SikhArchive
By Sukhraj Singh
SikhArchiveFeb 28, 2021
Who was Lord Mountbatten? with Andrew Lownie
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 63rd episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Andrew Lownie; who is an author and prize-winning historian that also runs his own literary agency, and in 2019 he published the book, “The Mountbattens” which is a biography on the lives of Lord Mountbatten and his wife Edwina Mountbatten.
We discussed today to learn about who exactly Lord Mountbatten was, what was his connection to the royal family, and his role in the British Empire and the partition of Punjab. We also talk a little on the legal battle to declassify the files related to his diary that remain out of the public domain which may reveal findings that could impact how we understand international relations between India and Great Britain.
The Rural Transformation of Panjab with Professor Surinder Singh Jodhka
In this episode, we are joined by Professor Surinder Singh Jodhka, who is a prolific academic in sociology based in Delhi at Jawaharlal Nehru University specialising in structures of social inequality regarding caste and agrarian society.
Today we will be discussing a number of topics, for example the meaning of Rural transformation and also the historical timeline of Panjabi agriculture, the influence of the west, migration, both internal and external, and how power structures and land control have evolved over time in the region.
UAPA in Panjab with Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 65th episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, who is the proprietor of @PanjaabLawyers in Ludhiana and is also the Advocate for several Sikh Political Prisoners. He has recently released a list of those detained by Panjab Police online. We discuss today his personal life, how he became a legal counsel for political prisoners, a brief history of the Indian penal code, UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and how it’s applied in Panjab, an update on the case of Jagtar “Jaggi” Johal and more.
Who was Jaswant Singh Khalra? with Gurmeet Kaur
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 61st episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Gurmeet Kaur, who is an Panjabi American author and publisher known for creating a series of children's books under the project Fascinating Folktales of Punjab. And in 2020, she wrote and published a book about Jaswant Singh Khalra in order to commemorate his 25th martyrdom, which will be the topic of the conversation today.
We begin by learning more about Gurmeet Kaur and what motivated her to write the book. Then discover who Jaswant Singh Khalra was as well as understand how the book was written and all the careful thought that was considered in its publication.
Allegory – A Tapestry of Guru Nanak’s Travels with Amardeep Singh
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 60th episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Amardeep Singh, who is an Independent Visual Ethnographic Researcher with a background in in the Financial Services sector for 25 years and who was also the Head of the Asia Pacific Region at American Express for Revenue Management.
He has authored two books, ‘Lost Heritage, The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan’ and ‘The Quest Continues: Lost Heritage, The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan’. He has also produced and directed documentary films, which we will be discussing today.
NB: The 24 episode docuseries on Guru Nanak is available in 4 languages at TheGuruNanak.com
Masculinity, Sexuality and Transnationality in Panjab with Professor Harjant Singh Gill
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 59th episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Harjant Singh Gill, who is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and visual anthropologist. He makes films which cast a spotlight on urgent and often overlooked social issues, and makes marginalized members of society feel less isolated and more understood.
We discuss his personal life, the three documentaries he has made on Punjab, namely “Roots of Love”, “Sent Away Boys” and “Mardistan” as well as his forthcoming book “Coming of Age in Macholand”, all of which explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, religion, citizenship, transnationality and notions of belonging with a particular focus on Indian and diasporic masculinities.
Faith, Gender and Activism: The Wheatfields Still Whisper with Mallika Kaur
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 58th episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Mallika Kaur, who is an author, lawyer, teacher and community organizer who focuses on human rights with a specialization in gender and minority issues. She is also the author of the book “Faith, Gender, and Activism in the Punjab Conflict: The Wheat Fields Still Whisper”, which we will be discussing today.
We begin our conversation by understanding what inspired Mallika Kaur to write the book, then go onto explore the significance of intersectionality within our community, and later discuss some of the real stories that were told throughout the book, including that of Jaswant Singh Khalra.
Note: This discussion includes readings and discussion around identity-based discrimination and harassment that may be difficult for some listeners.
