So now is something big and exciting.  For years a criticism of the Jakara Movement was that it was California-centric.  Recently an exciting collaboration opportunity availed itself.  Sevadars of the annual Surat Sikh Conference were seeking fresh blood and ideas.  The Jakara Movement was seeking an opportunity to begin unveiling its numerous local projects in more venues.  Synergies were found and Surat-Lalkaar 2012 was born.

The theme will be similar - Kaur Voices: Exalt, Express, Empower. At the conference, we will begin the exploration of the complexity of the ways genderism, sexism, and even casteism affect our relationships as individuals and how they manifest as a community. We will begin the first steps in a conversation to challenge these hierarchies and discuss how we can put into practice the vision of the Gurus and their celebration of equality.

Exciting guests speakers include Kirpa Kaur, a Youth Case Worker for the largest youth and young adult Crisis Shelter Program in Vancouver, British Columbia and Kulvir Singh, a founder of the Seva Food Bank.

The Surat-Lalkaar 2012 has a limited number of spots available.  It ALWAYS sells out, often in a matter of hours.  Don’t get left behind! Registration will be opening TODAY (December 11, 2011) at 12pm EST.  We hope to see you there!

Check out more details at www.sikhconference.org

Click here to view the embedded video.

For general information for how the weekend went, see the report by one of the participants, who blogs for our sister website at Kaurista.  It gives a valuable synopsis of the workshops and the ebbs and flows of the conference.

Reflecting after the Kaur Voices 2006 conference, the Jakara Movement wrote:

Jakara 2006 sought to create a forum to engage and question gender inequalities in our community. Too often violence against women is swept under the rug and the community makes no efforts to engage with these critical issues. The silence can be deafening. To begin the process of finding solutions, the Jakara Movement inaugurated a quantitative study seeking input from over 285 women in a web-based survey. The results were alarming, but unfortunately not too surprising. As perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual abuse, sex-selective abortion, and internet pedophiles run rampant in our community, we all suffer. The conference began on Friday by engaging in case-studies highlighting these problems. Participants created videos of these case studies and ended the day exploring the Guru’s message about how we should be forming relationships with one another. At times conversations became heated; at times some participants felt the issues had not received the importance they required; at times some participants felt the critical analysis required to discuss these issues was lacking. Some were hurt; some were upset; some were relieved; some were excited. The first day was the first awkward steps to begin a conversation long overdue in our community. After identifying and realizing the tragedies, on Saturday, the conference moved towards proposing solutions. Organizations that were suggested included “Ladoos: Pink and Blue” that would include a community-pooled fund that would distribute ladoos in celebration of both boys and girls. Also on Saturday, regional groups were created to celebrate the first annual Mata Khivi Day in the local communities to open these issues to a larger forum amongst the youth. Jakara 2006 sought to create a space for “Kaur Voices” to be exalted, expressed, and empowered.

5 years later.  We re-tooled the conference schedule, workshops, and materials.  From an activist perspective, a key change was in making sure that people feel challenged, but not hopeless.  This was at times lost in 2006, where the overall curriculum allowed for ups and downs, but what was forgotten was that the participants live in individual moments, not according to some grand ‘narrative’ that planners may have had in mind.  This is a critical lesson learned and one that all activists, especially with ‘educational’ aspects as part of an agenda, should keep in mind.

Not described in the Kaurista write-up (as it could not be by a Kaur) was the concurrent Singh Code workshop.  Here the men had a very powerful, difficult, and challenging first conversation in our community on the nature of ‘male privilege.’  The worksheet read:

Given the devastating history of racism in this country, it is understandable that getting Sikh men to identify with the concept of male privilege isn’t easy! For many Sikhs men, even the phrase “Punjabi male privilege” seems like an oxymoron — three words that simply do not go together.

While it is understandable that Sikh men are hesitant or reluctant to examine the concept of male privilege, the Sikh community will never be able to overcome the serious issues that we face if we as Sikh men do not confront our role in promoting and sustaining male supremacist attitudes and actions.  This is the challenge our Gurus gave us.

