Sixth Sikh Conference highlights strides in UK Scholarship
International Sikh Research Conference 2023
17th September 2023 University of Warwick
The sixth International Sikh Research Conference (ISRC) took place at the University of Warwick on Sunday 17th September 2023. After a hiatus of several years this was a much anticipated event.
The conference developed in 2013 was convened by Harjinder Singh Lallie and Gurinder Singh Mann supported by Dr Gurnam Singh. The conference had a number of researchers from UK and from abroad sharing their unique contributions to the study of Sikhi through a wide range of papers.
The conference started with introductions by Harjinder Singh Lallie and Gurinder Singh Mann. This was followed by the first session chaired by Sujinder Singh Sangha. Sundeep Singh Seehra (Phd Student-University of Birmingham) went through various Sikh sources to show the continual line of thought from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh in terms of military strains of thought. This was together with the defining Dharm Yudh in the modern context in his The Gurus’ Dharamyudh: A 1984 Sikh Leadership Interpretation. This was followed by Gurinder Singh Mann (Sikh Museum Initiative) who gave insights into how the Misl need to be revisited in terms of not defining the period in “single incident narratives” of Baba Deep Singh, Baghel Singh, and Jassa Singh Ramgharia. His lecture showed the depth of sources available where we can frame the Khalsa as part of Northern Indian politics and governance as opposed to a Punjab only history. Professor Eleanor Nesbitt (University of Warwick) in her Observers, Missionaries, Friends: Western women’s Sikh encounters gave insights into how artists, missionaries and modern portrayals shape a new understanding of Sikh history. Concluding this session Nimrita Bahia Associate professor (Coventry University) gave an update on the Sikhs in Academia (SIA) network which since their inception had moved to create a platform for Sikhs working in both academic and non-academic spaces.
The second session was chaired by Dr Gurnam Singh. It commenced with Dr Aditi Kumar (University of Warwick) whom showcased her field research in memories and interviews in relation to neglected communities in Jamnu and Kashmir. The paper was entitled Decolonising Partition of 1947: Amnesia to Collective (Re)remembering. This was followed by Dr Harjinder Singh Lallie who revealed the importance of Kirtan through the Gurmat Sangeet Academy (GSA)’s endeavor to train students in Sikh musicology. This was together with looking at the factors through surveys as to the barriers to continuing in studying music. As part of this session Dr Gurnam Singh discussed as part of the Audience Engagement Panel-How do we take Sikh Research forward? The participants gave examples on how what research was being undertaken and what the future Sikh world would look like in order to be conclusive and diverse to the opinions of all in the diaspora.
The third session was chaired by Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar (University of Wolverhampton). The session by Gurpreet Singh (University of Lethbridge) & Dr Kirandeep Kaur (University of Lethbridge) gave an analytical explanation of how the incorrect modelling of data gives us an disadvantage in terms of translation of Gurmukhi and the development of Apps. Their paper was entitled- Gurmukhi Punjabi A Low-Resource Language: Computational Readiness Of Punjabi Through The Lens Of The Blark Model.
Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar gave an update at her centre in terms of different projects and initiatives taking place including the development of a project on the Udasis of Guru Nanak and the creation of a new Sikh dictionary. The final paper was by Dr Tavleen Kaur (California State University, Fullerton) who looked at the role of media and how minorities had been distorted and stereotyped in her Sikhs in Hollywood: Contesting and Resisting a Seat at the Table.
The conference concluded with final words by Harjinder Singh Lallie and Gurinder Singh Mann. The participants enjoyed the conference with great feedback to speakers and continual engagement throughout the day. ISRC wish to thank the Warwick Sikh Network for their help in organising the conference.
The date of the next ISRC will be given on the Sikh Research Conference website and Facebook and Instagram page.
