Sikhs Across Borders: Transnational Practices of European Sikhs

Description

Sikhs Across Borders is the first study to explore patterns of transnational practices among European Sikhs, with particular focus on the links between the Sikhs in Europe, Punjab (the 'home-land') and within a global Sikh community. The book illustrates how local and transnational spheres coexist and interact in a multitude of social and cultural practices and discourses among European Sikhs past and present. Based on new empirical research Sikhs Across Borders book explores how religion continues to play a significant role in the daily lives of European Sikhs and is important for their maintenance of links with the homeland, as well as Sikhs in other parts of the world. The team of international contributors show how Sikhs are shaping new self-representations and identity constructions through a multitude of transnational practices on the individual, national and global level, such as marriages, pilgrimage narratives, and the use of the internet and new media. Further transnational practices examined include religious learning and teaching practices and responses to political events in the diaspora. Cover HalfTitle Series Title Copyright Contents List of Tables Notes on Contributors Introduction: Transnational European Sikhs Knut A. Jacobsen and Kristina Myrvold Structure of the book Part I Migration, Settlement, and Challenges in the Diaspora 1 Migration and Comparative Experiences of Sikhs in Europe: Reflections on Issues of Cultural Transmission and Identity 30 Years On Shinder S. Thandi Historical context: Empire, mobility andbeginnings of European Sikh diasporas Cultural transmission and maintenance of religiousidentities in new adopted homes: Recent discoursesand major challenges for mainland European Sikhs Changing environments and contexts:Implications for diasporic identities and identity politics 2 Sikh Soldiers in Europe during the First World War, 1914–18 David E. Omissi The Indian Army in 1914 The Indian Corps in France, 1914–15 The Indian cavalry in France, 1916–18 Casualties, consequences, and commemoration 3 Mobility as a Transnational Strategy: Sikhs Moving to and from Belgium Quincy Cloet, Sara Cosemans, and Idesbald Goddeeris Sikh migration to Belgium The Belgian attitude toward Sikhs Transnational mobility Conclusions 4 Transnational Sikh Marriages in Italy: Facilitating Migration and Negotiating Traditions Barbara Bertolani Migration, marriage, and family reunifi cation Kin networks and family tradition reconsidered Women’s empowerment? Negotiating arranged marriages in the transnational social fi eld Part II Constructing Identities, Representations, and Belongings 5 Narratives of “Return”? Travels to Punjab in the Contemporary Transnational Sikhscape Federica Ferraris Punjab: Homeland or destination? Travel narratives in the diasporic Sikhscape Narratives of “return” and the confl icting contemporary Sikhscape 6 Tuning Identity in European “Houses of the Guru”: The Importance of Gurdwaras and Kirtan among Sikhs in Europe Knut A. Jacobsen The academic study of gurdwaras Constructing gurdwaras in Europe Kirtan in gurdwaras Conclusion 7 Attending the Cyber Sangat : The Use of Online Discussion Boards among European Sikhs Satnam Singh Young Sikhs and discussion boards Sikhsangat.com—“The voice of Sikhs” Sikhawareness.com—“The eye-opening forum” Sociopolitical issues arising from the discussion boards Young Sikhs and their involvement in community affairs Conclusion—The future of cyber sangats 8 “Sikhizing the Sikhs”: The Role of “New Media” in Historical and Contemporary Identity Construction within Global Sikhism Doris R. Jakobsh The Sikhs and the WWW Conclusions Part III Learning, Teaching, and Contesting Religious Beliefs and Practices 9 Global Sikh-ers: Transnational Learning Practices of Young British Sikhs Jasjit Singh Religious learning among young British Sikhs Sikh camps Sikhism online Conclusion 10 Transnational Sikh Preachers: Local Training and Global Aspiration of Kathavacaks in Punjab Kristina Myrvold Motives for becoming a kathavacak Education and training in Punjab Transnational aspirations and strategies Challenges in the diaspora Conclusion 11 The Journey of Guru Granth Sahib to Italian Sikhs: Defi ning “National” Leadership in Transnational Mass Media Barbara Bertolani and Iqbal Singh The issue of “respect” for Guru Granth Sahib Being a Sikh in Italy: Different strategies in local contexts The growth of the Italian Sikh community:Defining a shared religious identity? The journey of Guru Granth Sahib to Italy 12 Contesting and Confi rming Religious Authority in the Diaspora: Transnational Communication and the Dasam Granth Controversy in the Nordic Countries Knut A. Jacobsen, Kristina Myrvold, Ravinder Kaur, and Laura Hirvi Overview of the Dasam Granth controversy Finland: The change of the ardas and the transnational reaction Sweden: Bringing Punjabi politics to diasporic congregations Norway: Transnational Sikhism and local responses Denmark: Ethnography of a conflict Actions and reactions of the Nordic Sikh communities Glossary Index