Inviting Sikh men and boys into a conversation about male privilege does not deny centuries of discrimination or the burden of racism (in America) that we continue to suffer from today. As long as a Sikh man can be shot dead in the streets of Elk Grove, harassed at airports, or even receive less call-backs for a job than a white man with a felony record, we know that racism that targets Sikh men is alive and kicking.

Examining Sikh male privileges offers Sikh men and boys an opportunity to go beyond old arguments of “personal responsibility” or “blaming the man” to gain a deeper level of insight into how issues of class and race are influenced by gender. Gender is one of the most important tools in the production and reproduction of power because it relies on consent and not just coercion.

Another point worth elaborating was on a particular powerpoint presentation.  Many of us (but by no means should we assume all(!!)) are familiar with names of inspiring Sikhs, such as Mai Bhago, Mata Khivi, Bibi Nanaki, Bibi Upkar Kaur, etc., however without proper study of Sikh history, we have no idea if such activists were exceptional women or actually more common than we might think.  One of the powerpoints, delved into this particular question, by looking at a document that was produced in the Court of Guru Gobind Singh, during the early 18th century.  The Param Marg Granth provides special insights into the place and status of women in the society of the actual court, challenging notions of patriarchy and glib assumptions of ahistorical male dominance.  The feedback from that session was generally positive, but there was some criticism (mostly by males) that the presentation should have focused on some of the more well-known shabads from Gurbani.  Far be it from me, to not acknowledge the ultimate inspiration for any Sikh, ultimately comes from the Guru Granth Sahib, but the lives of the Gurus, be they through Janamsakhis and popular oral traditions, have always played an important role in shaping Sikh ethics and mores.

Overall we were excited by the exuberance, passion, and spirit of the attendees.  Our slogan became “150+ Revolutionaries now!”  It is not enough for our generation to merely criticize that of our parents.  They have bequeathed to us a remarkable inheritance, especially in the diaspora, of institutions and buildings.  It is the challenge of our generation to create the programs that fulfill all of our needs and make sure that we become compassionate, sensitive, and caring individuals to all sections of our community.  Guru Nanak, himself, stated:

nIcw AMdir nIc jwiq nIcI hU Aiq nIcu ]
nwnku iqn kY sMig swiQ vifAw isau ikAw rIs ]
I seek the company of the lowest of the low, I am the very lowest of the low.Why would I want to associate or emulate the (so-called) great?

The next line from this shabad read:

Thus it is compassion for all people, coming not from a sense of presumptuous, paternalistic, or over-bearing where we believe we know what is ‘best’ for others, but as part of our own struggles, love, and compassion.  This year we have a number of projects that will be coming out of the conference, as the movement is much bigger than the conference.  Whether you attended or reading it for the first time here, all of the sangat is invited to participate:

• Bhujangi Youth Academy – August 1-10, 2011 in Kings Canyon National Park.  This 10-day camp is aimed at “at-risk” boys, ages 13-16.  Help identify potential youth (maybe a brother, nephew, cousin, or even friend) or even fill out our volunteer form at bhujangi.org.  Also check out the article at SikhNN on this pilot project.

• Ladoos: Pink and Blue – Care about health-related issues facing Punjabi Sikh mothers?  Want to take a stand for equality?  Last week we called for help in designing the box; get more details at the website for the project.
• Kaur Voices – Help create our own space for Kaur Voices at this female performance venue.  Similar to YKB or VM, this inaugural event will be held in the Bay Area in December 2011.  Get involved by emailing kaur voices [at] j a ka r a [dot] o r g

• Jakara Juniors Camps – What do you know now that you wish someone had shared with you as a 10 year old boy or girl?  Now is your chance.  Here is a scene from our camp 5 years ago - Help us add new scenes this year!  Camps will be held in October of 2011 throughout California and beyond.  Make sure it happens in your city by getting in touch with us through the “Jakara Movement” Facebook page.
• Voices against Privilege – Jay Singh is creating a montage of voices against male privilege in our community.  He is requesting members of the Sangat to create a roughly minute length video explaining their thoughts on subject of male privilege. The video should be simple- a webcam or cellphone will suffice – and to the point. It could begin with the sentence: ”Male privilege in the Punjabi Sikh Community means this to me:_________.”  Singh voices are strongly requested. For more information, email mugufu[at] hot mai l [dot] com.

