As part of the Sikhs in Action series, the Sikh Foundation and the UC Santa Cruz Endowed Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies welcomed participants to an online conversation titled “Sikhs in America: Why History Matters.” Hosted by Dr. Harpreet Singh of Harvard University, the event invited us to reflect on early Sikh migration and settlement in the United States and to consider how these histories continue to shape Sikh identity today.

The evening unfolded as both a presentation and a conversation, moving between archival history and present day concerns. Dr. Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal, scholar, educator, and co-founder of the Sikh American History Project, drew from early newspapers, political campaigns, and community archives to show how Sikh American history is not only about migration, but also about power, exclusion, memory, and self representation.

Dr. Bainiwal centered his talk on the need to read Sikh American history with care and to understand institutions like Stockton Gurdwara in their full significance. Reflecting on one early newspaper headline, he noted that “when somebody is allowing somebody else to do something, that hints to a social hierarchy that is in place,” and later reminded listeners that “the Gurdwara for us isn’t just a place of worship, it is a social, political, educational, cultural, and religious hub.” He closed by underscoring the stakes of historical memory itself: “history is not neutral,” and “if we aren’t the caretakers, if we aren’t the storytellers, somebody else will tell that story.”

In conversation with Dr. Bainiwal, Dr. Harpreet Singh drew connections between these earlier histories and the present, especially through the legacy of Bhagat Singh Thind and the continuing politics of exclusion. He reflected that Thind “was being excluded because the common understanding seemed that he was not white,” and observed that today the language may be different, but “there are some compelling parallels that can be drawn here.” As the discussion continued, he also pointed to what Sikh history might offer the present moment, asking what Sikhs can teach “our fellow Americans” about denaturalization, state power, and the need to respond to these histories with greater clarity and courage.

The Sikh Foundation is grateful to Dr. Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal and Dr. Harpreet Singh for sharing so generously, and to everyone who joined us. The conversation was a reminder of why we hold these gatherings to bring people together across generations, to reflect on Sikh history and community memory, and to carry those insights into the challenges of our own time.To learn more or support efforts in preserving and sharing local history, visit San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum and be part of the work.

As part of the Sikhs in Action series, the Sikh Foundation and the UC Santa Cruz Sarbjit Singh Aurora Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies welcomed participants to an online conversation on Punjab’s present challenges and future direction. Hosted by Sampreet Goraya, the discussion explored a core question: how a community rooted in seva continues to face weakening institutions.

At the heart of the conversation, Sampreet framed the question through a core idea: how does a society built on trust, service, and collective care arrive at a moment marked by institutional decline? As he noted, “Seva builds trust, trust is the foundation of institutions, and institutions are the foundation of prosperity”. And yet, he pushed further, asking, “How does a community so committed to seva produce such failing institutions?”.

Sunny Singh, entrepreneur and founder of Roundglass, approached the issue from lived experience, emphasizing that Punjab’s challenges are deeply interconnected. As he put it, “It’s not one problem… it’s a potpourri of issues”, and at its core, “it’s a lack of leadership”. Rather than pointing to resources as the constraint, he stressed action and execution, noting that “money is important… but that’s not where the problem is”. Instead, he highlighted the need to build momentum through results, emphasizing that change begins by showing success and building from it over time.

The conversation also touched on the role of the global Punjabi diaspora and the growing disconnect among younger generations. Both speakers reflected on the need to rebuild trust, create meaningful pathways for involvement, and rethink how institutions engage with youth today.

The Sikh Foundation extends its gratitude to Sampreet Goraya and Sunny Singh for their insights, and to all who joined. The discussion offered a starting point that invites deeper reflection, and continued engagement with the questions shaping Punjab’s future.To learn more or get involved, visit Roundglass Foundation and be part of the change.

