SikhArchive

Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 58th episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.  

In this episode, we are joined by Mallika Kaur, who is an author, lawyer, teacher and community organizer who focuses on human rights with a specialization in gender and minority issues. She is also the author of the book “Faith, Gender, and Activism in the Punjab Conflict: The Wheat Fields Still Whisper”, which we will be discussing today. 

We begin our conversation by understanding what inspired Mallika Kaur to write the book, then go onto explore the significance of intersectionality within our community, and later discuss some of the real stories that were told throughout the book, including that of Jaswant Singh Khalra.  

Note: This discussion includes readings and discussion around identity-based discrimination and harassment that may be difficult for some listeners. 

Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 55th episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.

In this episode, we are joined by Harjeet Singh Grewal, who is a professor of Asian Religion and Sikh Studies at the University of Calgary and Comparative Literature courses at MacEwan University and his PhD thesis was titled, “Janamsakhi: Networks of interpretation.

And so today we will be discussing Janamsakhis, their origins, their significance and their role in Sikhi today. In addition to that, we also explore what purpose they served, their mythical dimension and the role of Bhai Veer Singh in modern Sikh reading practices.

Also...

The University of Calgary is currently expanding Sikh Studies by creating an endowment fund. Find more information about Sikh Studies at https://www.ucalgary.ca/giving/campaign-success/featured-stories/sikh-studies-program

Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 54th episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.

In this episode, we are joined by Nirinjan Kaur, who is a professor of theological studies at the Loyola Marymount University. Her work examines both historic and modern Sikh devotional music with particular attention paid to the mystical and embodied realms of performative practice as well as the ideological debates and identity politics surrounding its pedagogy and history.

Professor Khalsa also has a focus on the music and poetics of devotion in the Jain and Sikh as well as on the aspect of spiritual warriors in both traditions, which is the topic that we will be discussing today. We begin by exploring an introduction to the understanding of theology, the commonality and differences between the two philosophies and also the geographical and historical links.

Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 53rd episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.

In this episode, we are joined by Pashaura Singh, who is a professor of religious studies at the University of California, Riverside. He is a leading scholar in Sikh studies where his research interests and expertise include the Adi Granth, Gurmukhi script and Sikh history.

Today we will be discussing his book, namely the Life and Work of Guru Arjan, and exploring this biography in detail. We talk about Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s childhood, his philosophy, his Guruship, engagement with Mughal rule and his legacy, to name but a few.

Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 52nd episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Gunisha Kaur, who is an anaesthesiologist specializing in human rights. Her research interests focus on displaced populations such as migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

She is also the author of the book, 1984: Lost in History which will be discussed today. The book documents the events of 1984, before, during and after with respect to the human rights violations in India, the subsequent trauma and the campaign for justice which continues to this day.