First Ever Hi-Tech Multimedia Sikh Museum in Canada

Mississauga: Aug 12, 2010
Dr Raghbir Singh Bains
Author: Encyclopaedia of Sikhism
Producer-Director: Multimedia Sikh Museum

After yearlong frantic planning, Ontario Khalsa Darbar has ultimately decided to set up Canada’s first of its kind Multimedia Sikh Museum in Mississauga.  The museum is being set up under volunteer support of Baba Sewa Singh Chairman Kar Sewa Khadur Sahib-India. The hi-tech brain behind the museum is world known museologist Dr Raghbir Singh Bains, a Canadian Sikh and author of the Encyclopaedia of Sikhism and recipient of the Order of British Columbia.  Both the sponsor and producer have offered to set up the latest technology and put up programmed content in the museum without getting any remuneration.  However, it will especially be for use of OKD in the Gurdwara premises or the Sikh Resource Center to be constructed in the near future by the committee of the said Gurdwara. There will be no entry fees for visitors and free guides would be made available for help. The Ontario Khalsa Darbar Gurdwara Mississauga is one of the largest Sikh Gurdwara in North America that attracts thousands of followers, visitors and student groups of all faiths every day. 

The Multimedia Sikh Museum will improve mutual understanding about Sikh religion, its history, culture, heritage and beliefs of the South Asians who played a vital role in building a stronger and multicultural Canada.

The first of its kind Multimedia Sikh Museum in the world on robotic and touch screen technology was set up by Dr Raghbir Singh Bains at Khadur Sahib during 500th   anniversary of the ‘Parkash Gurpurv’ of Guru Angad Dev Ji on April 16, 2004 in India. Similarly, the second such museum was set up at Jalandhar in Punjab during 2008.

Addressing the overwhelmingly attended Press conference of Ontario province, Dr Raghbir Singh Bains apprised that the ‘Multimedia Sikh Museum’ will contain more than 50,000 multi-language text pages, thousands of pictures, graphics, audios, videos and sparkling animations. The museum will cover Sikh religion, its chronological history, culture, social value system, heritage, Sikh institutions, beliefs of Sarbat da Bhala, concept of universal peace / prosperity / brotherhood, ceremonies, customs, traditions, and Sikh Code of Conduct. It will provide detailed information about alcohol and drugs, domestic violence, AIDS, social evils like rapes, girl foeticide and prostitution rampant in the world. It will also provide comparative briefs of the teachings of world faiths, practices, their founders and much more with simple touch on the clear trek monitor screens.  

Dr Bains further said that the museum will be a wonderful tool and fabulous reference material for students, teachers, preachers, speakers, leaders, debaters, laymen, clergies, judges, lawyers, doctors, media reporters, researchers, youth, libraries, universities, youth, Gurdwara Committees, Granthis, Ragis, Dhadis, and especially for people of all ages and all faiths. The Museum will cover interactive teaching of basic subjects like Punjabi, English, Math, Science and General Knowledge etc for school students and enhanced learners. The museum will play a definite part in building a stronger and multicultural Canada.

While addressing the press, Jasjit Singh Bhullar President of the Gurdwara appealed the community to support the project and donate generously for erecting new building of the Sikh Resource Center and the proposed educational institutions for benefit of the community.  The museum is likely to be launched shortly for public.

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Dr Raghbir Singh Bains