As part of the Sikhs in Action series, the Sikh Foundation and the UC Santa Cruz Sarbjit Singh Aurora Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies welcomed participants to an online conversation titled “Nirbhau Nirvair: Courage, Compassion, and Sikh Women’s Leadership.” The conversation brought together Senator Manka Dhingra, Kiran Kaur Gill, and Mallika Kaur to reflect on how Sikh values shape advocacy, public service, and community care.

Speakers

Mallika Kaur is a lawyer, educator at UC Berkeley Law, and Executive Director of Sikh Family Center, with two decades of work on gender-based violence and human rights.

Manka Dhingra is a Washington State Senator and the first Sikh elected to a U.S. state legislature, with a background in prosecution and advocacy for mental health and domestic violence.

Kiran Kaur Gill is Executive Director of SALDEF, leading national efforts in policy, civic engagement, and Sikh civil rights, with prior experience as an entrepreneur and community leader.

Mallika opened the discussion by asking what Nirbhau means in a time marked by fear, anger, and uncertainty. As she noted, “fearless does not mean reckless”. For her, fearlessness means “preparing wisely, being alert,” and taking “small steps towards somewhat of a clear path” even when that path is unclear.

The conversation moved through leadership, justice, feminism, and the responsibility to speak without hatred. Senator Dhingra reflected on Sikh women as warriors and leaders, saying, “Fearlessness for me is this internal strength in sticking to your values and really standing up for what’s right”. Kiran Kaur Gill echoed this in her own reflection on leadership, noting, “Taking those difficult positions and really standing strong… I don’t back down,” even when the work can feel isolating.

Together, the speakers explored Nirvair as a way of standing against oppression without losing compassion. They discussed gender justice, domestic violence, civic engagement, misinformation, and the need to challenge systems of harm while still seeing humanity in others.

The Sikh Foundation is grateful to Senator Manka Dhingra, Kiran Kaur Gill, and Mallika Kaur for sharing their insights, and to everyone who joined us. The conversation was a reminder that Sikh women’s leadership is not only about representation, but about courage, care, and living our values in public life.

Join Delegate JJ Singh in conversation with Preetmohan Singh as they explore how Seva and Sarbat da Bhala shape leadership, policy, and public service. From advancing equity and representation to navigating the realities of governance, this conversation reflects on what it takes to translate values into action and sustain a commitment to the collective good.

This webinar is a part of the Sikhs in Action webinar series co-presented by the Sikh Foundation and UC Santa Cruz Sarbjit Singh Aurora Endowed Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies.

Details

• Click Here to Register for Event
• May 14, 2026 12:00 PM Pacific Time
• Free Online Webinar

Speakers

Delegate JJ Singh

Delegate JJ Singh represents Loudoun County in the Virginia House of Delegates and is the first Sikh elected to the body. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, he has dedicated his career to public service, including work in the Peace Corps, the White House Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Senate, and local economic development. JJ is also a business leader and community advocate, currently serving as President of Retreat Hotels & Resorts. He lives in Loudoun County with his wife and two daughters.

Preetmohan Singh

Preetmohan (“Preet”) Singh is founder of Preet Singh & Partners, advising startups, nonprofits, and major organizations on marketing, media, and political strategy in the AI era. He has worked with companies including NVIDIA and Google, and serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Sikhlens, the world’s leading Sikh film festival network spanning 10 countries. A Silicon Valley native, Preet is a graduate of Georgetown University and has also studied at Oxford. He is currently on leave from the MBA program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. His work focuses on Sikh American history, racialization, and mission-driven storytelling.

Flyer

Presented by the Sikh Foundation International, this special evening brings the acclaimed Atelier Theatre Company to the Bay Area for a moving retelling of the life and legacy of Guru Nanak.

Daastaan-e-Guru Nanak is a 70-minute performance in the daastaangoi tradition, blending live narration, poetry, music, and Janamsakhi-inspired storytelling. Performed in Hindustani with musical interludes, it offers an accessible introduction to Guru Nanak’s message of compassion, equality, humility, and oneness.

