SikhArchive

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 65th 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 Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, who is the proprietor of @PanjaabLawyers in Ludhiana and is also the Advocate for several Sikh Political Prisoners. He has recently released a list of those detained by Panjab Police online.  We discuss today his personal life, how he became a legal counsel for political prisoners, a brief history of the Indian penal code, UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and how it's applied in Panjab, an update on the case of Jagtar “Jaggi” Johal and more. 

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 60th 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 Amardeep Singh, who is an Independent Visual Ethnographic Researcher with a background in in the Financial Services sector for 25 years and who was also the Head of the Asia Pacific Region at American Express for Revenue Management.   He has authored two books, ‘Lost Heritage, The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan' and ‘The Quest Continues: Lost Heritage, The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan'. He has also produced and directed documentary films, which we will be discussing today.  NB: The 24 episode docuseries on Guru Nanak is available in 4 languages at TheGuruNanak.com

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 59th 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 Harjant Singh Gill, who is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and visual anthropologist. He makes films which cast a spotlight on urgent and often overlooked social issues, and makes marginalized members of society feel less isolated and more understood. We discuss his personal life, the three documentaries he has made on Punjab, namely “Roots of Love”, “Sent Away Boys” and “Mardistan” as well as his forthcoming book “Coming of Age in Macholand”, all of which explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, religion, citizenship, transnationality and notions of belonging with a particular focus on Indian and diasporic masculinities.

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 57th 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 Amandeep Sandhu, who is a Panjabi journalist and the author of the book, “Panjab: Journeys through the fault lines”, where, on a journey to understand Panjab, he looks at the past and present of Punjab, including the backdrop of the Green revolution, State of Emergency, Panjab insurgency and the present. We discuss his inspiration for writing the book as well as exploring chapter by chapter each of the themes that the book includes, namley Satt, Berukhi, Rosh, Rog, Astha, Mardangi, Dawa, Paani, Zameen, Karza, Jaat, Patit, Bardr, Sikhya, Lashaan and Janamdin.

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 56th 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 Radha Kapuria, who is an Assistant Professor in South Asian History at the University of Durham. Her current research analyses the impact of the 1947 Partition on musicians' lives India and Pakistan, with her interests centring around South Asian social, cultural and gender history; migration, displacement and borderlands, and conflict, decolonisation and culture. Today we will be discussing her book, Music in Colonial Punjab: Courtesans, Bards, and Connoisseurs, which examines music's social history for the entire Punjab region. The book is based on her PhD at King's College London, which was shortlisted for the Royal Asiatic Society's 2019 Bayly Prize. NB: correction at 28:59 mins: “Flora Annie Wilson” ought to have been “Flora Annie Steele” 

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.

