Announcing the Winners!
SikhNet's 2024 Script Writing Contest
SikhNet has just completed hosting our third story script competition. The first one was quite a while ago and resulted in the ‘Team Khalsa Save the Langar’ story and animation. The second one also had many wonderful script among which two animations ('Bibi Sharan Kaur: Shaheed Helps Girl' & 'Can Trees Grow Overnight', both in English and Punjabi) and one audio story ('Singh The Lion Chants Waheguru') were produced by SikhNet.
This year we had a difficult time judging because there were so many great scripts. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's contest. It was a pleasure to see the voice of the international youth community!
Below are all the stories that were submitted within the guidelines starting with winners, then honorable mentions.
Now, we are happy to announce the winners of this year’s contest!
Junior Category: 8 - 12 years old
FIRST PLACE WINNER:
'True Companion'
by 12 year old Agam Singh Nanda from UK
In this story two friends live different lifestyles. Fateh is one way and Gurman is another. Fateh spends his free time doing seva and banis while Gurman dedicates himself only to studies while thinking and worrying about the future. During an important exam Gurman freezes from his worry and surprisingly fails, while Fateh does Ardas and passes. The story applies to students and adults to remind us to be present, appreciate the things that brought us where we are and remember that our Guru is with us now, so we don't have to wait till we're successful and serve the Guru in the future.
SECOND PLACE WINNER:
'The Reflection Of Anger'
by 12 year old Laveena Kaur from Ontario Canada
This story follows Deedar who encounters father and son Meher and Sehaj who are Gurmukhs. They have three interactions between them that each teach a lesson to Deedar who begins to learn not to be selfish, not to be greedy and to understand that his way of living was making him spiritually unattractive. The story is long, follows a shabd line by line and offers deep messages to... reflect on.
THIRD PLACE WINNER:
'Nadar'
by 11 year old Suhavee Kaur Sethi from Raleigh
This story is written in an impressively mature style. It is a very relateble story about Nadar Kaur who wants to maintain her GPA but gets writers block with a new assignment: a creative writing project. Without knowing what theme she would write on she is very stressed. But after reciting bani she's struck with an idea: Why not write a translation of Jap Ji! Relieved she writes a poetic translation and recites it to the class. At the end we are left with a cliff hanger to see if she won the creative writing contest award...
Senior Category: 13 - 18 years old
FIRST PLACE WINNER:
'Young Aagya Kaur: Magical Sewa Day'
by 14 year old Kudrat Kaur from Abbotsford BC Canada
This is a well written, sweet and symmetrical story. It starts with a 9 year old girl who wants to do seva at the Gurdwara. On the way she learns that the way to connect with animals is through love. While doing langar seva she learns that everyone is an equal part of Wahiguru. She teaches this lesson to the adults when she later sees some men are getting rid of some puppies that are coming in the langar hall. She stops them because she sympathizes with the hungry little animals. She's able to change their minds with the help of her newly discovered ability: to speak with animals...
SECOND PLACE WINNER:
'ਮੈ ਰੱਬ ਦੇਖਣਾ' (I See God)
by 13 year old Rajbir Kaur from Taran Taaran Punjab
The daughter of an atheistic man is 9 year old Prabh Kaur benefits from the wisdom of a new figure in the family: the hard working and devotional gardener who always chants and thinks of God. He tells her the ancient story of Harnakash and Prahlad, the child to faced threats of death like being thrown in a fire but kept faith and perfect devotion. God took the form of an ant and the man-lion Narsingh who saved Prahlad. Prabh Kaur also wanted to see God and is later blessed see have the presence of a great light who blesses her family to turn from atheism to Amritdhari life.
THIRD PLACE WINNER:
'Himmat Singh & Baba Atal Rai'
by 13 year old Aangad Singh from Milford Connecticut
11 year old Himmat Singh has trouble accepting that his beloved pet rabbit died and wants to know if it can be brought back. His mother tells him the story of Baba Atal where he learns even if we could bring back life, the Guru doesn't want us to have ego and we should accept God's Will. Himmat decides to remember his rabbit by planting a tree in its memory. This story, the Gurbani and Sikh history contained in it, can teach us all a valuable lesson.
Judges Honorable Mentions
'Power of Ardas'
by 11 year old Dilsaaz Kaur from Stockton California
Upkar Kaur did her daily Banis and Ardas. But she gets disheartened after losing a soccer match. Later she has a mystical interaction with a shaheed also named Upkar Kaur who was fearless because Guru ji is always present, 'If you have faith, your Ardas will be fulfilled'. From then her Banis, Chandi Di Vaar Paath and Simran were imbued with faith. Next soccer match she played ferociously. She made several goals winning the game and knew that Guru was with her.
'Reality of Sikh Girls in Highschool'
by 17 year old Heer Kaur Singh from Bloomfield Michigan
This story is about a girl Aman who is bullied and outcast because of her turban. After she gives a presentation about Sikhism to her class, she's surprised to find how everyone appreciated her beliefs. This gives her the confidence to intervene when someone else gets bullied. She continues to gain respect and social recognition and eventually she addresses the whole school explaining Sikh belief and she is met with cheers.
'Jagjit's Choice'
This is a clear, moral story that serves as a reminder to us all. Jagjit, a 12 year old boy comes from a poor family. Though he never had much money he possessed integrity. One day he sees a wallet someone dropped. For a moment he thinks that the money inside could help his family but he banishes the thought and returns it to the owner. While a friend at school thought he was foolish his family rewarded his honesty with praise. This incident spread and a wealthy man decided that his virtue should be rewarded. The wealthy man sponsored Jagjit's education.