Panjab: Journeys Through The Fault Lines with Amandeep Sandhu
In this episode, we are joined by Amandeep Sandhu, who is a Panjabi journalist and the author of the book, “Panjab: Journeys through the fault lines”, where, on a journey to understand Panjab, he looks at the past and present of Punjab, including the backdrop of the Green revolution, State of Emergency, Panjab insurgency and the present.
We discuss his inspiration for writing the book as well as exploring chapter by chapter each of the themes that the book includes, namley Satt, Berukhi, Rosh, Rog, Astha, Mardangi, Dawa, Paani, Zameen, Karza, Jaat, Patit, Bardr, Sikhya, Lashaan and Janamdin.
Music in Colonial Punjab with Professor Radha Kapuria
In this episode, we are joined by Radha Kapuria, who is an Assistant Professor in South Asian History at the University of Durham. Her current research analyses the impact of the 1947 Partition on musicians’ lives India and Pakistan, with her interests centring around South Asian social, cultural and gender history; migration, displacement and borderlands, and conflict, decolonisation and culture.
Today we will be discussing her book, Music in Colonial Punjab: Courtesans, Bards, and Connoisseurs, which examines music’s social history for the entire Punjab region. The book is based on her PhD at King's College London, which was shortlisted for the Royal Asiatic Society’s 2019 Bayly Prize.
NB: correction at 28:59 mins: “Flora Annie Wilson” ought to have been “Flora Annie Steele”
Janamsakhis of Guru Nanak with Professor Harjeet Singh Grewal
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 55th episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Harjeet Singh Grewal, who is a professor of Asian Religion and Sikh Studies at the University of Calgary and Comparative Literature courses at MacEwan University and his PhD thesis was titled, “Janamsakhi: Networks of interpretation.
And so today we will be discussing Janamsakhis, their origins, their significance and their role in Sikhi today. In addition to that, we also explore what purpose they served, their mythical dimension and the role of Bhai Veer Singh in modern Sikh reading practices.
Also...
The University of Calgary is currently expanding Sikh Studies by creating an endowment fund. Find more information about Sikh Studies at https://www.ucalgary.ca/giving/campaign-success/featured-stories/sikh-studies-program
Sikhi and Jainism with Professor Nirinjan Kaur
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 54th episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Nirinjan Kaur, who is a professor of theological studies at the Loyola Marymount University. Her work examines both historic and modern Sikh devotional music with particular attention paid to the mystical and embodied realms of performative practice as well as the ideological debates and identity politics surrounding its pedagogy and history.
Professor Khalsa also has a focus on the music and poetics of devotion in the Jain and Sikh as well as on the aspect of spiritual warriors in both traditions, which is the topic that we will be discussing today. We begin by exploring an introduction to the understanding of theology, the commonality and differences between the two philosophies and also the geographical and historical links.
Life and Work of Guru Arjan with Professor Pashaura Singh
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from SikhArchive and welcome to the 53rd episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers, and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Pashaura Singh, who is a professor of religious studies at the University of California, Riverside. He is a leading scholar in Sikh studies where his research interests and expertise include the Adi Granth, Gurmukhi script and Sikh history.
Today we will be discussing his book, namely the Life and Work of Guru Arjan, and exploring this biography in detail. We talk about Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s childhood, his philosophy, his Guruship, engagement with Mughal rule and his legacy, to name but a few.
Lost in History: 1984 Reconstructed with Dr. Gunisha Kaur
Hi, I’m Sukhraj Singh from Sikh Archive and welcome to the 52nd episode of our Podcast series of conversations with historians, authors, academics, researchers and activists on topics related to their areas of expertise on Sikh or Panjabi history.
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Gunisha Kaur, who is an anaesthesiologist specializing in human rights. Her research interests focus on displaced populations such as migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
She is also the author of the book, 1984: Lost in History which will be discussed today. The book documents the events of 1984, before, during and after with respect to the human rights violations in India, the subsequent trauma and the campaign for justice which continues to this day.
Communism in Punjab and The Ghadar Party in Russia with Professor Ali Raza
In this episode, we are joined by Ali Raza, who is a historian specializing in the history of modern South Asia from the Lahore University of Management Sciences. His research and teaching interests include the social and intellectual history of South Asia, comparative colonialisms, decolonization, and post-colonial theory.
