Santbir Singh

Research Associate

Santbir Singh is a Research Associate with SikhRI. He is currently doing his Ph.D. in Sociology at York University. His graduate research focuses on Sikh activism and the inherent relationship between Sikhi and anarchism explored through historical and contemporary Sikh movements, such as the Kisān Morcha (Farmer’s Protests) of 2020-2021. 

Santbir Singh has served as an educator and activist in the Sikh community for over two decades. He continues cultivating a deeper relationship with Sabad Guru while focusing on Sikh inspirations for social activism, feminism, and decolonization through a multifaceted critical analysis using different schools of thought and tradition.

Santbir Singh is a facilitator at Sidak and an alumnus of Sidak 2012. He lives on Wendat, Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, Mississauga, Hiawatha, Alderville & Métis Territory on Williams Treaties land (colonially known as Toronto), Canada, with his wonderful wife, incredible children, and wild dog.

Videos

Tuesday
,
12
August
2025

Sabad 4: The Speech of Truth

Our final session examines the last sabad of Babarvani (Utterances on Babar), found in Rag Tilang (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 722). This sabad is unique in its structure, beginning as a direct address to Bhai Lalo, the Guru’s devoted Sikh who witnessed the...

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Tuesday
,
12
August
2025

Sabad 3: The Corruption of Wealth

In this session, we explore the third sabad from Babarvani (Utterances on Babar) and Rag Asa (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 417). Guru Nanak Sahib exposes the fleeting nature of material wealth, describing how the riches of the elite vanish in an instant with...

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Tuesday
,
12
August
2025

Sabad 2: The Plight of Women in War

This session focuses on the second sabad from Babarvani (Utterances on Babar) and also in Rag Asa (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 417).

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Tuesday
,
12
August
2025

Introduction to Babarvani and Sabad 1: The Terror of Hindustan

In our first session, we explore the background of Babarvani (Utterances on Babar), beginning with the meaning of Vani, the identity of Babar, and the political landscape of South Asia at the time.

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Wednesday
,
9
July
2025

Seva in Sikh History

This session traces the evolution of Seva throughout Sikh history, from the time of the Gurus to the present day. It examines Seva in its many forms—spiritual, communal, and revolutionary—while connecting it to broader frameworks of the Sikh revolution...

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Wednesday
,
9
July
2025

Seva: The Divine Adoration

In this three-part session, we will explore Seva through the Gurmat Framework, diving into its essence as revealed in Bani, Sikh history, and its role in our personal and Panthic lives today.

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Podcasts

Monday
,
18
March
2024

Getting to Know Rani Jind Kaur: Episode 1

Tune in to Santbir Singh and Sean Holden as they delve into the captivating tale of Rani Jind Kaur, the last queen of Panjab, in the inaugural episode of this podcast series. But why is it crucial for us to unravel her narrative?

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Tuesday
,
13
April
2021

Countdown to Vaisakhi 2021: Santbir Singh

Santbir Singh, Sidak Facilitator at Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) shares his reflection on Vaisakhi.

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Friday
,
6
November
2020

Genocide

How do we remember? How do we advocate? How do we survive? In this episode we feature three leading voices in the November 1984 Anti-Sikh pogroms study.

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Articles

Tuesday
,
4
June
2024

Why Was Bhindranwale There?

Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale is a pivotal figure in the events of 1984. There is much consternation and confusion over his actions and choices in the lead-up to the June 1984 Ghallughara.

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Tuesday
,
26
March
2024

No More Blue Stars

In recent years, diasporic Sikhs have been moving to consciously avoid using the terms Operation Blue Star or Holocaust and instead use terms like the Battle of Amritsar, genocide, or Ghallughara when speaking about June and November 1984.

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Tuesday
,
13
February
2024

The Attack on Political Sikhi

What did Indira Gandhi hope to achieve in the June 1984 attack on the Harimandar Sahib Complex and Gurduaras around Panjab? What was the goal of the Indian National Congress (I) party’s brutal and genocidal pogroms against Sikhs across the country in...

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Monday
,
18
June
2012

The Messiah Is Here

We all suffer at times, weighed down with personal traumas, disappointments and regrets. According to the Buddhists, the primary truth of all of human existence is suffering. But in Sikhi, while our Guru acknowledges that there is much suffering in...

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Friday
,
22
February
2013

Sidak 2013: Why I'll be There

Like many young Sikh-Canadians and Sikh-Americans, I've done the full circuit.I started as a kid at the Punjabi Sunday School, moved on to the day camps run by the gurdwaras during school holidays.

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Friday
,
7
February
2014

Crafting The Tools of Sikh Sovereignty

For many Sikhs today, there is little difference between being Punjabi and being Sikh. But this was not always the case. 

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

Santbir Singh
 is not presenting at any upcoming events as of yet. Explore our upcoming events.