A Message From the CEO
Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji ki Fateh!
This year has been an unusual and challenging time for all of us. With the amplified fear and uncertainty in the world today, there also comes an opportunity to create massive positive change on this planet. Not just in our cities, but in our countries and the world; not just individually, but within our families and communities. This is a time for us to rise above the fear and come together in love and support for each other.
At SikhNet, we are here to be an open and positive place of inspiration and learning; to be a place of coming together in all our differences.
It is our honor to share with you some of the things SikhNet did this past year in our Annual Report. Please know, we couldn’t do any of it without you. Thank you for your ongoing support!
With much love from my family to yours,
Gurumustuk Singh
Chief Executive Officer, SikhNet, Inc.
Please take a few moments right now to support this mission of Light by giving a portion of your Dasvandh to SikhNet. We need to raise $400,000 by the end of the year in order to fund SikhNet’s growth, and to continue serving millions of people around the world.
One World One Hope
“We are one global human family.”
Inspirational video presenting Guru Arjun Dev Ji’s Universal Message, produced in partnership with SikhNet.
During the lockdown and more importantly social distancing in the UK, many Gurdwaras have restricted visiting times for the Sangat. Sikhnet has been my life line for my “spiritual needs”.
#SikhsAtHomeTogether
In response to the lock downs, SikhNet responded by mobilizing sangat around the globe to offer live kirtan and katha daily.
Virtual Vaisakhi
Livestream of events and celebrations around the world.
GURBANI MEDIA CENTER
In 2020 over 60,000 people downloaded the GMC app and received over 13 Million Gurbani audio plays from our Sangat. 4 million people used the website version of the GMC (Approx 330,000 people per month).
Gurbani Albums & Featured Playlists
In 2020, we added:
- 94 new albums consisting of digitized old Gurbani, western style, mainstream, healing meditation, devotional, Kavishri and English Kathas for sangat.
- 100 featured playlists were created for listeners to enjoy kirtan of different styles/moods. The playlists are created with Gurbani kirtan dedicated to specific Gurpurab and historic events.
- 64 playlists (364 total)
Custom User Playlists
We worked really hard to implement a very important user requested feature in 2020. Custom user playlists allow users to add their favorite tracks and create their own unique collections. Users can add, remove and change the order of tracks within a playlist. Over 9600 playlists have been created by users.
Track Actions
We introduced a track action button that gives quick access to actions related to a track. Users can add the track to a playlist, add the track to “My Library”, view the track’s artist and the album this track belongs to.
Gurbani Katha
A new section on the home screen is NOW available to users to listen to Gurbani Katha. All of the Katha tracks that are in the Katha SGGS app are available in Gurbani Media Center. The features that are part of the Katha SGGS app like resuming where you left off and downloading tracks for listening offline will be coming to GMC in the near future.
Thank you thank you thank you… this is the best, most awesome creation, remedy for all ailments, soothing balm, truth and guide.. I have no words to express my gratitude. Thank you most humbly.. I have reconnected with my Guru..
Learning with Gurbani Media Center
Learning is a part of SikhNet and when it comes to Gurbani Media Center we have included Sehaj Paath, Santheya and Gurbani Translation playlists under the category “Gurbani Paath.” Each playlist focuses on providing the sangat easy understanding of Gurbani and how to pronounce it. We have also made available audio collections of Q&A Youtube videos of Guruka and Shanti Kaur that answer youth questions on Lifestyle, Spirituality, Relationships and more.
- Sing along Nitnem for Kids playlist specifically designed to help kids learn to recite Nitnem Paath.
- Added Raag based playlists collection “Gurbani Raag Keertan” having Raag Keertan sung by different Ragis using Puratan Sikh instruments.
- Added an amazing collection of Mainstream, Western, Classics, Raag, Devotional kirtan dedicated to 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
- New Gurbani playlists category “O Guru save us!” including shabads that help to feel protected during the initial COVID-19 pandemic.
- Added Top Gurbani Charts category which includes top listened Gurbani tracks, albums, artists, etc. by the listeners.
- New playlists collection “Sadhana from Solstice” with tracks dedicated to morning Sadhana
- Playlists dedicated to Holla Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib, India.
- New playlist with all Western Female Vocalists
Sikh Podcasts
In 2020 SikhNet began building our podcast network.
Featured Podcasts:
- Kaur Voices Talk Show
- The Sikh Coach Podcast
- Spirited
- Seek Parenting
- Khoj Gurbani
The podcasts are related to topics like Gurbani explanation, Sikhs in politics – business – sports etc, Parenting, Live life according to Guru’s teachings,
SikhNet Radio
Listen to Gurbani Live from Gurdwaras around the World
All Gurdwaras are invited to contact SikhNet to have their broadcasts included in the SikhNet Radio Channels. Get in touch.
Did you know that you can upload audio to the GMC?
The GMC allows hundreds of thousands of people to stream Guru Ji’s kirtan anywhere in the world. Get started.
2021 Stability & Expansion Goals
This year our priority is the rebuild of the backend GMC system. Technology changes so quickly, in order for the Gurbani Media Center to accommodate mobile users, apps, smart devices, smart assistants, cars, TV, etc, we have started on our $178K 2020-2021 stability project.
