Age Never Stops Dya Singh From Walking

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- At 59 years of age, Dya Singh should be resting at home, either enjoying the wealth gained from his career as an accountant, or spending time with his two grandchildren.

But Dya Singh never puts a stop to his 'energetic' life.

After making two walking trips covering a distance nearly 500km in his former country, Malaysia, Dya Singh who was born in Raub, Pahang in 1950 but now residing in Melbourne, Australia, plans for another walk.

This time, the walk would be from here to the historical city of Melaka.

Dya Singh would not be alone in this 'walking episode' as he would have the company of his protege Vikram Singh, a British national who decided to adopt the Sikh faith and resides in Hawaii.

Vikram Singh who is about the same age as his mentor is formerly known as Vic Briggs, the lead guitarist of the rock group, the 'Animals' that belted out hit songs like the 'House Of The Rising Sun'.

Both are planning to embark on the Kuala Lumpur-Melaka walk today (May 15).

FROM PAHANG TO AUSTRALIA

Even though Dya Singh was born in Pahang, he had his early education in Taiping, Perak before moving down to Kuala Lumpur and continued his schooling at the Pasar Road Primary School.

During his kindergarten days in Pokok Assam, Taiping, Dya Singh learnt some Islamic teachings even before he knew how to recite Sikh prayers.

After Dya Singh's schooling days in the Victoria Institution (VI), he joined the Malay Mail daily in 1970 as a sports journalist. The stint lasted for about one year before he quit and left for the United Kingdom (UK) to do accountancy.

After finishing his studies in the UK, Dya Singh married a Malaysian-born woman before migrating to Australia in 1981. The couple has three daughters and two grandchildren.

FROM SPORTSMAN TO CULTURAL AMBASSADOR

Dya Singh was named VI's Sportsman of the Year 1969 due to his passion in sports, for playing in the school's football, hockey and cricket first eleven.

He also captained VI's hockey team. Dya Singh was also in the Selangor Under 23 hockey line-up in 1970/71.

During his days in VI, Dya Singh had a chance to play alongside Malaysia's soccer legend, the late Mokhtar Dahari who during that time was his junior in the first 11 for the VI football team.

Both of them were in the VI squad who won the Khir Johari Cup for the inter-schools championship in 1969 after defeating the Royal Military College (RMC).

Besides his passion for sports, Dya Singh also took up Sikh spiritual singing, taught by his father since he was five, and to this date has performed in various countries.

Dya Singh now heads the Australian multicultural music group named after him and the troupe has Japan, Singapore, Kenya, Tanzania, United States, Canada, UK, Pakistan, Germany, Ireland and Thailand since its inception in 1984.

In 2000, the DyaSingh group received the World Music Group of the Year, an award given by the South Australia Music Industry.

"We have travelled to all parts of Australia and have represented the country as cultural ambassadors on numerous occasions," he said.

The DyaSingh Group had also performed in the opening ceremony of Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.

The music group had also performed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC and Royal Albert Hall in London.

PHILOSOPHY FOR WALKING

For Dya Singh, walking is the best activity for the body and mind.

He said the physical fitness and relaxation of the mind could be obtained by walking and being in one's own company without the other distractions.

For the physical body, Dya Singh has this to say:" Either give your body some discomfort or the body will give you a lot of pain and discomfort especially in old age."

For him, the discomfort means exercise or at least walking and consuming the right things.

A WALK FROM KUALA LUMPUR TO MELAKA

After migrating to Australia in 1981, Dya Singh never missed to visit his country of birth as his family and friends still live all over Malaysia.

Dya Singh started his walking expedition in 2007, from Ipoh, Perak to Kuala Lumpur and followed up with a similar stint from Penang down to Ipoh last year.

If his Kuala Lumpur-Melaka walk is successful, Dya Singh plans to perform another feat either from Melaka to Kuantan or from Kuantan to Johor Baharu via the East Coast Highway.

"Walking is good for health, especially as one gets older. It is also a great way to get in touch with nature and one's soul. We shall use the old highway and just enjoy this beautiful country, its people, food, fruits and drinks along the way."

For the Kuala Lumpur to Melaka walk which begins today, Dya Singh hopes to reach his destination a week later.

 
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At 59 a person is not ready for bed rest --- unless they have a serious medical condition. Dya Singh ji needs to work on his abs, but that is about it. Among the many things that I will salute him for is the way he has engaged his children in his recordings and performances of the Shabad Guru. His jatha performs like a choir with different voices heard at different times. Among them have been the voices of his little girls, who began at a very young age to record and participate. And I th ink that is a model to follow, bit people and little people, doing this together.

Hes GREAT....and hes Malaysian. I am proud of him....because hes SIKH.