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Cultures of Asia: The Sikh Diaspora
Course Overview
This course is an introduction to the study of Sikhs in India, England, and North America. We will proceed by way of a close reading of three monographs which represent major historical and anthropological approaches to Sikh life. These texts–in addition to films and visits to Internet sites–will provide material for class discussion and papers. The course as a whole intends to consider how cultural practices are historically emergent, socially constructed, continually challenged, and often inflected through formations of race and gender. The study of the Sikh diaspora provides a unique view on these issues, the immediacy of which is made present by the many Sikhs around the world who have become involved in struggles to create their own homeland called Khalistan. The last section of the class brings the poignancy of these issues to the forefront by looking at the lives of Sikh militants (Khalistanis) in North America. Illuminating the effects of histories of colonialism, transformations in nation-states, and the global capitalism, Khalistani struggles offer a crucial question with which to reflect back on the entire course: Not just how does one "do ethnography" of transnational communities, but what are the ethics and politics of "doing ethnography?"
CLASS MEETINGS: Class will meet two times a week with occasional additional meetings for Internet work or film screenings (see below).
ATTENDANCE: This course is based on continuity. Four missed classes without due cause is considered a failure. Aside from illness, I have to know in advance if you cannot attend an upcoming class. If you do miss a class, you will be responsible for getting informed on what you missed. Also, please be on time for class. Although lateness is not necessarily a cause to take points off of anyone’s grade, it does disrupt the flow of class discussion
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to required readings and participation in class discussion, the course will have a series of class days to do work on the Internet. Students will be divided into groups in order to explore particular Internet Sites, take part in Sikh e-group discussions, and develop a mid-term paper on the results of these explorations. Students will also work on short (2 pages/double spaced) writing assignments throughout the term which reflect on readings every two weeks. A final paper of 12-15 pages (double spaced), will be due at the end of exam week. Topics should be discussed with the instructor.
DEADLINES: It’s essential that you meet deadlines. There can be no extensions, except for highly unusual circumstances. If you already know you can’t make a scheduled deadline, I must know in advance so we can make alternative arrangements.
THE SIKH DIASPORA COURSE SYLLABUS
I. Introduction to Sikhs and Sikhism
WEEK ONE:
Session 1 Tuesday, August 31
Required:
• McLeod, W.H. [ed.]. 1984. "The Gurus," in Textual Sources for the Study of Sikhism (18-38)
*Note: This Text May Be Used As A Reference Throughout The Course.
• McLeod, W.H. 1989. "The Sikhs," in The Sikhs: History, Religion, and Society (pp. 1-15).
Session 2 Thursday, September 2
Required:
• Singh, Nikky-Guninder Kaur. 1993. "Introduction" and "The Primal Paradox: Seeing the Transcendent," in The Feminine Principle in the Sikh Vision of the Transcendent (pp. 1-33).
II. Colonial History and Sikh Identity
WEEK TWO
Session 1 Tuesday, September 7
Required:
• Fox, Richard G. 1990. The Lions of Punjab: Culture in the Making (pp. xi-51).
Session 2 Thursday, September 9
Required:
• Fox, Richard G. 1990. The Lions of Punjab: Culture in the Making (pp. 52-78).
WEEK THREE
Session 1 Tuesday, September 14
Required:
• Fox, Richard G. 1990. The Lions of Punjab: Culture in the Making (pp. 79-108).
Session 2 Thursday, September 16
• Fox, Richard G. 1990. The Lions of Punjab: Culture in the Making (pp. 108-116,
140-159)
WEEK FOUR
Session 1 Tuesday, September 21
Required:
• Fox, Richard G. 1990. The Lions of Punjab: Culture in the Making (pp. 160-195).
Session 2 Thursday, September 23
Required:
• Fox, Richard G. 1990. The Lions of Punjab: Culture in the Making (pp. 196-211).
