Sikh Studies Unit

The following are proposed panel titles for 2025. Additional panel proposals are welcomed. We especially welcome suggestions for panels to be co-sponsored with other units. The Sikh Studies unit exclusively uses the AAR PAPERS system for all submissions. Proposed panel titles are listed with contact information. If interested, please contact the listed person(s) directly:

"100 Years of the 1925 Gurdwara Act: A commemoration"
As we approach the centenary of the 1925 Gurdwara Act, we invite reflections on the significance, impact, and legacy of this landmark legislation. The 1925 Gurdwara Act was a pivotal moment in Sikh history, marking the formal recognition and regulation of Sikh Gurdwaras in India. This panel aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of the Act, its historical context, and its enduring influence on Sikh religious and community life. We welcome submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes and topics: a) Historical context and Genesis of the 1925 Gurdwara Act; b) Legal and Political Implications; c) Contemporary Relevance and Challenges. 

"Sikh Struggles for Freedom and Human Rights"
We invite papers that delve into the historical context of Sikh struggles for autonomy, the foundations of equality in Sikh teachings, and the impact of national and international laws on Sikh communities. Additionally, we welcome analyses of contemporary issues such as human rights violations, Sikh activism, and the role of Sikh organisations in global advocacy. Contributions may also explore cultural expressions of freedom and human rights in Sikh literature, art, and media, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by Sikh diaspora communities.

"Creative Approaches to Teaching Sikhi through a Decolonial Frame"

Co-sponsored panel with Teaching Religion Unit and Transformative Scholarship and Pedagogy Unit
The co-sponsoring units invite scholars, educators, activists, and community leaders to submit papers for a possible co-sponsored panel on "Creative Approaches to Teaching Sikhi through a Decolonial Frame." This panel aims to explore innovative and transformative methods for teaching Sikh history, philosophy, and practices by challenging colonial narratives and embracing decolonial perspectives. We seek contributions that highlight creative pedagogical strategies, curriculum development, and community engagement that centre Sikh voices and experiences, fostering a more inclusive and accurate understanding of Sikhi. We welcome papers that address, but are not limited to, the following themes and topics: a) Decolonising Sikh History and Narratives, b) Innovative Pedagogical Strategies, c) Curriculum Development, d) Community Engagement and Empowerment.

Sikh-Hindu Relations in the North America: Contexts and Conflicts

Migration and labor histories, racialization and anticolonial movements, legacies of Partition and 1984, diasporic clashes and interreligious violence—Sikh-Hindu relations in North America are shaped by many contexts and conflicts. The North American Hinduism Unit and the Sikh Studies Unit invite papers that draw on archival, literary, ethnographic, and/or interdisciplinary approaches to the study of Sikh-Hindu relations in North America. Topics might include:1)  histories of migrant labor, racialization, immigration, and citizenship, 2) anticolonial movements, the Ghadar Party, Hindu-Sikh presence in California, 3) Sikh-Hindu religious practices, 4) impact of Partition (1947) and the 1984 Anti-Sikh violence on diasporic relations, 5) political formations and questions of sovereignty in the diaspora, 6) Sikh-Hindu inter-religious conflicts in North America.