The Sikh Cast

On September 20th, of this year, the Indian government passes a farming reform bill that makes sweeping changes in agricultural practices throughout the country. What has followed since then are mass protests by farmers alleging that the changes threaten their livelihood. Manpreet Singh and Harinder Singh come together to discuss what and why this is happening now, what is in the bill and what thi...

SikhRI Creative Director, Inni Kaur, shares her reflections of recently losing a close relative with Executive Director Kulvir Singh. Together they explore their personal thoughts on life, death, and purpose, whether it is their own or others.  Featuring: Inni Kaur — sikhri.org/people/inni-kaur Kulvir Singh — sikhri.org/people/kulvir-singh-gill

Bhakti and Shakti are two sides of the Guru. While deep internal contemplation and the exuberant worldly power are often painted as dichotomous, Sikh history, Gurbani, architecture, and art all demonstrate their interwoven and complementary nature. What are the modern applications of these fluid concepts? How do we maintain a true connection to all the strength, internal and external that Sikhi af...

Hear Harinder Singh and Surinder Singh Jodhka in a cross-continental conversation on historical and contemporary caste dynamics through the life and times of Giani Dit Singh. How did Guru Nanak Sahib approach one of the most rigid social constructions of the time? How is caste similar to and different from its original intent and practice in larger Hindu and Indic society? How did this lay the fou...

Kulvir Singh and Prof. Mohanbir Singh Sawhney talk about connecting 7 Billion to 1-Ness, as well as sharing Guru’s Wisdom with the World. Now more than ever how can Guru Nanak’s message transform our world? What can 30 million Sikhs offer a world filled with disruption and fear? ~~~ Featuring: Kulvir Singh | https://sikhri.org/people/kulvir-singh-gill Prof. Mohanbir Singh Sawhney | https://twitter...

In an instant, we can be taken out of our mortal thought processes. The world can consume us instantly, and we may continue to be unaware and filled with our ego’s desires until the very last moment. Researcher Asha Marie Kaur explores death in Gurbani through the use of the Persian language in Sabad. This is a continuation of the Persian Voice in the Guru Granth Sahib Series with Asha Marie Kaur....

73 years ago, two nation-states were carved by the British mapmaking: Hindustan and Pakistan. The historical Sikh Homeland in The Panjab was divided by the Radcliffe line. In now truncated Indian Panjab, a proportion of the Sikhs led many campaigns to fight for economic, political, state, human, and religious rights. What’s next to secure the Sikh aspirations and the Panjab’s autonomy? ~~~ Featuri...

The Sikh Research Institute has gathered a diverse cast of voices to dive into the heritage of Sikhs in Pakistan. Heritage is an array of our inherited traditions, monuments, objects, and culture. Most importantly, it is the range of contemporary activities, meanings, and behaviors that we draw from them. In this episode, our panel each draws from their specific expertise and experience to draw th...

This is the final episode of The Redemption: Jamuna's Journey series. We enter the world of Northern India in the 1920s through the eyes of a young Jain widow — Jamuna, as she struggles with loss, exploitation, and her own life. Through this immersive Audio Story, experience the translated poetics and narrative by renowned Sikh writer Bhai Vir Singh, recreated by the Sikh Research Institute. ~~~ R...

The principle of Miri-Piri is often encapsulated with the two crossed swords in today's Sikh consciousness, one representing the political spirit of the Sikhs and the other representing the spiritual. But is this notion accurate? Senior Fellow Harinder Singh discusses the significance of the Miri-Piri ethos and if it can be a lived reality during a time of divided allegiances.  ~~~ Featuring...

This is a continuation of The Redemption: Jamuna's Journey. We enter the world of Northern India in the 1920s through the eyes of a young Jain widow — Jamuna, as she struggles with loss, exploitation, and her own life. Through this immersive Audio Story, experience the translated poetics and narrative by renowned Sikh writer Bhai Vir Singh, recreated by the Sikh Research Institute. ~~~ Read the co...

Enter the world of Northern India in the 1920s through the eyes of a young Jain widow — Jamuna, as she struggles with loss, exploitation, and her own life. Through this immersive Audio Story, experience the translated poetics and narrative by renowned Sikh writer Bhai Vir Singh, recreated by the Sikh Research Institute.  ~~~ Read the full first chapter of Subhag Ji De Sudhar Hathin Baba Naud...

