More than two dozen organizations headed by Sikhs and more than 130 Sikh scholars, educators, and community members have signed a letter affirming the Sikh commitment to caste abolition. The open letter came in response to a campaign against the Poetic Justice Foundation’s touring Overcaste exhibition, which focuses on lived experiences of Dalit and caste-oppressed communities in B.C.
Overcaste was most recently exhibited in the Lobby Gallery of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia. Prior to that, it was at the Burnaby Village Museum.
“The project has been well received and enjoys broad support from community and institutions alike,” the group letter states. “However, since the exhibit’s inception, it has been targeted by a vocal few who have responded with hostility and coordinated efforts, from legal threats to media interventions, to intimidate and silence those involved in this work.”
Signatories includes many prominent Sikh Canadians. Sen. Baljit Dhillon, former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, community advocate Kal Dosanjh, former Surrey councillor Barinder Rasode, anti-racist activist and author Harsha Walia, mental-health advocate Kulpreet Singh, and former Burnaby school trustee Harman Singh Pandher are just a few names on the list. Dhillon was the first turbaned Sikh in the RCMP; Jagmeet Singh was the first turbaned Sikh to lead a federal political party; and Pandher was the first turbaned Sikh to be elected to any political office in B.C.
“We call on the Sangat to engage with the exhibit directly, to open conversations within community spaces, and to create environments where the truths shared by Sikhs of Dalit and caste-oppressed backgrounds can be met with humility, care, and courage,” the letter states. “We urge Sikh institutions, leaders, and community members to confront caste through education, discussion, and direct support of anti-caste efforts in their communities.”
The letter claimed that as a result of the “spread of disinformation”, gurdwara management committees have denounced the exhibition as “anti-Sikh”.
Gurdwaras issued statements about Overcaste
On October 29, the Akali Singh Sikh Society Gurdwara Vancouver issued an official statement claiming that the exhibition’s use of its name “in a negative and unverified context” caused “reputational and spiritual harm”.
This was released a day before a panel discussion at the Liu Institute entitled Breaking the Silence: Caste Policy and Liberation at which Dhillon was the keynote speaker. The panel featured Overcaste curators Anita Lal and Dr. Sharanjit K Sandhra, as well as postdoctoral research fellow in history Dr. Seema Mahi. Dr. Priti Narayan, an assistant professor of geography, moderated the discussion.
Then on November 8, the president of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Surrey sent a letter to media outlets demanding a formal public apology from UBC and all affiliated organizers. This letter maintained that any portrayal “suggesting that Gurdwardas practice exclusion or discrimination is false and deeply harmful to Sikh doctrine and ethics”.
“A Gurdwara is not a social institution but a sacred covenant, the living embodiment of Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s message of oneness and equality,” Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal wrote. “Misrepresenting such spaces under the banner of academia or art violates the moral integrity of the Sikh faith and inflicts profound hurt upon the sangat that has built and sustained these institutions with devotion and sacrifice.”
Supporters of Overcaste pledged in their letter that they will continue to support anti-caste work. They insisted that this is not “anti-Sikh”, a threat to Sikh institutions, or an attack on Sikh identity.
“We reject the deliberate conflation of criticism of caste practices with criticism of Sikhi itself, a tactic that has long been used to deflect responsibility, suppress the stories of Dalit and caste-oppressed people, and distract from the urgency and necessity of anti-caste efforts,” the signatories stated.
Below is a list of the letter’s signatories.
Organizations / ਸੰਸਥਾਵਾਂ
Belonging Matters Consulting
Bumblebee Counselling
Ensaaf
Free Panjab
Gurdwara Sahib Stockton
Himmat Media
Ik Sansar Foundation
Poetic Justice Foundation
Queer Sikh Network
Radical Desi
Rahi Research BC
Royal Academy of Punjab Society
Sahara Services Society
Sanjh Foundation
Satkar Network Sewa Society
Seva Foundation BC
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
Sikh Heritage BC
Sikh Heritage Month Foundation (Ontario)
Sikh Recovery Retreat
Sikh Society Calgary
South Asian Mental Health Alliance
The Undying Morcha
Vaapsi Seva Society
Veza Global
Individuals / ਵਿਅਕਤੀ
Dr. Angela Aujla, Professor
Dr. Anneeth Kaur Hundle, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Presidential Chair in Social Sciences
to Advance Sikh Studies, UC Irvine
Dr. Awneet Sivia
Dr. Harjant Gill, Anthropologist, Towson University
Dr. Inderpal Grewal, Professor Emeritus
Dr. Kamal Kaur, PhD
Dr. Navyug Gill, Historian
Dr. Nitasha Puri, Clinical Associate Professor, UBC and SFU
Dr. Prabhjot Singh
Dr. Rachelle Berry, Assistant Professor
Dr. Rajbir Singh Judge, Associate Professor
Dr. Rita Kaur Dhamoon, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Dr. Satwinder Kaur Bains, Social Advocate
Dr. Sharanjit Kaur Sandhra, Historian, University of the Fraser Valley
Dr. Sonia Kaur Aujla-Bhullar
Dr. Sunny Mangat
Dr. Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal, PhD, Sikh American Historian
Baltej Singh Dhillon, Senator
Gurratan Singh, Former MPP, Lawyer, Community Advocate
Jagmeet Singh, Former Leader of Canada’s NDP, Author, Lawyer
Manpreet Kaur, Vice Mayor, City of Bakersfield
Rav Singh, Peel District School Board
Akashdeep Singh, Sevadar
Alisa Sohi
Alysha Mahil
Aman Bains
Aman Bhatia
Amandeep Singh Sidhu
Amneet Singh, M.A., J.D, L.L.M.
