taught you doing Kirtan? And any favorite kirtani?
Let’s see. There are a lot of people who actually taught us kirtan. And we would love to thank them so much. The very first place we actually learned kirtan was probably in Khalsa School when we were age 6. Then, slowly by slowly we got the hand on doing kirtan. And from there, we improved a lot. The loving people who taught us kirtan are: Bibi Ranjit Kaur Ji, Bhai Manmohan Singh Ji, Bhai Ram Singh Ji, Bhai Mohan Singh Ji, and much more. Also, Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji who used to stay over our house, and listen to our kirtan and he would teach us kirtan. It was pretty good learning from Bhai Sahib. And a special thanks to Bibi Kamaljeet Kaur Ji and Bhai Dalvinder Singh Ji for teaching us Asa-Di-Vaar and additional shabads. But most of all Guru Ji is the one who actually taught us kirtan. If it wasn’t his kirpa, we would know nothing about keertan! Infact, if it wasn’t for Him (Guru Ji), we would not be doing kirtan right now.

Our favorite kirtanis are Bhai Harpreet Singh Ji!! Of course…then Bhai Harsimran Singh Ji, Bhai Karam Singh Ji, Bhai Apardeep Singh Ji, Dulla Ji, Bhai Amolak Singh Ji, Aussie, etc. Particularly all kirtanis are favorites. You can’t judge kirtanis, because all kirtan is gurbani isn’t it? And the Khalsa who recite gurbani are doing a great favor for themselves and others.

What do you think about the importance of knowing Sikh history?
We think that the importance of knowing Sikh history is that you get to know more about your religion and culture. A religion survives by their generation who inherit their history.

What are the possible ways to have more deep relations with Punjab while living in United States?

SikhGiving is a Solution Oriented local charity based in Northern California. Some friends bring the idea of how to stay connected to Punjab while living here. They were influenced by an article stating help need by a family for kidney transplant. We respected that idea and today also support them wherever they go and help volunteer their awareness and funding. It’s really cool to support our brothers and sisters who are helpless and need immediate attention. We find ourselves lucky to volunteer SikhGiving Projects that help us stay connected and keep our deep relations with Punjab while a service to WaheGuru himself within human form.

 Are having youth camps around your local vicinity making any progress in youth circle at all?
Since camps are social gatherings, they brings good awareness to today youth like us and help understand Sikhi. We have many friends who have changed whole lot after attending couple Sikhi camps.

Twins, thank you so much for reluctantly agreeing to give us this interview. Is there anything else you would like to add or a message our readers?
HELP yourself!…..There are many different events and gatherings and chances in life where you get to know yourself better…take that chance, and never forget your Sikhi way of life.