Sikhs
This book explores the beliefs, practices. traditions, values and identities of Sikhs. It is representative rather than comprehensive, exploring a selection of key aspects of Sikh way of life (or Gurmat – ‘the teachings of the Guru’).
The book has authentic resources to introduce students to Sikhi, including voices of Sikhs in the UK today and explorations of the Guru Granth Sahib – seen as the living Guru, a living voice rather than a lifeless text (e.g. pp.8-11, 30-31). The place and identity of Sikhs in the UK have specific contexts, of course. This is examined in the art of Singh Twins, setting their own identities within the story of their father’s (see pp.12-13). The account of Gurinder Chadha reflects a similar story (p. 15). The difference between online perceptions of Sikhs (as turban-wearing and amritdhari – initiated, Khalsa Sikhs) and the more diverse reality is considered in a number of places (e.g. pp. 14-15, 18-23 and in the infographic on pp. 16-17).
Select a topic to explore resources
- Diving in: thoughtful starting points
- Essential text: Guru Granth Sahib
- Essential art: The Singh Twins
- Challenges Sikhs face: fitting in, standing out
- Data on Sikhs in the UK and beyond
- Why do some Sikhs choose to become part of the Khalsa?
- How do Sikhs experience God?
- Scholarly views: learning about Sikhism/Sikhi
External links
- External‘11 things you wanted to know about my turban but were too afraid to ask’
- ExternalArticle of Faith: resisting harassment in New York schools
- ExternalBBC3’s Things Not To Say to Sikh People (Content advisory: there is one classroom-inappropriate word)
- ExternalSurprising Facts about Sikhism
- External11 Surprising Facts about Sikhism - Part 2
Sewa
- ExternalThe Midland Langar Seva Society
- ExternalSeva in Scotland
- ExternalDasvandh Network, USA
Meeting Sikhs
- ExternalMonty Panesar, England cricketer. Interview in English and Punjabi (with some slightly wayward subtitles!)
- ExternalWaris Ahluwalia, American designer and actor (in e.g. The Grand Budapest Hotel). Photos
- ExternalInterview about change to how Waris Ahluwalia was treated before and after 9/11, how his turban is there for testing times and how he was prevented from boarding an internal US flight because of his turban
- ExternalFauja Singh, born 1911, multi-marathon runner from 2000 onwards
- ExternalDr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, academic at the University of Wolverhampton. Find out more on Sikh Channel Late Night Banter
- ExternalSikh Philosophy Network
- ExternalTSB Community Partner Award
Nita Rani, broadcaster and Strictly Come Dancing 2018 contestant, is from a Sikh background but is not practising.
- ExternalBBC 'Who do you think you are?'
- ExternalWhat happened to the women? | My Family, Partition and Me: India 1947 - BBC One
- ExternalInterview Anita Rani Has Been Shocked by Her Family's Painful Past | Lorraine
- ExternalBiographies of Sikh women
Alternative numbers for Sikh population of India and in the First World War:
- ExternalEmpire, Faith and War
Contemporary Sikhi
- ExternalBritish Sikh Reports
- ExternalAn important UK Sikh network
- ExternalSikh Chic is an online magazine for the Sikh diaspora, exploring art, film, poetry, books, music, faith, fiction, history, sports, fashion, food, architecture, humour, travel and more
The following websites explore Sikh women’s perspectives:
Films/TV
- ExternalThe English Patient
- ExternalBend It Like Beckham
- ExternalOcean of Pearls
- ExternalResource on the importance of sewa
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
- Internal21 examples of service to others in SikhismExamples of service in Sikhism.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
- Internal
True or false? Making sense of Sikh teachings about how to liveA resource for exploring Sikh teachings through a true or false activity, promoting critical thinking about key concepts in Sikhism. - Internal
Inference squareInference Square activity for exploring Sikh beliefs, fostering critical thinking through observation and analysis.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
- Internal
Examining All That I AmExplore Sikh identity, values, and self-reflection in this engaging RE resource. - Internal
For teachers – what are the roots of Sikhs in the UKGuide on the history and roots of Sikhs in the UK for teachers. - Internal
British Sikh rootsOverview of the historical contributions of Sikhs in Britain.
External links
External links
Sikhism in the UK
For Scotland:
For Northern Ireland:
- ExternalNorthern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service (2011), Census 2011, ‘Religion - Full Detail: QS218NI’
- ExternalBritish Sikh Report (2017), British Sikh Report 2017: An Insight into the British Sikh Community
Sikh Living
- ExternalBritish Sikh Report (2017), British Sikh Report 2017: An Insight into the British Sikh Community
- ExternalBritish Sikh Report (2018), British Sikh Report 2018: An Insight into the British Sikh Community. www.britishsikhreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/British-Sikh-Report-2018
- ExternalThe Sikh Network (2016), The UK Sikh Survey: UK Sikh Survey 2016
External links
The formation of the Khalsa:
- ExternalTrue Tube
- ExternalBBC My Life, My Religion
- ExternalBaisakhi Festival
The Amrit ceremony:
- ExternalBBC My Life, My Religion
- ExternalBBC Pathways of Belief
Further background information
- Externalhttps://www.sikhs.org/khalsa.htm
News links on mistaking turban-wearing Sikhs for extremists
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
- InternalGod-consciousness in SikhismOverview of God-consciousness in Sikhism and its spiritual impact.
