Sikholars: Sikh Graduate Student Conference Participants Announced

The following papers have been selected and will be presented at the first annual conference. The conference is being hosted by the Jakara Movement and the Sikh Spirit Foundation.

• Ajeet Singh Matharu, Columbia University, History, N/A
• Arvinder Singh Kang and Amanpreet Singh Brar, University of Mississippi, Computer Science, Extending Gurmukhi Script into Twenty-first Century & Beyond
• Bandana Kaur, Yale University, Environmental Management, Reclaiming Natural Histories: Biodiversity and Landscape in Pre-Green Revolution Punjab
• Erik Resly, Harvard Divinity School, Divinity, (Re)figuring the Sikh: Theodicy, Discipleship and Narrative in Ethical Perspective
• Harjant Gill, American University, Anthroplogy, From Putt Jattan De to Munde UK De: The Transformation of Masculinities in Punjabi Cinema
• Iqbal Kaur Gill, University of British Columbia, Counseling Psychology, First Generation Canadian Punjabi Sikh Parents Beliefs about Adolescent Suicide and Suicide Related Behaviours
• Kamal Arora, York University, Social Anthropology, The Politics of Pain: Gender, Mourning and the Punjab Crisis
• Mandeep Kaur, University of Texas (Austin), Nursing, The Sikh Patient: A Review of the Nursing Literature
• Mette Bach, University of British Columbia, Creative Writing, The Changing Faces of Suburbia
• Preet Kaur Virdi, York University, Socio-Legal Studies, Silence: Resistance or Acquiescence? Sikh women’s perspectives on Canadian law

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Upcoming Jakara Juniors Kids’ Camps

This year’s theme is “A Nation Never Forgets” and will focus on the most recent chapter in Sikh history.

We are looking for volunteers, advocates, and participants.

Volunteers – send us an email and help us put you in contact with your local region.

Advocates – encourage your friends and family members to attend and participate

Participants – we are looking for kids!  Make sure you children, nephew, nieces, brothers, and sisters come out and learn about their Sikh heritage, culture, and religion.

Click below to find out when and where it is happening in your community

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Thoughts on “Visions of Truth” – Fresno and San Jose

This past Saturday (September 19, 2009), the “Visions of Truth” film series came to San Jose and Fresno, California.  Both came to respective college campuses and drew audiences of 50+.  Families, the elderly, and the young joined together to reflect on the events of 1984, through the lens of film and visual media.

The attendance was larger than expected, for promoting independent small-scale productions, and drew accolades from the participants.  In Fresno, city councilpersons, including the president Cynthia Sterling, joined in the film discussions and marked that she enjoyed such community participatory events and hoped to come again in the future.  It was also discussed that they key for greater non-Sikh participation in our community events is through our own participation and presence in events by non-Sikh groups.  All enjoyed the “Visions of Truth” events and eagerly hoped that they would continue in the future.

The Visions of Truth series now shifts to Southern California.  We’ll keep you updated on future dates and times, in October.

The Jakara family also wants to extend special thanks to all its volunteers in Fresno, Kerman, and San Jose that continues to put on quality events and encourage youth participation.  Together, we are the movement.