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 51st 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 Ali Raza, who is a historian specializing in the history of modern South Asia from the Lahore University of Management Sciences. His research and teaching interests include the social and intellectual history of South Asia, comparative colonialisms, decolonization, and post-colonial theory.  Today we will be discussing his work on the communist internationalism in Colonial India, in particular the establishment of the Ghadar Party, their role with the Communist Party as well as their connection with Moscow. We also take a close look at the Kirti Kisan Party in Punjab and the evolution of this movement after independence. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 50th 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 Ami Laws, who is a medical practitioner from California and an adjunct associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr Laws is an internationally known expert with a specialization in the practices of abuse and torture. As such, she has interviewed and examined clients from India, countries of South and Central America and Roma from Eastern Europe. Her expertise has also been called upon by Nepali Nationals and persons from several countries in AfricaAnd In 2002, She wrote an article for the President and Fellows of Harvard College on Health and Human Rights titled “Police Torture in Punjab, India: An extended survey.”Today we will be discussing this article and the study and fieldwork she conducted in Punjab which led to the findings of her report. It should be noted that this episode includes details of torture and an exploration of some specific case studies that outline the methods and the subsequent psychiatric harm that followed.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 49th 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 Jessica Ordaz, who is a professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is the author of the book, The Shadow of El Centro: A History of Migrant Incarceration and Solidarity, which fascinated me to host this conversation for two reasons. First, Akaal Security, a Sikh private security company, administered this detention facility in El Centro for a long time and it came to my attention a couple of years ago when the ICE stories were going viral. Secondly, in 2019, a six-year-old girl from Punjab, Gurpreet Kaur, died of a heat stroke in the Arizona desert on the US-Mexico border after her mother went in search of water during a border crossing. This episode is dedicated to Gurpreet Kaur and her family.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 48th 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 Balbinder Singh Bhogal, who is a professor of Religious Studies and the holder of the Chair in Sikh Studies at Hofstra University. His research interests include decolonization, modernity, philosophy, yoga and Sikh studies, to name but a few.  Today we will be exploring the discussion on Sikhi and Yoga, in particular the Indic understanding of Yoga, its convergence to modernity and its relationship to Sikhi from a critical perspective. We take a close look at Sikhi during the bhakti movement, Guru Nanak's relationship with his son Siri Chand and close the discussion with an understanding of how to understand and interpret Kundalini Yoga. This podcast was based on a chapter written by Professor Balbinder Singh Bhogal, titled "Sikhi(sm): Yoga and Meditation" from the Routledge Handbook of Yoga and Meditation Studies. It can be accessed via the following link: https://www.academia.edu/43977089/Sikhi_sm_Yoga_and_Meditation★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 47th 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 Taylor Sherman, who is a professor of history at the London School of Economics where her research concerns the cultural and political history of South Asia between the 1930s and the 1970s.  We discuss today the politics of Nehru and his defining role in the formation of the Indian State with particular reference to high modernism and the establishment of Chandigarh, which is an element of her forthcoming book, titled, Nehru's India: A history in Seven Myths. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 46th 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 Richard Eaton, who is a professor of history at the University of Arizona where his primary interest is the social and cultural history of pre-modern India. He has most recently published the book “India in the Persianate Age” which explores the long-term interaction between the Persianate and Sanskritic worlds, between the Iranian Plateau and South Asia. And today we discuss that book and pay close attention to the role of Punjab which is situated in the centre of these two worlds. We consider how important Persian culture was and what role it played in Sikh and Punjabi history given how dominant it was and what philosophies and traditions were bestowed onto the landscape as a result.   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 45th 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 Pritam Singh who is a scholar and professor of Economics at Oxford Brookes University where his main areas of teaching interest and expertise are development economics, environmental economics, comparative economic systems and competing economic paradigms.Today we discuss the origins of Marxism in Punjab, its relationship with Sikhi and the evolution of Marxism throughout the 20th century with particular reference to the interwar period, communalism, the independence movement, post-partition, Nehruvian politics and secularism, the Suba Lehar, the Khalistan movement and beyond.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 44th 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 Mark Juergensmeyer, who is a professor of global studies, sociology and also religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has a plethora of literature relating to the study of South Asian religion and politics, and the one that is being discussed today is called, Religious Rebels in the Punjab, which is about the Ad Dharam movement in the early 20th century which subsequently led to the formation of the Ravidassia community.His scholarly work related to the Ad Dharam movement and Ravidassia religious formation is certainly unique since his fieldwork includes being in contact with many of the key members including Mangu Ram. Thus, I could think of no better person to have a conversation with about the religious reform movement concerning the scheduled castes which ran parallel to the Singh Sabha Lehar, Arya Samaj and others.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 43rd 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 Ronki Ram, who is a professor and leading scholar on the study of Casteism in Punjab. He is a professor at the Panjab University in Chandigarh and has now also more recently been appointed as a visiting Professor at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK.Today, we will be discussing his latest book, Pagrhi Sambhal Lehar to Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which outlines the history of the Kisaan struggle in Punjab from 1907 to 2021. The book is structured in two parts: the struggle both before and after the great Partition and was released to contextualize the current farmer's protest historically.