Join the Circle!
Explore SikhRI's Leadership Circle
If you haven't had a chance to watch our Leadership Circle video yet, we invite you to take a few minutes to do so now!
The six minute video is a great way to understand how simple it is to make affordable monthly, or annual, gifts in support of SikhRI's work, and what donation commitments at these levels allow SikhRI to plan to do in 2011!
This month, we would like to introduce newsletter readers to a member of SikhRI's Board of Advisors.
Harpreet Singh is a PhD Candidate in the Committee on the Study of Religion at Harvard University, where he specializes in religious communities of Lodhi- and Mughal-Panjab. He was awarded the Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in Teaching in 2007. He is the co-founder of the Sikh Coalition and Academic Room, a social network and a content aggregation platform that enables sharing of resources across academic disciplines.
In 2003, along with Desmond Tutu, Singh was honored with the James Parks Morton Interfaith Tribute by the Interfaith Center of New York for his work to help heal local communities on the grassroots level. Singh has served on the Board of Trustees of the Sikh Scholarship Foundation and Fellowships of Activists to Embrace Humanity. Harpreet Singh received his Bachelor's degree in Computer and Systems Engineering from Rensselaer and Master of Theological Studies degree in South Asian Religions from Harvard Divinity School, where he was trained in Persian, Arabic, Sanskrit, Urdu, French and German.
Sidak 2011
The Date Is Set!
We are pleased to announce the dates for Sidak 2011! Join us next year, 25 June-9 July for our ninth Sidak leadership retreat. We will be offering three tracks of study: Sikhi 101, Sikhi 201 and Gurmukhi 101, as well as the usual popular group activities, discussions and divans that everyone comes together for!
If you haven't been to Sidak before, or do not know much about this one-of-a-kind Sikh leadership training experience, check out our Sidak page! You can look at a sample schedule of "A Day In the Life", hear testimonial from past Sidakers and find the contact information to get in touch with our Sidak coordinators. Hope to see you next year!
Rekindling the Sikh Spirit
Exploring "Friendships" in Florida
From 19-24 November, SikhRI put on four events in Florida. The first, "Prakash Purab Guru Nanak Sahib" where participants joined in a Sabad kirtan and then explored how it encourages friendship with the Guru. Some 500 people attended the event which was hosted by the Sikh Society of Florida in Southwest Ranches, FL. Gurpreet Kaur assisted in developing the presentation materials.
On 21 November, 25 people attended a talk on "Rekindling the Sikh Spirit" at the Weston Library in Weston, FL. The next day it was back to Southwest Ranches for a talk on Befriending Guru Nanak. One thousand people came to hear the talk, which explores how to cultivate a friendship with the complete Guru, the challenges to maintaining that relationship, and the ways that we can approach a Guru friendship in our work at a personal and collective level to strengthen the greater good.
The last event was also hosted in Southwest Ranches and was attended by 500 people. The talk, "The Ninth Guru: From Tyag Mal to Tegh Bahadar" explored the journey of the ninth guru from renunciator to warrior, his unique brand of enlightenment through applied wisdom and the contemporary meaning of the mantra: "Fear None. Frighten None."
Connecting with the Guru
Over the past month, SikhRI put on two highly successful Saneha sessions. The first, on 4 December, was held at the Sikh Center of Orange County in Santa Ana, CA. The topic, "The Guru: Connecting with the Divine Light" explored, "What is Guru?" and the section "Guru Granth and Guru Panth," investigated the role of Guru in the design and institutions of Sikhi. Some 66 people attended the day-long workshop.
Discovering Happiness
The second Saneha event, on 11 December, was held at the Bridgewater Khalsa School in Basking Ridge, About 50 people attended the session, "Discovering Happiness." The theme delves into topics such as, "Understanding Sukh-Dukh, Santokh & Anand," "Interpreting Personal & Community Joy," and "Applying, Measuring & Evaluating Happiness."
Liv
Locating a Sikh Political Theory
in the shabad of Guru Nanak
On 18 Dec, Harpreet Singh presented a Liv webinar which explored the political dimensions of Guru Nanak's work through a close reading of his bani, which articulates a political vision for the emancipation of the marginalized. Narenderpal Singh moderated the session and Jagdeep Singh served as host for the discussion.
SikhRI regularly offers Liv webinars on a wide variety of topics, which are available to anyone, anywhere in the world with internet access. In July of this year, SikhRI eliminated registration fees, so that Liv sessions become free of cost to attendees. While the webinars can be attended without cost, the institute always appreciates donations in order to support the Liv program.
Please note that we are currently in the process of moving our archived sessions onto a Vimeo channel after experiencing unexpected difficulties with our Exposture Room account. Please check in with our Recordings Page in January, when we anticipate past sessions will once again be available for streaming.