Today we will be discussing his work on the communist internationalism in Colonial India, in particular the establishment of the Ghadar Party, their role with the Communist Party as well as their connection with Moscow. We also take a close look at the Kirti Kisan Party in Punjab and the evolution of this movement after independence.
Police Torture in Punjab with Professor Ami Laws
In this episode, we are joined by Dr Ami Laws, who is a medical practitioner from California and an adjunct associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr Laws is an internationally known expert with a specialization in the practices of abuse and torture. As such, she has interviewed and examined clients from India, countries of South and Central America and Roma from Eastern Europe. Her expertise has also been called upon by Nepali Nationals and persons from several countries in Africa
And In 2002, She wrote an article for the President and Fellows of Harvard College on Health and Human Rights titled “Police Torture in Punjab, India: An extended survey.”
Today we will be discussing this article and the study and fieldwork she conducted in Punjab which led to the findings of her report. It should be noted that this episode includes details of torture and an exploration of some specific case studies that outline the methods and the subsequent psychiatric harm that followed.
The History of Migrant Incarceration in USA with Professor Jessica Ordaz
In this episode, we are joined by Jessica Ordaz, who is a professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is the author of the book, The Shadow of El Centro: A History of Migrant Incarceration and Solidarity, which fascinated me to host this conversation for two reasons.
First, Akaal Security, a Sikh private security company, administered this detention facility in El Centro for a long time and it came to my attention a couple of years ago when the ICE stories were going viral. Secondly, in 2019, a six-year-old girl from Punjab, Gurpreet Kaur, died of a heat stroke in the Arizona desert on the US-Mexico border after her mother went in search of water during a border crossing.
This episode is dedicated to Gurpreet Kaur and her family.
Sikhi & Yoga with Professor Balbinder Singh Bhogal
In this episode, we are joined by Balbinder Singh Bhogal, who is a professor of Religious Studies and the holder of the Chair in Sikh Studies at Hofstra University. His research interests include decolonization, modernity, philosophy, yoga and Sikh studies, to name but a few.
Today we will be exploring the discussion on Sikhi and Yoga, in particular the Indic understanding of Yoga, its convergence to modernity and its relationship to Sikhi from a critical perspective. We take a close look at Sikhi during the bhakti movement, Guru Nanak’s relationship with his son Siri Chand and close the discussion with an understanding of how to understand and interpret Kundalini Yoga.
This podcast was based on a chapter written by Professor Balbinder Singh Bhogal, titled "Sikhi(sm): Yoga and Meditation" from the Routledge Handbook of Yoga and Meditation Studies. It can be accessed via the following link:
www.academia.edu/43977089/Sikhi_sm_Yoga_and_Meditation
On Nehru, High Modernism and Chandigarh with Professor Taylor Sherman
In this episode we are joined by Taylor Sherman, who is a professor of history at the London School of Economics where her research concerns the cultural and political history of South Asia between the 1930s and the 1970s.
We discuss today the politics of Nehru and his defining role in the formation of the Indian State with particular reference to high modernism and the establishment of Chandigarh, which is an element of her forthcoming book, titled, Nehru’s India: A history in Seven Myths.
Persianate Age of India with Professor Richard Eaton
In this episode we are joined by Richard Eaton, who is a professor of history at the University of Arizona where his primary interest is the social and cultural history of pre-modern India. He has most recently published the book “India in the Persianate Age” which explores the long-term interaction between the Persianate and Sanskritic worlds, between the Iranian Plateau and South Asia.
And today we discuss that book and pay close attention to the role of Punjab which is situated in the centre of these two worlds. We consider how important Persian culture was and what role it played in Sikh and Punjabi history given how dominant it was and what philosophies and traditions were bestowed onto the landscape as a result.
Marxism in Punjab with Professor Pritam Singh
In this episode, we are joined by Pritam Singh who is a scholar and professor of Economics at Oxford Brookes University where his main areas of teaching interest and expertise are development economics, environmental economics, comparative economic systems and competing economic paradigms.
Today we discuss the origins of Marxism in Punjab, its relationship with Sikhi and the evolution of Marxism throughout the 20th century with particular reference to the interwar period, communalism, the independence movement, post-partition, Nehruvian politics and secularism, the Suba Lehar, the Khalistan movement and beyond.
