Sikh Feminist Conference

We are all on the journey (safar) of life.  Inherent to Sikhi, is a world-view where the Sikh Gurus’ principles of egalitarianism and empowerment are realized for all, so that everyone may flourish on their safar.

SAFAR: The Sikh Feminist Research Institute, strives to make the Gurus’ vision of a world that is just and compassionate a reality by bringing together activists and advocates to promote research, create safe spaces, and build alliances to support Sikh feminism and create social equality.

One of its flagship projects is its Sikh feminist conference,  Our Journeys Conference: To Know is Not Enough. This year will be its third conference and will be held this Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. 

“This academic conference will explore a range of topics, relationships, disciplines and voices through a Sikh feminist lens,” states their website. “It is about the intersection of activism and academics, action and knowledge.”

Key contemporary Sikh leaders will be presenting at the conference. For instance, writer of “Journey of the Gurus,” Inni Kaur will be moderating the key note panel: Sikh Feminism- What do we Know which will include:

• Dr. Inderpal Grewal: Professor of Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies at Yale University
• Palbinder Shergill: QC Lawyer
• Nikky-Gurinder Kaur:  Chair of the Religious Studies Department at Colby College

Left to right: Dr. Grewal, Ms. Shergill, Dr. Kaur

Beyond this keynote panel, the line-up is impressive and exciting.

SAFAR notes that they picked November 2014 in part because it marks 30 years since the 1984 atrocities waged against Sikhs in India and is the month of the birth of Guru Nanak Sahib, “who challenged the status quo and deeply rooted paternalistic values of the times; sowing seeds of Sikh feminism as we know it today,” they state.

“Holding the conference in this month of this year allows us to highlight the relationship and disconnect between knowledge and its application. Our Journeys 2014: To Know Is Not Enough will seek to unpack “knowledge” in its multiple natures from its: current status, production, dissemination, axis of interpretation, political agency, interconnectedness to community and finally, translation into action. Our Journeys 2014: To Know Is Not Enough asserts that to simply know is not enough and endeavour to go beyond the acknowledgement of anniversaries and Wikipedia facts. This conference aims to breathe in new possibilities with the potential to combine the wisdom of the past and possibilities for the future.”

Kaur Life will be at SAFAR and Lakhpreet Kaur will be presenting at the poster session. Hope to see some of you there!

The Women Presenting at SAFAR

The Women Presenting at SAFAR