'Cultural Day Skit'
by 14 year old Maanya Kaur Chadha
This story is very applicable to school kids that teaches empathy towards apparent opponents. A Sikh boy Aman shares his culture in class but is met with silly questions about his turban that embarrass him. He talks with the knowledgeable 'Mr. Singh' who teaches him that it's better to educate the other kids rather than fight them. So, the next time he gets a chance he finds a humorous way to explain Sikhi. The results were the polar opposite. Sometimes our 'opponents' aren't as opposed as we think.
'In Search of Parvat-E-Das Patshahi'
by 13 year old Jaskirat Singh from New Delhi
Gursher Singh is a boy who has a dream that tells him to go to Gurmukh city. Amazingly he finds out in the morning that his father is taking him to Gurmukhi city. When there they go to a mysterious cave where they see 10 carved mountains that are carved with inspiration about each Guru. A saintly character appears and quizzes the boy on Sikh knowledge like the names of Panj Pyare, Panj Kakaar, 3 pillars etc. We find out the saint was Baba Buddha ji and Gursher Singh passed his test.
'Harshleen and the World of Maya'
by 10 year old Meher Kaur from Etobicoke ON Canada
This is a simple and sweet story about materialism vs. spiritual mindedness. School girl Harshleen Kaur is usually spiritual and does her Banis. But after her friends talk about the newest iphone and other items they get from their parents she starts thinking about those more and neglecting her Banis and acting spoiled. She starts to feel unhappy and prays to Wahiguru who answers that asking for material things leads to attachment and unhappiness, while doing Nitnem leads to spiritual connection and happiness.
'Why Do Sangat?'
by 8 year old Kheevi Kaur from Edmonton Canada
This is a sweet autobiographical story that starts when the author visited and did seva at HariMandir Sahib at age 3. Since then she goes to Gurdwara every day to do Parshada Di Seva. Once on a play date she invited her friends to join her. Her friend also enjoyed doing seva and continued to join her regularly. Just as you go to school every day to learn from teachers, so you also want to go to Gurdwara every day to learn from the Guru.
'Langar Di Khed: Game of Langar'
by 17 year old Hamreet Kaur from Bathinda
This is a short and sweet story where some friends learn from a wise Grandma about the value of langar. It teaches people to share and accept each other as equal with no need to compete with each other. This is the message from Guru Amar Das. After learning about this the friends spread this idea with #LangarChallenge.
All stories are listed below in order of when they were received at SikhNet
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'The Two Villages'
Gurjot Kaur, age 10, Wolverhampton, UK. Guru Nanak visits two villages who treat him very differently and receive very different consequences.
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'Shukar-Guzari The Story of Gratitude'
Jasmeh Singh Rekhi, age 9, Victoria, Australia. A boy, Kabir, acts ungrateful because his parents can't afford things that other kids get. Then he receives a message that reminds him to be grateful.
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'The Right Choice'
Reet Kaur and Roop Kaur, ages 14 and 8, Calgary Canada. A girl goes into an environment where she might be with the wrong sangat. But she hears a story exactly on this subject and she realizes it's important to chose your company wisely.
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'The Power Of Ardas'
Meher Kaur Rekhi, age 12, Greensborough, VIC, Australia. After being bullied at school a girl receives a divine message to stay spiritually connected. Next time when being bullied she internally repeating "Waheguru" and she got a very different result where the bullies apologize.
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'Going To Gurdwara'
Dave Matharu, age 53. A grandpa explains the meaning of being Khalsa and reviews the events of Vaisakhi 1699.
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'Noor Kaur'
Eknoor Kaur Rai, age 9, Canton Michigan. Noor Kaur is bullied at school and finds a secluded place to recite Chaupei Sahib. This gives her a mystical encounter with Mai Bhago ji who tells her story and inspires courage. Noor is then able to confidently confront her bullies.
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'Khalis'
Jaismeen Kaur, age 17, London UK. Sometimes communities see a divide between Amritdhari and non-Amritdhari Sikhs. This story is a discussion on this real world subject.
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'Aman's Dastar'
Harsimar Singh, age 17. School boy Aman learns to deal with being teased for wearing a turban by taking a playful approach with would be bullies. This leads to him explaining the dastar in a class show-and-tell which was successful. The story ends thusly: "By being true to himself, Aman inspired others, showing that strength comes from embracing who you are. And that, dear friends, is the greatest power of all."
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'From Goth To Boss'
Sasha, age 46. A turbaned Kaur finds herself in a conversation with a businessman. He doesn't take her seriously but she restrains the urge to boast that she holds a good position in her company. When he finds out anyways he is all the more impressed.
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'How Guru ji Helped Kamalpreet'
Kiran Basi, age 35. Kamalpreet is a good student and at Sikhi camp her test sheet has the right answers. One boy didn't pay attention and knew he'd fail so he switched answer sheet so he passed and Kamalpreet failed. Instead of exposing him openly she handles it privately with a teacher due to an inspiration she received from Guru Gobind Singh.
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'Diwali'
Amarpreet Singh, age 15, UP, India. This is a rendition of Guru Hargobind being imprisoned in Gwalior by Emperor Jahangir.
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'Guru Nanak Dev Ji & The Boulder'
Harpreet Singh, age 9, Wolverhampton, UK. Guru Nanak stops a boulder with his hand at a place now known as 'Panja Sahib'.