II. Migration and the Sikh Diaspora
WEEK FIVE
Session 1 Tuesday, September 28
Required:
• Dusenbery, Verne. 1989. "Introduction: A Century of Sikhs Beyond Punjab," in The Sikh Diaspora: Migration and the Experience Beyond Punjab (pp. 1-9)
• Barrier, Gerald. 1989. "Sikh Emigrants and Their Homeland," in The Sikh Diaspora: Migration and the Experience Beyond Punjab (pp. 49-83)
Session 2 Thursday, September 30
Required:
• Ballard, Roger. 1989. "Differentiation and Disjunction Amongst the Sikhs in Britain," in The Sikh Diaspora: Migration and the Experience Beyond Punjab (pp. 200-232).
WEEK SIX
Session 1 Tuesday, October 5
Required:
• Internet Work-Day (Location To Be Announced)
• Thandi, Shinder. 1996. "The Punjabi Diaspora in the UK and the Punjab Crisis," in The Transmission of Sikh Heritage in the Diaspora (pp. 227-250).
Session 2 Thursday, October 7
Required:
• Internet Work-Day (Location To Be Announced)
WEEK SEVEN
Session 1 Tuesday, October 12 (Fall Break)
Session 2 Thursday, October 14
Required:
• Internet Work-Day (Location To Be Announced)
III. Immigration to the US
WEEK EIGHT
Session 1 Tuesday, October 19
MID-TERM PAPER DUE
Required:
• Leonard, Karen Isaksen. 1992. Making Ethnic Choices: California's Punjabi Mexican Americans (pp. 3-36).
Session 2 Thursday, October 21
Required:
• Leonard, Karen Isaksen. 1992. Making Ethnic Choices: California's Punjabi Mexican Americans (pp. 37-61).
WEEK NINE
Session 1 Tuesday, October 26
Required:
• Leonard, Karen Isaksen. 1992. Making Ethnic Choices: California's Punjabi Mexican Americans (pp. 62-100).
View: Mira Nair's film "Mississippi Masala" (Screening Time To Be Announced)
Session 2 Thursday, October 28
Required:
• Leonard, Karen Isaksen. 1992. Making Ethnic Choices: California's Punjabi Mexican Americans (pp. 101-120).
WEEK TEN
Session 1 Tuesday, November 2
Required:
• Leonard, Karen Isaksen. 1992. Making Ethnic Choices: California's Punjabi Mexican Americans (pp. 123-171).
View: Rita Saran's and Tenzing Sonam's documentary "The New Puritans: The Sikhs of Yuba City" (Screening Time To Be Announced)
Session 2 Thursday, November 4
Required:
• Leonard, Karen Isaksen. 1992. Making Ethnic Choices: California's Punjabi Mexican Americans (pp. 171-219).
IV. The Fight for Khalistan
WEEK ELEVEN
Session 1 Tuesday, November 9
Required:
• Mahmood, Cynthia. 1996. Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (pp. 1-49).
Session 2 Thursday, November 11
Required:
• Mahmood, Cynthia. 1996. Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (pp. 50-87).
WEEK TWELVE
Session 1 Tuesday, November 16
Required:
• Mahmood, Cynthia. 1996. Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (pp. 87-134).
Session 2 Thursday, November 18
Required:
• Mahmood, Cynthia. 1996. Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (pp. 135-166).
WEEK THIRTEEN
Session 1 Tuesday, November 23
Required:
• Mahmood, Cynthia. 1996. Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (pp.167-212).
Session 2 Thursday, November 25
Thanksgiving Break
WEEK FOURTEEN
Session 1 Tuesday, November 30
Required:
• Mahmood, Cynthia. 1996. Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (pp. 213-245).
Session 2 Thursday, December 2
Required:
• Mahmood, Cynthia. 1996. Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (pp. 246-275).
• Dusenbery, Van. 1998. "Review of Fighting for Faith and Nation"
WEEK FIFTEEN:
Session 1 Tuesday, December 7
END OF CLASS DISCUSSION AND PROPOSAL OF FINAL PAPERS
