Nam is the most important principle and central point of reference in the Sikhi cosmos and still it remains an enigma among the Sikh masses, and probably the least understood as well. The presentation looks at the etymology of the word, its appearance, usage and meaning in Gurbani, along with the traces of its inspiration in the Sikh history and tradition that helped shape them. The presentation also looks at the relevance and meaning of Nam in today’s world.
The British transferred the power in 1947 and the Panjab was partitioned, and later truncated in India. Millions were butchered and displaced in the aftermath. Plundered and violated, the Panjab has been caught between the Indo-Pak politics ever since. The presentation revisits the partition through Toba Tek Singh, and asks who’s Panjab is it anyway and who owes reparations to it. It assesses the current state of Panth vis-à-vis SGPC, Akalis and the community, and contextualizes the current political struggle for rights with special reference to Bapu Surat Singh and Gurdarspur attack.
Sidak is a distinctive leadership development program offered by SikhRI for young adults and professionals seeking to increase their commitment towards the Sikh faith. It is a two-week intensive immersion in Sikh culture, language, values and community through understanding bani (scripture), tvarikh (history), and rahit (discipline).
A panel discussion presented by SikhRI.
The attack on the Darbar Sahib in the June of 1984 was a defining moment in contemporary Sikh history. The standard narrative promoted by the media and the Indian state in its White Paper on the attack have largely ignored the communal motivations of the state as they relate to its inextricable relationship to Hindutva. We will survey contemporary conflicts, in particular the desecration of the Babri Masjid in 1992 and Gujarat in 2002, to understand the significance of the state-sponsored terror in 1984.
What does being Sikh means in Punjab in ethical terms? If you happen to be an unwanted girl and then assert your choices to make Punjab an honorable space for humankind, what will patriarchy do to you? How will Sikh institutions respond to you who invoke sacrifices made to oppose injustice and intolerance? Let us discuss with reference of Inqlab Kaur who is in jail for a crime every Sikh is supposed to commit every moment.
A gurbani-based workshop that explores history and background of Asa Ki Var.
Come network with some of the most successful Sikh Leaders in the lower mainland and learn about what SikhRI has to offer.
Join us for an afternoon of coffee and tea as we learn about our speakers. Painter, poet, and CEO of SikhRI, Inni Kaur, and painter, Kanwar Singh (Art of Punjab), will discuss how Sikhi has shaped their journeys in life as artists.
Join us for discussion that will centre around the Sikh community in Toronto (and Toronto area), shattering normative ideas of the ideal Sikh.Enjoy refreshments and snacks while engaging in open dialogue. For the curious and open-minded. All are welcome. You don't need to be a Sikh or know anything about Sikhi to attend.
Teens Workshop (led by Inni Kaur & Anu Kaur Bal) & Parents Workshop - (led by Harinder Singh)
Come hang out with the volunteers, staff and leaders of the Sikh Research Institute! Learn about what we do and connect with some awesome people working on advancing Sikh education and leadership in the community.
Sidak is a leadership development program for young adults seeking to increase their commitment towards the Sikh Faith. This two week intensive immersion into the Sikh culture, language, values and community is held annually in the summer.
We invite you all to join us for an evening of Gurmat Sangīt Kīrtan along with a presentation on the launch of the "Nād" project.
Please join us for an evening of Gurmat Sangīt Kīrtan along with a presentation on the launch of the "Nād" project at Mata Tripta Ji Gurdwara Sahib.
“Guru & I” by Sardarni Inni Kaur and “The Heritage of Gurmat Sangit” by Sardar Manjit Singh.
The Sikh community has faced considerable brutality and trauma as a marginalized group at the hands of oppressive regimes and misguided hatred both in India and in the diaspora. By expressing the narratives and history of the Sikh experience through the arts, broader themes of social justice emerge that speak to similar struggles in other marginalized communities. An understanding of social justice in this context helps to situate the Sikh experience, allowing culturally specific narratives to illuminate global issues of social justice as part of the human experience.
Gurbani gives us a code to help us understand ourselves as human beings on a spiritual journey. The Guru guides us to train the mind to find the Divine in our own hearts and within the entire Creation.
In this pessimistic milieu, we should look for guidance and inspiration in Sikhi thought and practice as enunciated by Guru Nanak and the Sikh Gurus which has always illuminated the path of the suffering Mulniwasi Bahujans to attain material and spiritual sovereignty and demolish upper varna /caste thraldom.
In 1469 the Sun and Lion manifest on this earth to illuminate the inherent presence of Divine in all hearts and minds. It then took 230 years to inaugurate the community of pure-sovereigns that dedicated themselves to these ideals. The ceremony of initiation into this order of the Khalsa was first conducted in a dramatic manner by the Tenth Father (Dasam Pita) in 1699. This webinar will explore the significance of Vaisakhi through the infrequently discussed yet profound significance of the adding of sweets by the Soveriegn Mother (Mata Sahib Kaur) as well as the backgrounds and dedication of the first Five Lovers (Panj Piare). We will also discuss various ways in which we can pay homage to their contributions and propagate the values they manifest in the way they lived and died.
The following topics will be discussed: Context of 350th Prakash Purab (Illumination Day) Commemorations, Tribute to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, Nanak the Tenth Sovereign, Sikh, Hindu and Muslim Poets from Land of Five Rivers, Celebration to mark World Poetry Day on 21 Mar 2017, and Life, Legacy & Impact on Panjab, South Asia, and Globe.
Sikhs have a small and extremely limited presence in the mainstream media. Even though the Sikh community has been active in every walk of life - athletics, politics, scientists, writers, filmmakers, cartoonists etc our stories are often relegated to the "religious" section in the media.
This presentation will examine Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s role as a secular ruler through a 19th century tomb in Lahore built by Rani Gulbahar Begum, his Muslim wife. The Maharaja’s religious non-discriminatory policies will be discussed based on information gleaned from his court chronicles and some official documents in the Lahore Museum collection. The tomb’s architectural and ornamental features will also be viewed to understand the tastes and craftsmanship of nineteenth century Punjabi patrons and artists.
This webinar looks at the lives of the 4 Sahibzadey and takes a close look at the "code" that they lived by. Some questions that we will answer together are: What were some key values and how do we know?