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 42nd 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 Len Kenna and Crystal Jordan who are both from the Australian Indian Historical Society. They have devoted decades of their time into researching the history of Indian migration to Australia and the contribution made in the early days of settlement. They have also authored the book, “Sikh History in Australia”. We discuss today what inspired them to enter this field of study, how their research methods have evolved over time, what their findings were and what more can be done. In addition to that, we also pay close attention to the Sikh and Punjabi migration to Australia. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 41st 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 Jasvinder Kaur, who studied textiles at Delhi's Lady Irwin College in 1969 and has since been continuously engaged with the subject. She has included consultancy assignments at the Musée d'art et d'histoire and Musée d'ethnographie, in Geneva, Switzerland, and has been lecturing as visiting faculty at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi.She is also the author of the most recent book - 'Influences of the British Raj on the Attire and Textiles of Punjab', which explores how the British Raj brought lasting changes in the way people dressed and used textiles in Punjab. In today's conversation, we talk about this book on how many men became Westernized and followed English fashions to the hilt and also how Women's styles were impacted to a lesser degree among other interesting talking points. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 40th 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 Kanika Singh, who is a historian with a research focus on museums and heritage in contemporary India, with a particular interest in Sikh museums. Her PhD was on the representation of heritage in Sikh museums with a case study of the museum at Sis Ganj Gurdwara in Delhi.In today's conversation, we discuss her article, “Commemorating Baghel Singh's ‘Conquest' of Delhi: The Fateh Diwas", where we explore the significance of Baghel Singh, the interpretation of his historical visit to Delhi, how it is depicted in art and a critical examination of how it is commemorated today. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 39th 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 Parvati Sharma, who is a journalist and the author of the historical biography book, “Jahangir: An Intimate Portrait of a Great Mughal”. And in today's discussion, we explore both the book and the life of Jahangir, with a particular focus on his upbringing, his role in power and his relationship to his father, Akbar, whom we had spoken about before in a previous episode. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 38th 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 Bartow Elmore, who is an award-winning professor and writer who investigates the impact of big business on our environment. He teaches as an associate professor of environmental history and is a core faculty member of the Sustainability Institute at the Ohio State University. We discuss his latest book, Seed Money: Monsanto's Past and Our Food Future, which explores the history of Monsanto, how they influence our food system, their role in the industry of agro-chemicals, as well as genetically engineered seeds. Monsanto has had a huge impact on Punjab such as the debt crisis farmers are facing, the cotton industry and the alarmingly high rates fertilizer use, to name but a few. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 37th 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 Salman Siddiqi, who is a student of International Relations and Global Studies and has a great interest in the history of partitions, especially on Punjab and Palestine. He is the author of the article, “A Tale of Two Tragedies. A Historical Background and Comparative Analysis of the Nakba and the Partition.” Today we will be discussing this article which outlines both the timeline and common themes and differences that can be found throughout these two histories that ran parallel in the 20th century. We begin by introducing the British Colonial regime which occupied both territories and end with a discussion on the current state of affairs after the independence movements.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 36th 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 Professor Renisa Mawani, who is a Professor of Sociology and Founding Chair of the Law and Society Minor Program at the University of British Columbia. She works on the conjoined histories of Indigeneity, Asian migration, and settler colonialism and is the author of Across Oceans of Law: The Komagata Maru and Jurisdiction in the Time of Empire. We discuss today the book, which is a transnational history of the Komagata Maru, a Japanese steamship which carried 376 Punjabi migrants from Hong Kong to Canada and to India in 1914. It focuses on the interaction between human and nonhuman, problemtatizing the middle passage by focusing on the materiality of the ship, the vitality of water, and the forces of nature. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 35th 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 Professor Natasha Behl, who is an associate professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU). Dr. Behl completed her Ph.D. in Political Science at University of California, Los Angeles, where her training focused on Race, Ethnicity, Politics and Comparative Politics. Today, we discuss her book, Gendered Citizenship: Understanding Gendered Violence in Democratic India, which analyzes Indian women's unequal experience of democracy in multiple domains, namely the state, civil society, religious community, and the home.  This book also recently received the American Political Science Association's 2021 Lee Ann Fujii Award for Innovation in the Interpretive Study of Political Violence, which was sponsored by the Interpretive Methodologies and Methods group.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 34th 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 Professor Valerian Rodrigues, who is an Indian political scientist known for his influential work on Babasaheb Ambedkar, and also for his formulations of themes in Modern Indian Political Thought.We discuss the life of Dr Ambedkar from his early childhood to his education and later political life and thought. We also explore his engagement with the Indian constitution and the Sikh community of India with regards to mass conversion.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 33rd 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 Professor Farina Mir, who is a professor of colonial and post-colonial South Asian studies with a particular interest in the social, cultural, and religious history of late-colonial north India. She is also the author of the book, The Social Space of Language: Vernacular Culture in British Colonial Punjab, which is a study of the Punjabi language and its literature under colonialism (from 1849-1947), with a particular focus on Qisse, or epic stories/romances.  Today, we will be discussing more about this book, including the inspiration behind the book, the research methods and findings that surface and the role and survival of the Punjabi language under colonial rule to the current day.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 32nd 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 Professor Anand Yang, who is a scholar of history, with fields of interest including comparative colonialism and south Asian studies. He is a professor of history at the University of Washington and author of the book, “Empire of Convicts” which we will be discussing today, and in particular the case studies of Bhai Maharaj Singh and Kharak Singh. