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

Sunday
,
13
April
2025

Countdown to Vaisakhi 2025: Santbir Singh

Santbir Singh serves as a Research Associate with SikhRI. An avid student of Sikhi, he has spoken at retreats, conferences, and youth camps for over two decades.

watch now ⟶
Monday
,
4
November
2024

The 1984 Attack on Sikhi: Aftermath of 1984

In our final session of the series, we will look at the immediate aftermath of June and November 1984. We will discuss the rebuilding of the Akal Takht Sahib. We will look at what life was like for Sikhs after November 1984 in the rest of India.

watch now ⟶
Sunday
,
3
November
2024

The 1984 Attack on Sikhi: Ghallughara in India

This session will look at the events of the first week of November 1984, in which genocidal attacks against Sikhs occurred across India, especially in the capital city of Delhi.

watch now ⟶
Saturday
,
2
November
2024

The 1984 Attack on Sikhi: Ghallughara in Panjab

In the second session, we will keep looking at June 1984, but change our focus from Amritsar to the entire state of Panjab. We will look at the shutdown and closing of Panjab to the outside world.

watch now ⟶
Friday
,
1
November
2024

The 1984 Attack on Sikhi: The Seventh Battle of Amritsar

In our first session, we will look in detail at what occurred in Amritsar in June of 1984.

watch now ⟶
Saturday
,
7
September
2024

Betrayals & Broken Promises: Dharam Yudh Morcha

In the final session of the series, we will explore the Dharam Yudh Morcha period, the escalating state violence against Sikhs, and the Sikh response to this violence.

watch now ⟶

Podcasts

Friday
,
28
June
2024

Why Was Bhindranwale There?

Santbir Singh delves into the complex and sometimes controversial legacy of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale during the events of June 1984.

watch now ⟶
Wednesday
,
12
June
2024

Sant Jarnail Singh: The Man, the Myth, the Truth

Listen as Santbir Singh delves into an in-depth conversation with Harinder Singh about Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a pivotal figure in 20th-century Sikh history.

watch now ⟶
Sunday
,
9
June
2024

No More Blue Stars

Santbir Singh joins Manvinder Kaur to discuss his recent article, “No More Blue Stars.” They delve into the evolving terminology surrounding the events of 1984 and explore ways the community can reclaim and reshape the narrative of these events.

watch now ⟶
Monday
,
18
March
2024

Getting to Know Rani Jind Kaur: Episode 2

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?

watch now ⟶
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?

watch now ⟶
Tuesday
,
13
April
2021

Countdown to Vaisakhi 2021: Santbir Singh

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

watch now ⟶

Articles

Sunday
,
31
May
2026

Pierced by Compassion

Some sabads remain on the page. Others begin to live inside us. In this reflection, Santbir Singh returns to a sabad of Guru Nanak Sahib on Ang 795 that has become an ardas in moments of grief, stress, and surrender.

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
Tuesday
,
7
April
2026

Sovereignty in Motion: Sikh Governance Models

In the Sikh tradition, sovereignty is a boon of the Divine, entrusted to the House of Nanak and carried forward through the Gurus into the dual institution of Guru Granth and Panth.

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
Friday
,
27
February
2026

Guru Harikrishan Sahib: Capacity, Care, and the Rights of Children

Explore how Guru Harikrishan Sahib redefined leadership as a child. This article invites readers to reflect on what the Guru’s life teaches us about children’s rights, capacity, and Sikh ethics of care.

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
Thursday
,
29
January
2026

Joy as Refusal

Guru Gobind Sahib’s engagement with aesthetics, joy, and poetry became tools against imperial attempts to shrink Sikh life into fear, silence, and mere survival.

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
Tuesday
,
28
October
2025

Guru Harirai Sahib: The Healer and the Defender

Guru Har Rai’s reign was one of seeming contradictions: compassion and ever-readiness to fight for sovereignty, spiritual and political development, and strengthening and consolidating innovations of earlier Gurus.

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
Monday
,
8
September
2025

The Legacy of Jaswant Singh Khalra

30 years later, what can we learn from Jaswant Singh Khalra—who exposed Punjab Police crimes of extrajudicial killings and cremations?

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶

Presenting at Upcoming Events

Sun
,
Jul 26

Sidak 2026

Khalsa Centre

Sidak is a transformative educational experience designed for young Sikh adults aged 18 to 39. It brings together seekers from all over the world to learn, grow, and lead with purpose.

Learn More ⟶