Watch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66GwDrtUqdI
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.