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 31st 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 Nikita Azad, who is a PhD candidate of Colonial History at the University of Oxford, where she has a strong focus on the history of communalism, religion and gender in Colonial Punjab.  We discuss a host of topics surrounding early 20th century Punjab such as Caste, Gender, Health, Medicine and Race with respect to colonial history of Punjab. It is a fascinating conversation which I am excited to share because it touches on so many themes, I am interested in. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 30th 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 Balbir Madhopuri who is a prolific author and poet most well known for his auto-biography, Changiya Rukh, which is about his upbringing and life experiences as a Dalit in Punjab.He has been awarded many achievements for his work, including the LifeTime Achievement Award (2013) by Punjabi Academy, Delhi, Govt. of Delhi and an acknowledgement from the former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who honored Balbir Madhopuri for his contribution to Punjabi literature thanks to his classical writings.I came across his work and his website whilst researching the topic of Begampura, which he has also written about before, and so I immediately reached out to him. We explore many anecdotes related to his life, his views on Punjab, Caste and Sikhi as well as other talking points such as Dalit history and assertion in Punjab.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 29th 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 Professor Robin Rinehart, who is a scholar of Religious studies at Lafayette University, with research interests in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Religions of Asia. She is the author of the book, “Debating the Dasam Granth” which is our main topic of discussion today where we take a closer look at Professor Rinehart's inspiration into this field and her research findings.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 28th 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 Jasdeep Singh, who is the editor of Trolley Times, which is the official Newsletter dedicated to the farmers' protest that is reporting from the protest, and for the protest. Jasdeep Singh works as a software engineer by profession but also has a large interest and passion for the arts, in particular theatre, poetry and writing. Today we talk about Trolley Times, in particular its establishment and significance for the movement in the present moment of documenting the struggle as the first draft of history. In addition to that, we explore why the printing press is so important against the backdrop of state surveillance and censorship efforts by the government at the protest sites.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 27th 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. Divya Sharma, who is a lecturer in Sustainable Development and the Co-Director of the Sustainable Development masters course at the University of Sussex.We discuss the Green revolution as a regime that swept the global south, its particular manifestation in Punjab not just as a whole but also in its local regions and also towards the end a comparative analysis that can be made between Punjab and Tamil Nadu.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 26th 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 Manimugdha Sharma, who is primarily a journalist but also a historian and is the author of the book, “Allahu Akbar - Understanding the Great Mughal in Today's India”. We talk about the current state of India and the historical context of Akbar with particular reference to religious tolerance and right wing politics.I am really glad I came across his work and I think it's a very well timed piece which takes a closer look at India as a modern nation state and offers a critique of such nationalism in that respect against the backdrop of a Mughal history to challenge the ever increasing imagination of an exclusive Hindu India.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I'm Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 25th 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 Louis Fenech, who is a scholar of Sikh studies with previous publications including The Darbar of the Sikh Gurus and also Martyrdom in the Sikh Tradition. Today, we will be discussing his most recent book, namely The Cherished Five in Sikh History, which came out in January this year. The book is about the Panj Piare, the first five Sikh disciples who form the nucleus of the Sikh martial community known as the Khalsa. We take a close look at who the Panj Pyaare were, what is their significance and the evolution of their perceptions over the last 300 years.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 24th 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 Anna Bigelow, who is a professor of religious studies at Stanford University where she specialises in Islamic studies in South Asia, in particular Sufi Shrines in India and Turkey. She is also the author of “Sharing the Sacred: Practicing Pluralism in Muslim North India” which explores the significance of the small town of Malerkotla. Malerkotla is significant in Sikh and Punjabi history for a number of reasons which we explore today in our conversation, some of the most known being the relationship to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Banda Singh Bahadur and its role during partition in 1947. We discuss why it is so significant, why it is so peaceful and what does it mean for religious harmony.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 23rd 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 Yogesh Snehi, who is a Professor of History at Ambedkar University in Delhi and the author of the book, “Spatializing Popular Sufi Shrines in Punjab: Dreams, Memories and Territoriality”. We explore the origins of Sufism in Punjab, its definition and origins, its relationship to caste and its evolution throughout history with respect to significant events such as Partition and beyond.  We also take a closer look at the significant sites where the popular Sufi shrines are located in Punjab and consider their significance to the community and history of the land.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 22nd 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 Aamer Anwar, who is an advocate of civil liberties, with a career dedicated to defending the human rights of the vulnerable, where he has instructed in some of Scotland’s highest profile cases, including the one of Surjit Singh Chhokar which we discuss today.The racial murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar became one of Scotland's most famous cases for a number of reasons and it was only after a long 17 year family campaign that justice was achieved, thanks to the legal advocacy work of Aamer Anwar. It is an honour to speak with him about this case where he is able to share his story, the legal proceedings and more.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Shreya Sinha who is a research associate at Cambridge University and her research interests lie in agrarian political economy, sociology of economic relations, regional development, neoliberalism, and India and South Asia. We discuss Neoliberalism in Punjab with respect to the agrarian economy in Punjab, in particular its historical context and some of the consequences surrounding the policies that have had an impact on Punjab ranging from debt, farmer suicides, migration and more.

