Bridging the gap between communities

After a lifetime of service, Harjinder Singh, also known as Harjinder Singh Basiala, has been awarded the King’s Service Medal (KSM).

Since moving to New Zealand in 2007, Singh has done his utmost for the Punjabi community living in this country.

He spent 15 years working in the Indian newspaper industry, writing two books and several
articles. He described his work as a blend of journalism, civic service, and cultural
preservation.

Later, he founded the Punjabi Herald – New Zealand’s first Punjabi website. He has also
served as a justice of the peace and in 2017 became a marriage celebrant.

“My mission has always been to bridge the gap between the Punjabi-speaking community
and wider New Zealand society.”

When hearing of his incredible honour, Singh described feeling incredibly humbled and
grateful for the KSM. For him, it was not just his honour, but a recognition of the entire
Punjabi and the migrant community.

“It affirms that our cultural values and our efforts to build a more inclusive Aotearoa are
being recognised at the highest levels.

“My work is rooted in the principle of seva [selfless service]. As it is written in
Gurbani: ‘Vich Duniya Sev Kamaiye’, or in English, in the midst of this world, do selfless
service. I believe that language is the soul of a culture; if our language fades, our identity
fades.”

In the beginning, it was an incredible challenge, he said.

Thirty years ago, there was no digital infrastructure as we know it today, and distributing the news in his mother tongue required immense manual effort; from translation to digital and, at times, physical distribution.

“We had to build the foundation from the ground up without the formal government
frameworks available today. Now, the Punjabi Herald serves as a vital digital notice board for our community.”

He looks back with pride on all his achievements, but does wish he had advocated earlier for a national framework for community language accreditation.

“While we have made great strides with Punjabi Language Week since 2020, having formal
recognition in the mainstream curriculum sooner would have provided more incentive for our youth to retain their heritage.

“I strongly urge the Government and the Ministry of Education to incorporate Punjabi into
the school curriculum, wherever possible, particularly where resources and community
demand are available.

“This would validate the identity of thousands of students. This year, we are celebrating the
seventh New Zealand Punjabi Language Week from November 2 to November 8,
nationwide.”

Looking forward, he intends to keep promoting the Punjabi language and advocate for a more compassionate “sole carer” pathway for parental residency.

He also plans to expand digital tools and storytelling methods to help make the language
more relevant and accessible for future generations of Punjabi-New Zealanders.

“My goal remains a New Zealand where every community feels their language and heritage
are an integral part of the nation’s fabric,” Singh said.