Interview with Vikram Singh Khalsa

Name:  Vikram Singh
Age: 19
 

Location: California, USA


Website: www.VikramKhalsa.com

About Me
One could learn a good deal about me just by going through my website. I was born and raised here in California, and currently I’m working on my Electrical Engineering degree from the University of California, Davis. As you may have noticed, I like performing magic. Besides being a magician, I also love making jokes; any one with a good sense of humor would get along with me really well. I am also an amateur inventor/artist, I enjoy creating new things and working with anything hands-on. I am also a Sikh, or trying to be. I was very fortunate to be shown the amazing path of Sikhi, now it’s my responsibility to continue walking on it.

My Interests
sikhi, keertan, tabla, magic, electronics, computer graphics, weapons, reading, art, comedy, gatka

How did I get into magic?
In kindergarten, the principal of my school was a magician. One day she showed our class a trick and called me up as her assistant. She told me to copy exactly what she did, but her handkerchief disappeared and mine didn’t. That day I decided I was going to become a magician and learn how to do that myself. A few years later, one of my dad’s friends bought me a trick and taught me how to do it. He kept getting me a new one every few months for a while until I started doing research and learning myself.

Where do I get my inspiration from?
My first inspiration for magic was the creator of the first magic kit I received, Lance Burton. Even today, his magic inspires me to take my own entertainment to the next level. Davis Blaine’s street magic special also inspired me to overcome my shyness and approach new people to show them my tricks. 

My inspiration for Sikhi comes from books about Sikh History and gursikhs like Bhai Randhir Singh ji and Baba Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale. I also find Bhai Pinderpal Singh Ji’s katha very inspiring. My father has always inspired me, as well as many other gursikhs I have had the fortune to meet. I have also attended some inspiring youth camps and other events.

My Ambitions in life
My primary ambition in life is to fulfill the purpose for which we were sent here, and to eventually achieve that state we become one with Waheguru. However, most of the time my worldly ambitions stay in the forefront. These include the standard stereotypical ambitions, being successful, raising and having a nice family, a good sized house, a really nice car and so on. Specifically in my case it would be having a stable and well paying job as an electrical engineer, but also becoming a first-class professional magician. My other ambition is to go out and do parchar of Sikhi, a wonderful gem whose value most of us don’t realize. This would be once those other things were taken care of and I myself had reached a higher state spiritually.

My message to the Sikh youth
These days we see a lot of negative aspects of Punjabi culture which we associate with Sikhi. Remember that these things are not really part of Sikhi, so don’t let them tarnish the image of sikhi in your mind.

My message to the youth is to learn as much as you can about your history and about gurbani as you can. The more you learn the more you realize how amazing Sikhi really is, why so many people sacrificed everything for it. Our past is so inspiring, full of so many real examples of people who followed this path. We should remember them, when we think our situation is hard. What we have to go through is nothing compared to what our ancestors had to go through.

Another thing is that the kind of sangat we keep is extremely important. Even if we are confident, hanging out with the wrong crowd will have an effect on us. The best way to learn, be inspired, and improve in your sikhi is to do sangat with gursikhs. Nowdays the electronic media is also full of resources. Don’t ever give up your faith!