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Suraj Yengde, who is a public scholar and the author of the bestseller “Caste Matters” and co-editor of award winning anthology “The Radical in Ambedkar”. We discuss his personal profile where he describes his upbringing being born and brought up in Nanded, his own articulation of the caste system, his impression of Sikhi as an anti-caste philosophy as well as the role of the Khalsa and the relationship between Dr. Ambedkar and Sikhi.

In this episode we are joined by Joseph Alter, who is a Professor of anthropology and the University of Pittsburgh with interests in the relationship among religion, nationalism, health and the body in South Asia. we explore the themes of masculinity and sexuality in North India and take closer look at topics such as Brahmanism, nationalism, sport, colonialism, Caste, regional differences and gender expression and see how they are all formulated with respect to each other.

In this episode we are joined by Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh who is a Professor of Religion and Chair in the Department of Religious Studies at Colby College. We discuss her two books, “The Feminine Principle in the Sikh Vision of the Transcendent” and also “The Birth of the Khalsa - A Feminist Re-Memory of Sikh Identity”.

In this episode we are joined by Sahiba Kaur Chadha who is an architect by profession but also runs an online blog called PodCards from the Colonies, which is a series of podcasts episodes which tell the personal stories and oral histories of people that have lived experiences or memories of British Colonialism.

In this episode we are joined by Professor Balbinder Singh Bhogal, an associate professor in Religion and the holder of the Chair in Sikh Studies at Hofstra University. We will be exploring a discussion on Sikhi and Buddhism and more generally the outlook of world religions with respect to western, Indic and east Asian faith and traditions. Professor Bhogal's academic profile and publications are available on his academia.edu profile via the following link, https://hofstra.academia.edu/BalbinderSinghBhogal

In this episode we are joined by Dr Dalvir Singh Pannu, who is a dentist by profession but also a scholar of Sikh heritage in Pakistan. He has led a life long self-funded campaign driven by his passion to document and illustrate the Sikh heritage sites in Pakistan through the lens of architecture and sikh history.

In this episode we are joined by Professor Seema Sohi who is Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. We discuss her book, “Echoes of Mutiny” which examines the radical anticolonial politics of South Asian intellectuals and migrant workers based in North America during the early twentieth century as well as the inter-imperial efforts of the U.S. and British states to repress them.

In this episode we are joined by Professor Kate Imy from the University of North Texas, where she is a historian of war and empire teaching classes on questions of identity (race, gender, class, religion) in the twentieth-century British imperial world. We will be discussing her book, “Faithful Fighters” which explores the racial and religious inclusivity of Indians in the British Empire against the backdrop of anti-colonial activism.

In this episode we are joined by Satwinder Kaur Bains who is a professor at the University of Fraser Valley in Social Cultural Media Studies. We discuss today her latest article, titled “Interrogating Gender in Sikh Tradition and Practice” where we explore the meaning of Sikh feminism as well as trying to understand how ideas of representation and identity find expression in response to our understanding and practice of our faith and our institutions as well as in our everyday Sikh symbols.

In this episode we are joined by Dr Laura Hirvi who is from Finland and Germany and is currently the director of the Finland Institute of culture, science and business in German speaking Europe. We discuss today how and why the Sikhs migrated to Finland and how they settled and established the community in Helsinki.