For the past eleven years, the Jakara Movement has hosted annual conferences to educate, enlighten and inspire youth from all over the world to become activists and revolutionaries with the aim of making a positive change in the Sikh community. Lalkaar 2011 was no different. The theme was Kaur Voices: Exalt, Express, Empower. This title itself could have been daunting, intimidating; but 150 young men and women ventured out to Sacramento, CA this past weekend to learn and to discuss Kaur issues, Kaur struggles, Kaur victories, and Kaur strength.

The conference began with discussing case studies in groups of about ten people. Topics of the studies ranged from the caste system to rape to domestic violence – issues that are often overlooked and ignored, but whose awareness and eventual elimination are critical to the well being of our Sikh community. Some

were shocked by the scenarios presented – all real situations that have happened to men and women in the Sikh community. Others were used to hearing about these issues and were seeking avenues for change and for justice. This want for change and for progress led to the second workshop – brainstorming concrete ideas to combat issues that Sikh women face in our community. Each group came up with strong, doable ideas – creating a Sikh Women’s Day, strengthening Khalsa School education with Sikh women history, establishing hotlines for Sikh women in need – and the list goes on. It is with the inspiration from this conference and the willpower of individual activists to turn these ideas into realities.

After a day of intense discussion, everyone headed over to Howe Park to relax, get some BBQ and play a little football. But the activities didn’t even end there. Bowling and laser tag were next. And let me tell you, 150 Sikhs at a bowling alley, fueled with the ice cream bar Jakara sevadars had put together, got crazy — the fun, exciting, bonding with each other kind of crazy.

The second and last day of the conference was about introspection – individuals evaluating themselves to assess where they stand as a Sikh woman or as a Sikh man. The day began with Gurbani translation. Here is a line from the vaar by Bhai Gurdas that each group translated:

ਸਣ ਵਣ ਵਾੜੀ ਖੇਤੁ ਇਕੁ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੁ ਵਿਕਾਰ ਜਣਾਵੈ।

San Van Vaarhee Khaytu Iku Paraoupakaaru Vikaaru Janaavai.

Hemp and cotton grow in the same field but the use of one is benevolent while the other one is put to evil use.

This obviously a rough translation, but essentially Waheguru equips us with gifts, with materials, with minds, with hearts – these all come from the same “field,” so to say. However, it is up to us to use those for good or for bad, for positive change or for maintaining status quo.Lalkaar means a calling. We use what Waheguru has blessed us with to answer that calling.

The last workshop was about the Kaur and Singh Code. We split up into groups by gender. Our goal was to come up with codes of conduct that would uphold our self-respect, self-esteem, and our love for Sikhi itself. This was all about empowering ourselves and encouraging ourselves to actually be the people we aspire to be.

The conference concluded with a banquet. The entertainment was a milieu of the raw talent that conference participants had kept hidden all weekend. Some sang, some danced, some did spoken word. It was a blatant display of the diversity that our Sikh youth has to offer.

If we could put our talents together, toward a cause greater than ourselves, the things we could achieve are indescribable. We could answer our Lalkaar. So to my fellow Lalkaar 2011 participants and those who attended in spirit, I say this – do not forget the sense of inspiration and motivation that this conference found within you; take that and do something, make your ideas a reality, and never stop thinking bigger and bolder. After all, we are the movement.

To see more photos from the conference, please click here.

xoxoLongHairedBeauty

After 12 years of holding our annual summer conference in Fresno, CA, we have moved our location to Sacramento, CA. This year’s topic will be Kaur Voices. Join Sikh males and females throughout the United States to discuss and work towards ending ending sexism, genderism, racism, casteism, and other social injustices impacting our community. Jakara Movement’s summer conference, Lalkaar, has provided a space, a forum, and a safe place to discuss these issues for over a decade. We hope this is the year you will attend and contribute your ideas to ending the social injustices of discrimination.

