Prominent world wide for its historic role of pioneering the International Sikh Youth Camping Movement, International Institute of Gurmat Studies, Inc. (IIGS, or popularly known as IGS) is a non- profit, religious Sikh organization.
It was founded in Lucknow, India in 1955. At the time it was known as "The Young Sikh Missionaries".
In 1972, it expanded its vision and charter and was renamed "Institute of Gurmat Studies ". Its offices were moved to New Delhi and its membership, hitherto restricted to young men was opened to the young Sikh women as well.
In 1979, IGS went International by holding its first camp outside India (the 12th Sikh Youth Camp) in Kathmandu, Nepal. Since January 1985, it has been headquartered in California, USA.
IGS strives for a spiritually awakened, educationally progressive: socially Gurmat oriented and politically united Khalsa Panth.
Undeterred by the enormous challenges to the Sikh Community, both from within and outside, IGS stands firmly committed to continue to do its part in rekindling the Sikh Spirit in every heart.
IGS aims to team up with other like-minded Sikh Organizations to work towards bringing the pristine Khalsa Glory back to The Khalsa Panth.
By continuing to spread the love and teachings of The Ten Great Gurus as enshrined in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and allied Sikh Scriptures, with greater determination and renewed zeal.
In the past, IGS has successfully used the following five methods to convey the message of the Gurus to the Sikh Community, particularly to the younger Sikh generation:
IGS Firsts: IGS has pioneered the Sikh Youth Camping Movement at the International level for the past 35 years.
It is also the first Sikh organization to hold co-ed camps for Sikh youngsters.
IGS is one of the first few Sikh organizations to have given equal leadership roles to Sikh women. Sikh women have led most of the IGS Kirtani Jathas.
Another first for the IGS is Kesh- Darshan (hair wash and display) competition, introduced in its camps since the UK camp in 1980. It has proved to be a very useful exercise to promote love and appreciation for the beauty of unshorn hair and beards. Kesh Darshan is mandatory for all campers and counselors.
One of the objectives of this organization is to develop digital tools for the study and research of our old scriptural and historical Sikh literature.
With this end in view, IGS has already developed and released a Gurbani Researcher CD, a powerful research tool with a specially designed search-engine capability. It allows one to delve into the depths of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, explore, search, research and understand the hidden jewels in Gurbani and access English Translation of any word or line instantly.
A novel feature of this CD is the capability to search in a fuzzy mode.
Currently, IGS is in the process of digitizing the remaining Sikh scriptural literature, such as the Dasam Granth, works of Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Nandlal and the traditional source literature of the Sikhs, like the Janam Saakhies, Gurbilases, Gur Sobha, Rehat Naamas, Hukam Naamas and Suraj Prakash etc.
It is a gigantic task. An agreement has been signed with the Punjabi University, Patiala, to authenticate the texts before they are digitized on the pattern of Gurbani Researcher.
In the interest of preservation of important manuscripts lying with various universities, Gurdwaras and individuals, and for making them available to scholars in the western world and for its own digitization project, IGS has recently microfilmed about 100 manuscripts from Takhat Sri Harimandar Sahib, Patna, Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr. Balbir Singh Sahitya Kendra, Dehradun, DAV College, Chandigarh and some individuals. Permission is being obtained from the remaining sources to continue with the process.
IGS has used multi media to promote the Sikh teachings. In 1990, A Talking Kaida was brought out to teach the Gurmukhi script to English speaking children.
Since its first Sikh Youth Camp in India, in October 1972, IGS has held 65 Sikh Youth Camps, 10 Sikh Family Camps and 3 Mini Camps. Thousands of Sikh men and women have attended these camps held in different parts of the world and several of them are continuing to kindle the Sikh spirit in their local communities. Click here to go to Camps page.
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AUSTRALIA | 2 (1999) | ||||||
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CANADA | 4 (1982, 1991, 1992, 1994) | ||||||
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ENGLAND | 1 (1980) | ||||||
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INDIA | 20 | ||||||
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NEPAL | 1 (1979) | ||||||
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THAILAND | 4 (1981, 1999, 2 in 2002) | ||||||
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USA | 34 | ||||||
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Over the years, IGS has popularized singing of Gurbani amongst Sikh youth and taught Shabad Kirtan to hundreds of them. Several IGS Kirtani Jathas made up of young professionals have dedicated their time in spreading the Guru's message through melodious Shabad Kirtan lovingly rendered in various countries. IGS Kirtan performances have deeply touched the hearts of world's Sadh Sangats.