External links
- ExternalSikh Chic is an online magazine for the Sikh diaspora, exploring art, film, poetry, books, music, faith, fiction, history, sports, fashion, food, architecture, humour, travel and more
- ExternalInformation and practice about Sikh kirtan
- ExternalInformation about the UK Sikh Ravidassia community
- ExternalWebsite of renowned Sikh artists, The Singh Twins
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
- Internal
Teaching about Sikhism: Points to bear in mindA resource offering guidance for teaching Sikhism, emphasizing core beliefs, practices, and history while ensuring cultural sensitivity and accuracy.
Select a topic to explore resources
Diving in: thoughtful starting pointsEssential text: Guru Granth SahibEssential art: The Singh TwinsChallenges Sikhs face: fitting in, standing outData on Sikhs in the UK and beyondWhy do some Sikhs choose to become part of the Khalsa?How do Sikhs experience God?Scholarly views: learning about Sikhism/Sikhi
External links
- External‘11 things you wanted to know about my turban but were too afraid to ask’
- ExternalArticle of Faith: resisting harassment in New York schools
- ExternalBBC3’s Things Not To Say to Sikh People (Content advisory: there is one classroom-inappropriate word)
- ExternalSurprising Facts about Sikhism
- External11 Surprising Facts about Sikhism - Part 2
Sewa
- ExternalThe Midland Langar Seva Society
- ExternalSeva in Scotland
- ExternalDasvandh Network, USA
Meeting Sikhs
- ExternalMonty Panesar, England cricketer. Interview in English and Punjabi (with some slightly wayward subtitles!)
- ExternalWaris Ahluwalia, American designer and actor (in e.g. The Grand Budapest Hotel). Photos
- ExternalInterview about change to how Waris Ahluwalia was treated before and after 9/11, how his turban is there for testing times and how he was prevented from boarding an internal US flight because of his turban
- ExternalFauja Singh, born 1911, multi-marathon runner from 2000 onwards
- ExternalDr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, academic at the University of Wolverhampton. Find out more on Sikh Channel Late Night Banter
- ExternalSikh Philosophy Network
- ExternalTSB Community Partner Award
Nita Rani, broadcaster and Strictly Come Dancing 2018 contestant, is from a Sikh background but is not practising.
- ExternalBBC 'Who do you think you are?'
- ExternalWhat happened to the women? | My Family, Partition and Me: India 1947 - BBC One
- ExternalInterview Anita Rani Has Been Shocked by Her Family's Painful Past | Lorraine
- ExternalBiographies of Sikh women
Alternative numbers for Sikh population of India and in the First World War:
- ExternalEmpire, Faith and War
Contemporary Sikhi
- ExternalBritish Sikh Reports
- ExternalAn important UK Sikh network
- ExternalSikh Chic is an online magazine for the Sikh diaspora, exploring art, film, poetry, books, music, faith, fiction, history, sports, fashion, food, architecture, humour, travel and more
The following websites explore Sikh women’s perspectives:
Films/TV
- ExternalThe English Patient
- ExternalBend It Like Beckham
- ExternalOcean of Pearls
- ExternalResource on the importance of sewa
Member Only Content
- Internal21 examples of service to others in SikhismExamples of service in Sikhism.
Member Only Content
- Internal True or false? Making sense of Sikh teachings about how to liveA resource for exploring Sikh teachings through a true or false activity, promoting critical thinking about key concepts in Sikhism.
- Internal Inference squareInference Square activity for exploring Sikh beliefs, fostering critical thinking through observation and analysis.
Member Only Content
- Internal Examining All That I AmExplore Sikh identity, values, and self-reflection in this engaging RE resource.
- Internal For teachers – what are the roots of Sikhs in the UKGuide on the history and roots of Sikhs in the UK for teachers.
- Internal British Sikh rootsOverview of the historical contributions of Sikhs in Britain.
External links
External links
Sikhism in the UK
For Scotland:
For Northern Ireland:
- ExternalNorthern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service (2011), Census 2011, ‘Religion - Full Detail: QS218NI’
- ExternalBritish Sikh Report (2017), British Sikh Report 2017: An Insight into the British Sikh Community
Sikh Living
- ExternalBritish Sikh Report (2017), British Sikh Report 2017: An Insight into the British Sikh Community
- ExternalBritish Sikh Report (2018), British Sikh Report 2018: An Insight into the British Sikh Community. www.britishsikhreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/British-Sikh-Report-2018
- ExternalThe Sikh Network (2016), The UK Sikh Survey: UK Sikh Survey 2016
External links
The formation of the Khalsa:
- ExternalTrue Tube
- ExternalBBC My Life, My Religion
- ExternalBaisakhi Festival
The Amrit ceremony:
- ExternalBBC My Life, My Religion
- ExternalBBC Pathways of Belief
Further background information
- Externalhttps://www.sikhs.org/khalsa.htm
News links on mistaking turban-wearing Sikhs for extremists
Member Only Content
- InternalGod-consciousness in SikhismOverview of God-consciousness in Sikhism and its spiritual impact.
External links
- ExternalSikh Chic is an online magazine for the Sikh diaspora, exploring art, film, poetry, books, music, faith, fiction, history, sports, fashion, food, architecture, humour, travel and more
- ExternalInformation and practice about Sikh kirtan
- ExternalInformation about the UK Sikh Ravidassia community
- ExternalWebsite of renowned Sikh artists, The Singh Twins
Member Only Content
- Internal Teaching about Sikhism: Points to bear in mindA resource offering guidance for teaching Sikhism, emphasizing core beliefs, practices, and history while ensuring cultural sensitivity and accuracy.
