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

Monday
,
26
June
2023

Guru Nanak Sahib: The Revolutionary - Q&A and Reflections

Santbir Singh explores the relevance of the Guru’s revolution in today’s world.

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Wednesday
,
21
June
2023

Guru Nanak Sahib: The Revolutionary - Introduction

Enhance your relationship with IkOankar through Guru Nanak Sahib: The Revolutionary, a virtual Sidak event featuring presentations that focus on Guru Nanak Sahib’s vision and revolutionary impact.

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Thursday
,
13
April
2023

Countdown to Vaisakhi 2023: Santbir Singh

“Vaisakhi is a time for gathering, for the Sikh Panth to come together; to learn from each other, to be inspired by each other, and to gain wisdom and inspiration from the Guru. To come to the path of the Guru for personal and Panthic transformation,”

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Friday
,
20
August
2021

Session 3 - Tavarikh: Religious-Political Historical Subtext

Dr. Jaspreet Kaur and Santbir Singh look into the religious-political historical subtext of Tavarikh-history to better understand the Gurmukh-Guru-oriented. Can just being a spiritualist or an activist be enough?

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Sunday
,
25
April
2021

Khalsa Scholar-Martyrs: Bhai Mani Singh & Baba Dip Singh

Bhai Mani Singh and Baba Dip Singh were leaders, scholars, and warriors. They played significant leadership roles in the community post-Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, keeping the Panth united under challenging circumstances. They were master scholars, some of the greatest in Sikh history, and created a scholarly tradition that still resonates in the community to this day. They were great warriors, fully living up to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib’s standard of the Warrior-Saint. And both sacrificed themselves for the Panth, becoming martyrs whose Shahidi has inspired generations of Sikhs. Watch as we explore the lives and legacy of these two preeminent Khalsa Scholar-Martyrs.

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Tuesday
,
13
April
2021

Countdown to Vaisakhi 2021: Santbir Singh

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

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Podcasts

Tuesday
,
14
April
2026

Sirdar Kapur Singh's Idea of the Sikh Homeland

In this episode of the Sikh Cast, join researchers Santbir Singh and Damanpreet Singh as they explore the writings of Sirdar Kapur Singh, one of the leading Sikh thinkers of the twentieth century.

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Friday
,
10
April
2026

Sovereignty in Motion: Sikh Governance Models

In this episode of the Sikh Cast, join Researchers Santbir Singh and Damanpreet Singh as they reflect on Vaisakhi and the principle of sovereignty. The two discuss Santbir Singh’s article, titled: Sovereignty in Motion: Sikh Governance Models.

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Friday
,
23
January
2026

Sikhi & Death: A Gurmat-Based Understanding

In this podcast, we are invited to pause and reflect: What does Sikhi actually say about death? How are we meant to face it, understand it, and live in its awareness? 

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Thursday
,
7
November
2024

Heartbeats of ‘84

Join host Santbir Singh as he delves into the profound impact of 1984 through the personal reflections of guest Pritpal Singh.

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Saturday
,
29
June
2024

The Attack on Political Sikhi

Manvinder Kaur and Santbir Singh explore the events of 1984 that forever transformed the landscape of Sikh history and politics in India.

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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.

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Articles

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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Thursday
,
24
April
2014

Where Do We Go From Here?

We are not strangers to random acts of violence and discrimination. Although mass shootings have become far too common in America in recent years, rarely have these horrific crimes been targeted at one community.

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

Sat
,
May 30

Miri-Piri: Living Sikh Sovereignty

This 2.5-hour Sidak event offers participants aged 18-39 a glimpse into the transformative two-week Sidak summer leadership program.

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Sat
,
Jun 20

Man Manik

Central Public School, Multipurpose Room

This interactive workshop explores Sheikh Farid Ji’s verses alongside the Gurus’ wisdom, inviting us to reflect on the human condition and our place within it.

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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.

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