Religious Rebels in the Punjab with Professor Mark Juergensmeyer
In this episode, we are joined by Mark Juergensmeyer, who is a professor of global studies, sociology and also religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has a plethora of literature relating to the study of South Asian religion and politics, and the one that is being discussed today is called, Religious Rebels in the Punjab, which is about the Ad Dharam movement in the early 20th century which subsequently led to the formation of the Ravidassia community.
His scholarly work related to the Ad Dharam movement and Ravidassia religious formation is certainly unique since his fieldwork includes being in contact with many of the key members including Mangu Ram. Thus, I could think of no better person to have a conversation with about the religious reform movement concerning the scheduled castes which ran parallel to the Singh Sabha Lehar, Arya Samaj and others.
Paghri Sambhal Lehar to Samyukt Kisan Morcha with Professor Ronki Ram
In this episode, we are joined by Ronki Ram, who is a professor and leading scholar on the study of Casteism in Punjab. He is a professor at the Panjab University in Chandigarh and has now also more recently been appointed as a visiting Professor at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK.
Today, we will be discussing his latest book, Pagrhi Sambhal Lehar to Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which outlines the history of the Kisaan struggle in Punjab from 1907 to 2021. The book is structured in two parts: the struggle both before and after the great Partition and was released to contextualize the current farmer's protest historically.
Australian Indian History with Len Kenna and Crystal Jordan
In this episode we are joined by Len Kenna and Crystal Jordan who are both from the Australian Indian Historical Society. They have devoted decades of their time into researching the history of Indian migration to Australia and the contribution made in the early days of settlement. They have also authored the book, “Sikh History in Australia”.
We discuss today what inspired them to enter this field of study, how their research methods have evolved over time, what their findings were and what more can be done. In addition to that, we also pay close attention to the Sikh and Punjabi migration to Australia.
Influence of the British Raj on the Attire and Textiles of Punjab with Jasvinder Kaur
In this episode we are joined by Jasvinder Kaur, who studied textiles at Delhi’s Lady Irwin College in 1969 and has since been continuously engaged with the subject. She has included consultancy assignments at the Musée d’art et d’histoire and Musée d’ethnographie, in Geneva, Switzerland, and has been lecturing as visiting faculty at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi.
She is also the author of the most recent book - 'Influences of the British Raj on the Attire and Textiles of Punjab', which explores how the British Raj brought lasting changes in the way people dressed and used textiles in Punjab. In today’s conversation, we talk about this book on how many men became Westernized and followed English fashions to the hilt and also how Women’s styles were impacted to a lesser degree among other interesting talking points.
Delhi Fateh Diwas with Dr. Kanika Singh
In this episode we are joined by Kanika Singh, who is a historian with a research focus on museums and heritage in contemporary India, with a particular interest in Sikh museums. Her PhD was on the representation of heritage in Sikh museums with a case study of the museum at Sis Ganj Gurdwara in Delhi.
In today’s conversation, we discuss her article, “Commemorating Baghel Singh’s ‘Conquest’ of Delhi: The Fateh Diwas", where we explore the significance of Baghel Singh, the interpretation of his historical visit to Delhi, how it is depicted in art and a critical examination of how it is commemorated today.
Who was Jahangir? with Parvati Sharma
In this episode we are joined by Parvati Sharma, who is a journalist and the author of the historical biography book, “Jahangir: An Intimate Portrait of a Great Mughal”. And in today’s discussion, we explore both the book and the life of Jahangir, with a particular focus on his upbringing, his role in power and his relationship to his father, Akbar, whom we had spoken about before in a previous episode.
The History of Monsanto and The Green Revolution with Professor Bartow Elmore
In this episode we are joined by Bartow Elmore, who is an award-winning professor and writer who investigates the impact of big business on our environment. He teaches as an associate professor of environmental history and is a core faculty member of the Sustainability Institute at the Ohio State University.
We discuss his latest book, Seed Money: Monsanto’s Past and Our Food Future, which explores the history of Monsanto, how they influence our food system, their role in the industry of agro-chemicals, as well as genetically engineered seeds.
