Titled “Sikhs in the 21st Century: Remembering the Past, Engaging the Future,”
UCSC Launches Academic Initiative to Reframe Global Understanding of Sikhism, Sikh Diaspora
The University of California, Santa Cruz has launched an academic initiative aimed at reshaping global perceptions of Sikhism through digital storytelling and inclusive scholarship, The Economic Times reported, citing an official release by the university dated May 15.
The initiative is led by Indian-origin professor of economics and Sikh studies scholar Nirvikar Singh. According to the report, the project seeks to provide a deeper and more nuanced understanding of Sikh history, identity, and philosophy.
Titled “Sikhs in the 21st Century: Remembering the Past, Engaging the Future,” the initiative is housed at UCSC’s Humanities Institute. It creates multimedia content that explores the evolution of Sikh institutions, the impact of colonialism, and the complex identity of the Sikh diaspora, the report stated. The project also challenges oversimplified narratives and aims to present a more accurate and comprehensive view of Sikh history and philosophy.
Nirvikar Singh noted that many existing accounts of Sikhism lack depth or are influenced by colonial-era interpretations. “We are reexamining inherited assumptions and opening space for deeper, evidence-based engagement,” he added.
Singh, raised in the Sikh tradition, calls the initiative both scholarly and personal.
“This project asks: What if we take a step back, and not take anything for granted, even if it is conventional scholarly wisdom?”
The initiative is also about expanding access—especially for scholars from Punjab and marginalized communities.
“Younger or marginalized scholars can be reluctant to engage in non-traditional formats, but they bring crucial insights,” Singh explained.
The videos explore themes such as the development of Sikh institutions and the relationship between diasporic identity and language, aiming to challenge misconceptions that portray Sikh tradition as either lacking clear form throughout its history or being primarily shaped by colonial influences.
The videos are developed with support from The Teaching and Learning Center at UCSC and aim to engage young audiences through layered visuals, archival sources, and thoughtful curation.
“Videos don’t always fit neatly into traditional academic incentives, so younger or marginalized scholars can be reluctant to engage,” Singh explained.
“But these scholars bring crucial insights, and we wanted to give them a voice. In doing this, we have also been fortunate to work with The Teaching and Learning Center at UC Santa Cruz, which has deep expertise in producing materials for online education.”
“We want to honor the richness of the Sikh tradition without falling into oversimplification,” Singh said.
“Our hope,” he said, “is that we can help people—scholars and community members alike—see old things in new ways.”
“It’s about learning and understanding—real, nuanced, grounded understanding for everyone. That’s an important role of the humanities in education.”
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