Specific goals:
- Build totally new modern GMC system that is flexible, independent and supports the needed growth
- Move GMC off the main SikhNet website
- Allows for Phase 2 of upgrading the Sikhnet website and to address security issues
- Upgrade, run and maintain the Drupal-based SikhNet website separately from the GMC
- Enables independent development at different paces by different teams
- Issues with one system do not affect the other
- Can be run on different hardware/cloud – further reducing risks
Benefits of this project are far-reaching. Here is a list of the most pressing benefits:
- GMC in major expansion with large growing user base
- Data safety for our user base
- Ability to keep GMC stable and available
- Ability to expand access to new users
- Ability to keep our services free of charge
- No advertising. No fees. Free to Users
- Growing needs to access the content in many ways & devices
Downloads & Users
SIKHNET LEARNING CENTER
Nearly 10,000 students are enrolled in SikhNet Learning Center courses.
In 2020, we launched one new course and continued open enrollment in our other 4 courses where we continue to provide support to active students.
Our latest course in the Guru Nanak Within Me series is called Why Am I a Sikh?
This course focuses on:
- Understanding what makes someone a Sikh
- Strengthening our commitment to the Sikh lifestyle and spiritual practices
- Living a life of purpose and purity
- Gaining clarity in our identity as a Sikh and our relationship to God
We are in the process of launching a New Webinar Series focused on Mental Health, providing support during COVID times with Sikh inspired content presented by Sikh mental health and wellness professionals from around the globe.
All the courses in the SikhNet Learning Center are mixed-media courses involving, reading, audio, video, quizzes and self-assessments. Students interact with each other directly as well as with the instructors through the 24/7 commenting system.
What our students are saying…
I am glad I have an opportunity to say, how much I have learnt about Sikhi from doing the various Sikhnet free courses online… The awareness of gurbani and its meaning has got me to start doing Japji Sahib each morning, it’s made my faith strong and believe and accept Waheguru hukam.
This course was thoroughly enjoyed. Every lesson there was something new to learn and understand. With Guru Jis Kirpa may the amazing work completed continue and be shared amongst the rest of the world, who can all then find a way to better their lives.
This course is so amazing and bringing a positive change and motivation.
SIKHNET STORIES FOR KIDS
In 2019-2020, SikhNet produced 9 animations, 3 audio stories and 2 animated stories dubbed in Punjabi. In alignment with our userbase’s wishes, our focus in the SikhNet Stories for Kids area is to put out more animations.
9 New Animated Stories
2 Stories in Punjabi
Script Writing Contest
Listen to an important message and inspiration from Hunar Kaur, author of Can Trees Grow Overnight?
Last year we ran the Script Writing Contest and received many wonderful entries from around the world!
Can Trees Grow Overnight?, the winner in our Junior category, was made into an audio story and released as an animation. It was also released as a story in Punjabi. We are excited to be releasing more stories from winners of the contest in 2020-2021.
All audio and animated stories are available to children using the smartphone or tablet apps. With all the new animations you can now watch videos within the app too!
The SikhNet News
Over 1 Million People from 50+ countries read the articles and news stories that SikhNet share on a regular basis.
Features original articles from our volunteer staff of over 20 contributing writers along with daily news stories gathered from around the world by our news editors. Keep up-to-date on all things Sikh-related and enjoy in-depth journalism along with thought-provoking original essays and posts every day.
Daily Hukamnama
Every day over 50,000+ people receive inspiration from the Daily Hukamnama from Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, delivered via our website, on Facebook, Twitter, via email or through the Daily Hukamnama smartphone app, and even by a telephone call.
Inspirations Videos
Our YouTube Channel has been one of the greatest ways we reach, inform and inspire our global sangat. SikhNet was one of the first organizations out there making videos for Sikhs across the globe. Since 2006 we have produced over 776 videos which have over 21 million views!
Gurbani Whiteboards – a 26-part Series about Japji Sahib
7-part Sikhi Strong Series
A 4-part Sikh History Series on The Early Life of Guru Nanak
18 Animated Kids Stories in English and 2 in Punjabi
4 Short Form Documentaries on Inspirational Sikhs
23 Kaur Voices Interviews hosted by Jasvir Kaur Rababan
Gender Equality to Gurbani in modern times
71 of #SikhsAtHomeTogether
Connecting Sikhs across the globe during Covid 19 lockdowns
25 on GuruNanak550
Covering Special Events during Guru Nanak’s 550th Birth Anniversary
Kaur Voices Talk Show
SikhNet presents, Kaur Voices Talk Show, hosted by Jasvir Kaur Rababan, MBE — a space inspired by the Kaur Movement to give every voice a choice.
There is much that often gets labeled as taboo or falls into the hush hush culture, Kaur Voices Talk Show is a space to unveil these topics and discuss them openly in a non-offensive manner where we can encourage healthy dialogue.
KATHA APP
Our Guru Granth Sahib Katha App allows people to learn and understand the meaning of Gurbani using this easy to use audio book style app. Currently featuring over 600 hours of Gurbani Katha in Punjabi by Giani Thakur Singh and Giani Harbhajan Singh USA. We are regularly adding additional Katha audio in both Punjabi and English to the app. In 2020 this app will merge in with the Gurbani Media Center app.
SIKHI WIKI
With almost 6,300 articles on Sikhism, the Sikh people and their culture and over five million users, SikhiWiki.org remains the top research and resource site for Sikhs on the Web. Since it is a WIKI, anyone can contribute and/or edit information on SikhiWiki. Our moderator, Hari Singh oversees all SikhiWiki articles.
INCOME
EXPENSES
Please take a few moments right now to support the work of SikhNet. Our goal is to raise $400,000 to cover our core work for 2021. Will you join us by donating $101, or any amount you can, to support SikhNet’s seva?
If you come to SikhNet regularly, consider becoming a monthly donor. Thank you.
SikhNet, Inc is a tax-exempt IRS registered 501c(3) non-profit charitable organization.