IGS has also fostered healthy and open discussions on various Sikh issues at its camps and in Gurdwaras in different countries. IGS members who are knowledgeable, articulate and persuasive about the Sikh faith have led these forums.
In response to calls from the parents of young Sikh boys facing difficulties in their schools, IGS counselors have been very helpful. They have not only been explaining why Sikhs do not cut their hair and use Patkas/turbans, but have also been giving practical demonstrations by opening their hair and retying their turbans in pre-arranged school meetings. The response from the teachers as well as the students has invariably been very encouraging.
During the past 29 years, IGS has held camps/performed Kirtans and addressed Sikh Sangats in India, Nepal, England, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, USA and Australia.
For the past 13 years, IGS has been celebrating the birthday of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, on December 25th with unprecedented pomp and show at a gloriously arranged function that has come to be known as DARBAR-E-KHALSA.
Renowned Raagis, children from Sikh schools from various Gurdwaras and talented individuals pay their homage to the Tenth Sri Guru Ji by rendering Shabad Kirtan, delivering speeches and reciting poetry on the inspiring life and teachings of the Guru. The grand finale of the day long celebration comprises of over ten thousand Sikhs participating in a colorful procession that culminates in a ceremonial send off to Sri Guru Granth Sahib in a helicopter.
IGS has set a tradition of encouraging and show casing the service and successes of Sikhs in various fields in order to inspire the community to continue to perform good deeds in the society and towards the Khalsa Panth. Every year, a few Sikh men, women and children are honored at the Darbar-E-Khalsa for their dedication, love and distinguished service to the House of the Guru and the Sikh Community. A unique feature of the ceremony is that the awards are presented by one of the Panj Piaraas present on the stage.
There are thousands of devotees, Sindhis in particular, who are ardent followers of Guru Ghar and are regularly visiting Gurdwaras with their families and performing all their major ceremonies with the blessings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. S.G.P.C in its 1995 World Sikh Conference at Amritsar arranged a special seminar for such devotees under the heading, Shardhalu Sikh Seminar. About 150 invitees from all over India and abroad attended. An IGS delegate had the honor to preside over it.
We at the IGS strongly feel that special efforts need to be put in by all concerned to bring all such beloved devotees of the Gurus affectionately closer and made to feel at home with the rest of the community.
IGS has been paying special attention to strengthen the ties with Sindhi followers of the Gurus for the past over 12 years. IGS Jatha has been performing Kirtans at their residences and explaining the teachings of the Gurus to them in English and Hindi. IGS has also been playing a prominent role in participating in the annual birthday celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, organized with great love and dedication by the Sindhi sisters and brothers settled in Southern California.
IGS held a special 3-day Sikh Mothers' Residential Camp at the IGS House, in which over 20 Sindhi sisters participated and learnt about the teachings of the Ten Great Gurus. They also learnt Shabad Kirtan and formed their own Kirtani Jatha, called Sindhi Sisters Kirtan Group. It performs excellent Kirtan and participates in Gurpurabs.
IGS counselors have represented the Sikh Faith at various Inter Faith meetings and addressed students that came to study comparative religion at various US Universities.
IGS publications include books and tracts in Punjabi, English and Thai. IGS has been imparting training in camps through its romanized version of Gurbani to those not familiar with GurNanakmukhi or Gurmukhi.
In September 1995, IGS published Nitnem in the Thai script for the first time. The Sikh Sangats gathered at the Golden Temple Darbar Sahib for the World Sikh Conference were amongst the first ones to have a glimpse of it at the time of its release at Manji Sahib by the then Jathedar of Akaal Takht.
Work is now on for rendering the whole of Sri Guru Granth Sahib into the Thai script.
IGS is managed and run purely on voluntary basis. Donations to IGS are fully tax - exempt. We need your help. May Waheguru ji keep us going!
CALIFORNIA 28
TEXAS 1
MICHIGAN 2
NEW JERSEY 1
CHICAGO 1
FLORIDA 1