Lalkaar provides great networking opportunities for young Sikhs to meet each other and form a sense of unity with their community. The conference will begin on Thursday, June 16, 2011 and will run through Sunday, June 19, 2011. The curriculum of the conference is presented during the morning and afternoon, while during the evenings we provide our attendees with social activities such as, bowling, laser tag, a picnic in the park, an ice cream social, and an evening formal for young Sikhs to build strong networks within the sangat.

A tentative schedule is provided below. However, this schedule is subject to change and will be updated with details frequently so it is important to keep up with us through www.jakara.org!

Thursday

4-7pm Check-In @ Hotel

7-9 Kirthan & Ardaas

9-11pm Meet & Greet with Ice-Breakers

Friday

9-10am Breakfast at Sac State

10am-1pm Workshop 1

1-2pm Lunch

2-6 Workshops 2 & 3

6-8:30 Picnic in the Park

9-11 Bowling, Laser Tag, Billards, & Ice Cream Social @ Country Club Lanes

Saturday

9-10am Breakfast at Sac State

10am-1pm Workshop 1

1-2pm Lunch

2-6 Workshops 2 & 3

7:00am-12am Formal Banquet

Sunday

11am-2pm Check-out

Farewell @ West Sac Gurdwara

Get a very different look at the conference and become a facilitator today!  Apply here now!

Apply Now!

This year marks the 11th annual Jakara Movement Conference in Fresno, CA.  Come join 175 young Sikhs from throughout North America as they convene together to explore the Guru Granth Sahib: The History of the Sikh Soul.

Tell your friends and make sure you join us June 17-20,2010.  Register now for the early bird special!

This year we held our 10th annual Jakara Movement conference.  This year we came together to Remember 1984.

From remembering the past, reflecting on Gurbani, reconnecting with the voices of the people, rethinking the role of the meda, and revering our heroes and sheroes – it was an eventful Friday!  Saturday included recognizing the lessons of 1984, reaffirming our commitment to the Sarbat Khalsa and Gurmata tradition of consensus building, recollecting with our brothers and sisters, reacting to their personal histories, responding to the past, and finally realizing a new reality is possible.

From evenings of recreation to days of reflection, we hope that the Jakara Movement Conference 2009 proved to be inspirational, not only to those participating, but for the greater Sikh Qaum as well.

We write this post as a space for you to leave your comments.  All are invited to share their thoughts – those in attendance and those that may have missed it this year.

Many made commitments during the conference.  We hope you keep true to them.  We hope you remember the lesson of 1984 – divided we fell; united we’ll stand.

It is only as a “collective” that we will build a brighter future for tomorrow; it is only as a united Qaum that we have the power to change tomorow; it is only together,
we are the movement.

PS: Please leave your thoughts and comments – also please take the time and fill out our numerous applications at our ugly website (yes, it is underconstruction) – www.jakara.org

• “Sukhmani Sahib for the Shaheeds” (Jun 2009) Success!
• Jakara Movement Conference (Jun 2009)
  Soon to be Success!
• The Gift of Blood – Blood Drive (Jun -Nov 2009)
  Underway!
• Visions for Truth: 1984 Movie Screenings (Aug 2009)
• Jakara Juniors Camps (Oct 2009)
• “Silent Marches” (Nov 2009)
• “Alliance for Justice Week” (Nov 2009)

Send us a message and get involved.  Also follow the Jakara Movement Blog – j. Khabar – for updates and details!

we are the movement.

At the Jakara Movement Conference 2009, Sikh activists, whose experiences during and after 1984, shaped their desire to engage with their community recollect and recall their stories to the Jakara Movement audience.  Leading activists in groups such as Sikh Research Institute, Sikh Coalition, and SALDEF all participated at the Jakara Movement conference.

Bridging voices of the past, with the leaders of tomorrow.

we are the movement.

We remember Sardar Jaswant Singh Khalra and Sardar Sukhbir Singh Osan.

The nation that forgets its sheroes and heroes is a nation destined to be forgotten.

We will not forget.

Parnaam Shaheedan Nu.

we are the movement.