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Barkha Kaur Tiwana
My name is Barkha Kaur and I am a
proud to be an alumnus of Hemkunt from

the Silicon Valley. I am so grateful for
my time participating in the Hemkunt
Symposium annually as it has profoundly
shaped my journey; providing me with a

deep understanding of Punjabi language
and Sikh history over the years.

I recall so fondly when my parents

enrolled me into my first Hemkunt
Speech competition and bringing up a
poster board with pictures of key events
from Sakhis of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. While

it was meant to be a visual aide, I
remember also using the photos to help
guide me through my very first 4-minute
speech at the young age of 5. While I
was disheartened I did not place in the

top 3 that year, I continued (and

eventually immensely looked forward to)
participating in Hemkunt speeches

annually. Along the years, Hemkunt speeches became so much more for me: it was a way to learn Sikh
history and culture, connect with my roots as an Indian-American growing up in the United States,
allow me to practice speaking in Punjabi, and spend time with my parents/grandparents (who tirelessly
listened, helped edit, and corrected my speeches before the international levels). Moreover, competing
in international level many times allowed me to forge meaningful connections with individuals worldwide

who share a similar cultural and religious background.

After having "graduated" out of the speech competitions, I continued with my college education and I
am now an internal medicine hospitalist in Sacramento. However, I am grateful to Hemkunt Foundation

for fostering in me the invaluable skills of both public speaking and rooting me firmly in my Sikh identity.