Researcher Asha Marie Kaur dives into two Sabads from the Guru Granth Sahib and reveals their Persian influences illuminating a new perspective in Gurbani. ~~~ Read the article Listen at SikhRI's website Featuring: Asha Marie Kaur #PersianVoice #Sabad #Politics #Poetics #SikhCast

Researcher Jasleen Kaur and Producer Sean Holden look into the concept of Vastness in Sikhi. Through poetics and Gurbani from the Guru Granth Sahib and renowned Sikh poets, we delve into how to find comfort and 1ness in times of struggle. ~~~  Featuring: Jasleen Kaur - sikhri.org/people/jasleen-kaur Host: Sean Holden #Sikh #Sikhi #Vastness #SikhPodcast #Growth #Grief #COVID19 #BLM #Pandemic

Amardeep Kaur recites her original poem Morning, Evening followed by a brief interview with the Sikh Research Institute's Content Producer, Sean Holden. She describes her personal journey with writing Sikh inspired poetry, teaching Sikhi at the University of Toronto, and what she hopes to give back to her readers. ~~~ Morning, Evening By: Amardeep Kaur This breath, my sip of hot cha in the morning...

This episode of The Sikh Cast is from a live webinar recorded on June 29th, 2020. It features Senior Fellow Harinder Singh and The Sikh Cast host Manpreet Jassal, together they discuss the controversial sikh motto "Raj Karega Khalsa." They get into its usage from the 1700's to a modern context, discussing the how and the what of its meaning. ~~~ To read the original article by Harinder Singh click...

In this revisiting of Sabad of the Month we explore the meaning of symbolism in the Guru Granth Sahib. Original Sabad recited by Parminder Kaur Chanana, and hosted by Manpreet Jassal with Creative Director Inni Kaur. ~~~ Sabad If I were to become a doe,  dwelling in the forest, picking and eating grass and plants. If I were to meet Husband-Divine by Guru’s Grace,  I would continuously adore You, ...

Creative Director Inni Kaur discusses with The Sikh Cast host, Manpreet Jassal, the current state of protest in the United States. In a recent article, she reflects back in time to when Sikhs protested for their land and share her findings. Read her full article here: https://www.sikhri.org/take_the_knee_with_a_prayer ~~~ Featuring: Inni Kaur - sikhri.org/people/inni-kaur Host: Manpreet Jassal - h...

The Sikh Cast Host has a one on one dialogue with Harinder Singh on how the Guru would deal with the Black Lives Matter Movement. They ask how can Sikhs around the world go beyond the protest and how do we explore it from the Sikhi lens. ~~~ Featuring: Harinder Singh - sikhri.org/people/harinder-singh Host: Manpreet Jassal - https://twitter.com/mjassal #blacklivesmatter #sikhi #sikhism #Guru #Sikh...

The Sikh Cast is taking a close look at the Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM). The United States is in a moment of turmoil following the death of Minnesota resident George Floyd, leading to an outpouring of protests across the country. Manpreet Singh holds a spirited conversation with special guests Corey Winchester, Harinder Singh, SikhRI’s Senior Fellow on Research and Policy and, Asha Marie Kau...

We're taking an in-depth look at the events of Operation Blue Star in 1984 in Amritsar, Panjab. It's considered the third Ghallughara, or massacre, in Sikh history. The Indian government assaulted the sacred Golden Temple Complex and Akal Takht. In this episode, SikhRI's Senior Fellow on Research and Policy speaks to a live audience to provide clarity and context on the operation and it's legacy o...

Join us as we welcome Dr. Harsohena Kaur, Dr. Amar Singh, and Dr. Kuldip Singh to discuss how Covid-19 will change the world order and personal situations, its impact on health, social interactions, and the economy. How will entrepreneurs, small business owners, and self-employed individuals be affected? What will be the impact on the Sikh community? How do we stay connected with no physical Sanga...

The Sikh Research Institute's Asha Marie Kaur speaks on how Guru Nanak Sahib integrates Persian and Arabic vocabulary in Sabad to invoke Islamic practices, laying the foundation for a uniquely Sikh engagement with other faiths. ~~~ Read the article Listen at SikhRI's website Featuring: Asha Marie Kaur #PersianVoice #Sabad #Politics #Poetics #SikhCast

The Sikh Cast host, Manpreet Jassal , speaks with SikhRI's Executive Director Kulvir Singh . Having recently left Panjab amidst a worldwide lockdown, Kulvir compares his experience leaving India to returning home in Canada. But, a deeper conversation ensues on taking the time to work on oneself as a Sikh and helping others explore their Sikhi. ~~~ Kulvir Singh also shares what he learned while in...

For this episode, The Sikh Cast host Manpreet Jassal and SikhRI's Inni Kaur go through this Sabad of the Month (Infinite-Wisdom) by Guru Nanak Sahib. In it, the Guru redefines the terms Jog and Jogi, outside the six systems of Hindu philosophy. Jog for the Guru is not yoga, neither mental or physical, but a “connection.” ~~~ Read Full Sabad here or below: https://www.sikhri.org/jog_not_attained_by...