"Lest We Forget"
On 24 November Ravpreet Singh represented SikhRI at the 19th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, TX. The theme of this year's service was "Lest We Forget: Honoring the Overlooked." More than 80 people attended the event where representatives from the cities many faith communities spoke on their own experiences working with the overlooked and offered a prayer from their tradition for the safety and protection of the forgotten. Surender Pal Singh and Sara Stroo helped develop these remarks. A special thanks to Billy Calzada for letting us use the picture he took of the gathering for the San Antonio Express-News.
Archbishop Welcoming Ceremony
Gurvinder Singh also represented SikhRI at the Archbishop Welcoming Ceremony, which was also held at the San Fernando Cathedral. We would like to thank Jim Landers of Landers Photography Studio and School for generously providing us with the picture from the event.
Sikhi 2020
Challenges & Responses: A Vision for the Next Decade
Harinder Singh has been reprising a new and popular talk as 2010 draws to a close. The presentation, "Sikhi 2020: Challenges and Responses" takes on many aspects of the Sikh journey from centuries past to contemporary times, the realities of the world our communities operate in today, and the challenges we face, both as individuals and as a collective sangat. The talk then turns to examine, "What is needed?" and a vision for the next decade in terms of inter-community and international cooperation toward progress for Sikhs everywhere.
The talk was customized for the region it was delivered in, with one talk in British Columbia and the other in Connecticut, directed at the US Tristate Sikh community.
What Can I Do?
Discussing "Critical Issues Facing Sikhs Today"
Over the weekend of 27 and 28 November, Harinder Singh presented two sessions intended to galvanize and motivate the international Sikh community toward positive and progressive change. Representatives from the US, Canada and India came together for the convention, whose theme this year was "Critical Issues Facing Sikhs Today."
The 27 November presentation was a reprise of the Sikhi 2020 talks, but with extra sessions and a special focus on the history of Sikhi to today, and how that history can serve our communities-- both as a source of wisdom, but also as a stumbling block if we do not learn from mistakes. Surenderpal Singh assisted in developing this presentation as well.
The 28 November talk covered "What Can I Do Today?" and was an extensive investigation of some of the Sikhi 2020 themes, with an eye turned toward action and cooperation in the community. Sections of the talk urged participants to investigate their perception of the modern Sikh identity and form appropriate responses to the challenges and divisions faced today, through decisive action and an assumption of the role of change agent.
The Ninth Guru
"Protector of Humanity"
On 12 December, Harinder Singh presented two events for the Tri-state community in Connecticut. The first, "Protector of Humanity" was a talk designed especially for teens of junior high and high school-age. Jasmine Kaur and Surender Pal Singh assisted in developing the content, which helped teens see how to develop a relationship with the Guru Sahibs and their families. It also initiated a discussion of ways to address human rights violations, and techniques for developing faith, courage and discipline in order to respond as community and global activists. About 30 people attended the talk, which was held at the Guru Gobind Singh Academy at the Gurduara Norwalk in Norwalk, CT.
The second talk was a reprise of the "The Ninth Guru: From Tyag Mal to Tegh Bahadar" which Harinder Singh had presented in Florida a few weeks earlier. The talk was attended by more than 200 people and was hosted by the Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Foundation at Gurduara Norwalk.
SikhRI in the Media
A new workshop titled "The Sikh Ghallughara of 1984" designed through a collaboration between SikhRI and ENSAAF which launched last month was coverred on Sikhnet. Click Here for the full story.
Harinder Singh was interviewed on Jus Panjabi TV by host Rabinder Singh Bamra which aired on Dec 5th.
SikhRI's participation in the seminar at Gurdwara Sikh Culture Society, Richmond Hill, NY was covered by various news papaers.
For Amritsar Times, Click Here
For Punjab Times, Click Here
For Sher-E-Panjab, Click Here
Stay in touch with us by checking out our latest Podcast & Videocast!
Thank Yous
Sikh Research Institute exists to serve the community's education needs. As we strive to fulfill our mission of empowerment through education, we cannot be successful without the endless support of volunteers. Thank you to all of our volunteers this month who continue to inspire us with their strength, dedication, and passion!
Ajaib Singh, Arinder Singh Chadha, Arvind Singh, Baldev Singh, Billy Calzada, Charanjit Kaur Chanana, Ginny Kaur Chawla, Gurvinder Singh Bains, Harsharan Kaur, Inni Kaur, Jagdeep Singh, Janie Vela Cavazos, Jasdeep Singh Mann, Jaswinder Singh Chadha, Jim Landers, Karnail Singh, Mandhir Singh, Manpreet Kaur, Ranjit Singh Samra, Ravpreet Singh, Reena Kaur Aurora, and Tejinder Kaur.