Monsanto has had a huge impact on Punjab such as the debt crisis farmers are facing, the cotton industry and the alarmingly high rates fertilizer use, to name but a few.
Punjab and Palestine - A Tale of Two Tragedies with Salman Siddiqi
In this episode we are joined by Salman Siddiqi, who is a student of International Relations and Global Studies who has a great interest in the history of partitions, especially on Punjab and Palestine. He is the author of the article, “A tale of two tragedies. A historical background and comparative analysis of the Nakba and the Partition.”
Today we will be discussing this article which outlines both the timeline and common themes and differences that can be found throughout these two histories that ran parallel in the 20th century. We begin by introducing the British Colonial regime which occupied both territories and end with a discussion on the current state of affairs after the independence movements.
The Komagata Maru and Jurisdiction in the Time of Empire with Professor Renisa Mawani
In this episode we are joined by Professor Renisa Mawani, who is a Professor of Sociology and Founding Chair of the Law and Society Minor Program at the University of British Columbia. She works on the conjoined histories of Indigeneity, Asian migration, and settler colonialism and is the author of Across Oceans of Law: The Komagata Maru and Jurisdiction in the Time of Empire.
We discuss today the book, which is a transnational history of the Komagata Maru, a Japanese steamship which carried 376 Punjabi migrants from Hong Kong to Canada and to India in 1914. It focuses on the interaction between human and nonhuman, problemtatizing the middle passage by focusing on the materiality of the ship, the vitality of water, and the forces of nature.
Gendered Citizenship and Sikh Women in India with Professor Natasha Behl
Today, we discuss her book, Gendered Citizenship: Understanding Gendered Violence in Democratic India, which analyzes Indian women's unequal experience of democracy in multiple domains, namely the state, civil society, religious community, and the home.
Who was Dr. Ambedkar? with Professor Valerian Rodrigues
We discuss the life of Dr Ambedkar from his early childhood to his education and later political life and thought. We also explore his engagement with the Indian constitution and the Sikh community of India with regards to mass conversion.
Vernacular Culture in British Colonial Punjab with Professor Farina Mir
On Bhai Maharaj Singh and Kharak Singh with Professor Anand Yang
He is a professor of history at the University of Washington and author of the book, “Empire of Convicts” which we will be discussing today, and in particular the case studies of Bhai Maharaj Singh and Kharak Singh.
History of the Body in British Colonial Punjab with Nikita Azad
We discuss a host of topics surrounding early 20th century Punjab such as Caste, Gender, Health, Medicine and Race with respect to colonial history of Punjab. It is a fascinating conversation which I am excited to share because it touches on so many themes, I am interested in.
My Dalit Experiences with Balbir Madhopuri
In this episode we are joined by Balbir Madhopuri who is a prolific author and poet most well known for his auto-biography, Changiya Rukh, which is about his upbringing and life experiences as a Dalit in Punjab.
Debating the Dasam Granth with Professor Robin Rinehart
The Trolley Times with Jasdeep Singh
The Green Revolution in Punjab with Dr. Divya Sharma
Allahu Akbar - Understanding The Great Mughal in Today's India with Manimugdha Sharma
The Cherished Five with Professor Louis Fenech
On Malerkotla with Professor Anna Bigelow
Sufism in Punjab with Professor Yogesh Snehi
The Case of Surjit Singh Chhokar with Aamer Anwar
Neoliberalism in Punjab with Dr. Shreya Sinha
We discuss Neoliberalism in Punjab with respect to the agrarian economy in Punjab, in particular its historical context and some of the consequences surrounding the policies that have had an impact on Punjab ranging from debt, farmer suicides, migration and more.
On Caste, Sikhi & Ambedkar with Dr. Suraj Yengde
Masculinity and Sexuality in Northern India with Professor Joseph Alter
The Feminine Sikh Principle with Professor Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh
Podcards From The Colonies with Sahiba Kaur Chadha
Sikhi & Buddhism with Professor Balbinder Singh Bhogal
Professor Bhogal's academic profile and publications are available on his academia.edu profile via the following link, hofstra.academia.edu/BalbinderSinghBhogal