We hope you will join us for this special evening. This is a donation-based event, and guests are welcome to contribute at whatever level feels meaningful. Your support helps make programs like this possible.

Details & Registration

• Saturday, June 13th at the Triton Museum of Art
• 5:30 pm: Doors open, tea and light refreshments
• 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Performance
• Click Here to Register & see more information

About the Performance

Created and performed by the Atelier Theatre Company in New Delhi, Daastaan-e-Guru Nanak has been presented internationally to audiences interested in Sikh history, storytelling traditions, and South Asian performance.

Performers:

• Ishmeet Narula
• Kuljeet Singh
• Chanpreet Singh

Script and Direction: Kuljeet Singh
Creative Producer: Chanpreet Singh

Part of Atelier Theatre Company’s 2026 U.S. tour, the performance has also been featured at the San Diego International Fringe Festival and other venues across California.

Rather than a conventional lecture or stage play, the performance combines spoken word, live music, poetry, and oral storytelling to create an intimate and immersive experience.

Flyer

This webinar is a part of the Sikhs in Action webinar series co-presented by the Sikh Foundation and UC Santa Cruz Sarbjit Singh Aurora Endowed Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies.

Details

• Click Here To Register
• Time: Apr 9, 2026 12:00 PM in Pacific Time (US and Canada)
• Location: Virtual Event

Flyer

This webinar is a part of the Sikhs in Action webinar series co-presented by the Sikh Foundation and UC Santa Cruz Sarbjit Singh Aurora Endowed Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies.

Details

• Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 • 12:00 pm PST / 3:00 pm EST
• Location: Zoom
• Register Here

Flyer

This webinar is co-presented by the Sikh Foundation and the UC Santa Cruz Sarbjit Singh Aurora Endowed Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies.

Details

• February 18, 2026
• 12:00 PM Pacific Time
• Free of Charge
• Click to Register For Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/y63kh3zt

Speakers

Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal

Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal is a scholar, educator, and community leader dedicated to preserving Sikh American history. He co-founded the Sikh American History Project and serves on the board of Asian & Pacific Islanders in Historic Preservation. His research and community-centered work explore Sikh identity, representation, and activism, advancing public understanding through education, preservation, and community engagement.

Harpreet Singh

Harpreet Singh is an Instructor and Scholar of Sikh Studies at Harvard University, specializing in Sikh textual traditions in Mughal South Asia. His work examines the formation of Sikh authority through foundational texts and manuscript scholarship, and he is the author of The Ẓafarnāma of Guru Gobind Singh (Harvard Oriental Series, 2025). He co-founded the Sikh Coalition and established the Harvard Sikh Center.

Flyer

https://tinyurl.com/y63kh3zt

Recognized as the Father of Fiber Optics, Dr. Kapany’s work revolutionized communication and medical technologies. But his legacy reaches far beyond science. It’s defined by his generosity, mentorship, and commitment to education and service.

Celebrating a Global Icon

In India, heartfelt celebrations brought together family, peers, and admirers. Photos and messages reflected the gratitude and admiration felt worldwide for a man whose impact spans disciplines and continents.

A Life of Vision and Service

Dr. Kapany’s contributions extend through the Sikh Foundation, championing education, culture, and the arts. His life reminds us that innovation is most powerful when rooted in ethics and community.

Legacy in Motion

This milestone sparked renewed commitment to his vision through education, dialogue, and global collaboration. His legacy isn’t just remembered, it’s lived and carried forward.

With Deep Gratitude

We honour a life that not only changed the world but uplifted it. At the Sikh Foundation, we remain inspired by Dr. Kapany’s story is a legacy of brilliance and service that continues to light the way.

Sikhism is the philosophy of Guru Nanak, who rejected manmade ritualism and sought to bridge the divide between the two major faiths—Hinduism and Islam—that were prevalent in north-western India at the time. His message was universal and inclusive, with humanity as its core mission. He was a man of liberal thoughts, not of radicalised belief. Guru Nanak travelled thousands of miles in all directions, including to the Middle East, the Himalayan regions (often associated with Tibet), and Sri Lanka. Thousands of people, including many Muslims, became his followers.

