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.
Join us as Dr. Ishmeet Kaur and Harinder Singh focus on the events of June & November 1984.
Join Inni Kaur, Painter, Author, & Artist as she launches her newest publication, Daddy’s Turban.
In this presentation, Jasleen Kaur hopes to explore the questions “What would it take for the #metoo movement to happen in the Sikh community? What could our #metoo movement look like? And what are the unique challenges our community must overcome in order to get there?"
Join us as Jasleen Kaur, SikhRI Researcher, leads a Naujavan Sojhi Session at Sikh Heritage Month BC for Sikh teens and explores the meaning of Love in the context of cultivating a personal relationship with Ik Oankar, and to think more about our personal Sikhi journeys.
2019 is Nanakshahi#550. Join us as Harinder Singh focuses on Sri Kartarpur Sahib, since its inception to now and beyond....
Join Inni Kaur, Painter, Author, and Artist at the Women in Ministry: An Interfaith Perspective event in Stamford, CT.
Join Dr. Jaswant Singh, SikhRI's Director of Gurbani Research, as a Panelist, discussing the teachings of Guru Nanak Sahib at the Panjabi Cultural and Heritage Festival event.
Join Inni Kaur, Painter, Author, and Artist to hear about Guru Nanak Sahib in the Writings of Bhai Vir Singh at the Perspectives on Guru Nanak Lecture in New Delhi, India.
Since Partition, internal Sikh Panthak politics has been interwoven with larger Panjab and Indian political machinations. How did we get to this stage and what is the current state of Panthak politics vis a vis Panjab today? This freewheeling discussion will allow SikhRI’s Senior Fellow, Research & Policy, Harinder Singh, to touch on a variety of topics and ideas.
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?