Opinderjit Kaur Takhar - Sikh Identity: An Exploration of Groups Among Sikhs

SIKH IDENTITY: AN EXPLORATION OF GROUPS AMONG SIKHS

To my parents

Tara Singh Randhawa

and Surinder Kaur

who have always been my inspiration

Sikh Identity

An Exploration of Groups Among Sikhs

OPINDERJIT KAUR TAKHAR

First published 2005 by Ashgate Publishing

Published 2016 by Routledge

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Copyright Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, 2005

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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Takhar, Opinderjit Kaur

Sikh identity : an exploration of groups among Sikhs

1. Sikh sects 2. Identity (Psychology) Religious aspects Sikhism 3. Sikhism

I. Title

294.6'9

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Takhar, Opinderjit Kaur, 1972

Sikh identity : an exploration of groups among Sikhs / Opinderjit Kaur Takhar.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-7546-5202-5 (Hardback : alk. paper)

1. Sikhs Ethnic identity. 2. Sikhism Customs and practices. 3. Sikhism History. I. Title.

294.6dc22

Typeset in Times New Roman by Tradespools, Frome, Somerset.

ISBN 13: 978-0-7546-5202-1 (hbk)

Contents

Unless otherwise stated, the illustrations are the author.

In Appendix

I should like to thank Dr W. Owen Cole and Dr Jeaneane Fowler for their tremendous help and support as my doctorate supervisors and also for their comments relating to the present work. This book has arisen from the research I undertook for a PhD at the University of Wales, Newport. I should also like to thank Dr W. Owen Cole for supplying the jacket image.

From the Gur Nnak Nishkm Sewak Jath followers, I am thankful to Bh Mohinder Singh, Mr Harbans Singh Sagoo and Mr Sarup Singh. Detailed research of the Nmdhri community would not have been possible without the tremendous assistance of Surjit Singh Jeet and Vasdev Bhamrah. Mr B.R. Bharti and Dr Charan Bunger have been of considerable help during my research among the Ravids communities. From the Vlmki community, I would like to show my appreciation and gratitude to Mr and Mrs Davinder Prasad (Coventry), Mr and Mrs Prakash Chand Kadara and Mr Jagdish Rai (Birmingham) for making me feel very welcome at the Coventry and Birmingham Vlmki temples. Also with regard to the Vlmki community, I am grateful to Mr P. Soba (Southall), Mr Saida Ram and Darshan Chohan (Oxford) and Mr Kartar Chand (Bedford) for their comments. From the Coventry Vlmki community, I am grateful to Mr Rattan Chand Thapar, Mr Ajit Singh Mattu, Mr Joginder Singh Gill and Mr Tarsem Shergill. Shivcharan Singh, a gor Sikh from Finchley, London has provided a great deal of information regarding the Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere and the 3HO. I express my thanks to members present at each of the congregational services I attended for their hospitality and invaluable insights.

My husband Baljinder has continuously encouraged me through his loving support and patience. I thank him for reading over endless drafts of this work. My gratitude is also extended to my parents-in-law for their support, especially in taking care of my daughters Vannisha and Nikkita, without which the completion of the present work would have been impossible. My sister Varinder has played a vital role in enabling me to understand and get to grips with computer know-how.

Finally, my eternal gratitude is expressed to my parents who have been my inspiration throughout my life. They have always encouraged me and have been tremendously supportive. This book is dedicated to them as a token of my love, appreciation and gratitude.