The succeeding Gurus upheld and defended his doctrine and gradually expanded the faith. The formation of the Khalsa Panth was an extension of this defence and a response to the requirements of the times. Guru Gobind Singh Ji, surrounded by adversaries, had to fight numerous battles with relatively disorganised forces to protect the very existence of the faith. The Khalsa Panth provided a code of conduct and a distinct identity for those willing to defend the faith, but it was neither a rejection of Guru Nanak’s ideology nor of non-Khalsa followers. Guru Gobind Singh’s final message, Guru Manyo Granth, reaffirmed this continuity.

The perplexity today lies in the tension between Guru Nanak’s ideology and the emphasis on identity and the Khalsa. Because of this confusion, custodians of the faith have, in practice, rejected millions of Guru Nanak’s followers, including Sindhi followers in Pakistan. As a result, the community appears to be in decline. Followers of Guru Nanak are being marginalised or discriminated against within the community, leading to mass conversions to Christianity, a drift away from Sikhism, or the search for alternatives such as Radhaswamis, Sacha Sauda, Nirankaris, and other deras. Even the Gurudwaras in many places or villages are divided based on new castes created within the community. 

From one perspective, the core reason is that the Sikhism of Guru Nanak has been derailed by its own followers, with Sikhs increasingly deviating from his philosophy. Consequently, the community appears directionless and faces multiple challenges. Manmade rituals are returning. Ten Gurus attempted to reform a segment of society, yet it seems the community is not fully reformed and is gradually moving back to where it began. Beyond identity, one must ask: how are we truly different from others?

Globally, Sikhs constitute a very small minority, and the time may not be far when they become a minority even in the already truncated Punjab, largely due to poor leadership or guidance. Leadership has always been a challenge for the community. Even Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in pursuit of his military mission, had to appoint an outsider—later baptised into the Khalsa—to continue this task.

Recent incidents in New Zealand may be seen as a warning, not only against Sikhs but against Indians in general. A recent Diwali celebration in a Canadian town left the venue littered and in disarray. A similar thing happened when Dushera was celebrated in yet another town. Such behaviour privately angers local communities, who perceive it as uncivilised. In this sense, reactions in New Zealand were not directed solely at Sikhs, but at Indians who failed to respect local values. The flags torn in New Zealand also included Hindu flags and shouted that it is not India. 

As a community, it raises an important question: what purpose do Nagar Kirtans serve, especially in Western or developed countries? Excessive public displays of any kind are bound to provoke opposition. Rajneesh, after achieving success in Pune, went to the United States to expand his Osho movement. He was expelled unceremoniously and later died under controversial circumstances. Today, the Osho movement is practically non-existent.

Faith is deeply personal and, particularly in foreign societies, should ideally remain confined to appropriate spaces such as gurdwaras. The liberal nature of Western societies should not be exploited. Would such activities be possible in China or many Middle Eastern countries?

Buddhism, which also originated in India, spread globally—including in the United States—without creating social friction. Headed by the Dalai Lama, a figure comparable to the Pope, Buddhism benefits from leadership that is spiritually profound, intellectually grounded, globally respected, and attuned to modern realities. Do we have any person or institution of such calibre to guide or lead? 

Recently, a friend of mine visited a gurdwara with his family, and his son was not allowed to enter because he was wearing shorts. Similarly, individuals wearing caps or hats are often denied entry. One must ask what is achieved by such restrictions, especially when the younger generation questions these practices and asks how such attire constitutes disrespect to the faith.

The community needs introspection and must avoid falling into a self-created trap laid by its own members. By returning to and respecting the ideology of Guru Nanak, many of these problems can be resolved. It is time to contemplate. Moreover, the radicalization of this faith has no future.