Angad Singh, Journalist
Angie Rehal
Anita Lal, Director
Sciences to Advance Sikh Studies, UC Irvine
Arjun Singh Bagri
Arjun Singh Sethi, Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center
Ashlyen Singh
Balraj Kahlon
Barinder Rasode, CEO
Brahmjot Singh Malik
Brinder Dhillon, Brinder Dhillon
Charanjit Singh
Darshan Singh Malik
Davinder Dhaliwal
Delpreet Bains, Marketing
Dilpreet Kaur
Dilvir Singh
Gagan Singh
Gagandeep Singh, Director
Galvin Singh
Gary Thandi, MSW RSW
Guneet Singh Malik
Guntaas Kaur Cheema, M.A., Lawyer
Gurbir Singh Sidhu
Gurjant Sekhon
Gurkirat Sanghera
Gurleen Kaur
Gurmeet Matharu
Gurmukh Aujla
Gurnoor Powar, Museum Professional
Gurpreet Singh, Director
Gursewak Singh
Gurvir Singh Sekhon
Harbaljit Singh Kahlon
Hardeep Sahota, Folk Dancer, Cultural Producer
Harkeerat Singh
Harkeet Chauhan
Harleen Bamrah
Harman Bassi
Harman Singh Pandher, Teacher, Author, Community Organizer
Harsha Walia, Canadian Activist, Writer
Harshwinder Badhesha, Attorney
Jag Bal
Jagpreet Singh
Jaiden Dhand
Jasan Jhajj
Jasdeep Singh, Panthic Alliance
Jaskirat Nijjar
Jasleen Kaur Johal
Jasmin Kaur, Author and Educator
Jasvir Singh,
Jazmin Hundal
Jessie Sohpaul, Artist
Jethinder Narwal
Jshandeep Jassal, Non-Profit Director, Graduate Student at UVic
Kal Dosanjh, Community Advocate, Founder
Kamardip Singh
Kiran Gil, Executive Director, SALDEF
Kiran Singh, Storyteller, Award-Winning Reporter
Kiranjot Kaur, Artist, Engineer
Kulpreet Singh, Founder, SAMHAA
Kulveen Bassi, Marketing Operations Leader
Kulvir Bhullar
Lali Pawa, Executive Director, SALCBC
Manpreet K Dhillon, Lawyer
Manpreet Singh Dhillon
Meena Bolla Singh
Mo Dhaliwal, Director
Nav Purewall
Navjot Sidhu
Neelam Sahota, FCPA, FCGA, ICD.D
Neetu Dhaliwal
Nimi Chauhan, Mediator, Conflict Coach, Founder/Director, Sahara Services Society
Nimrit Shergill
Paneet Singh, Filmmaker & Playwright
Preet Kaur Lidder, Educator
Rana Brar
Ranjodh Bamrah
Ravinder Dhaliwal
Rena Heer
Rob Hara
Roop Gill
Roop Kaur Dhillon
Rubinder Singh, Software Engineer
Rumneek Johal, Journalist
Rupinder Kaur
Sandeep Singh, Journalist
Sarabjot Bedi
Sartaj Sandhu
Satinder Sahota
Sharan Narang
Simmerjit Minhas, Public Engagement Consultant
Sukhbir Gill, Akali
Sukhman Dhami, Executive Director
Sukhpreet Singh
Sumeet Singh Lehal
Sundeep Hans, Director, EDI
Sundeep Kaur
Tanvir Singh, Sardar
Tarina Mand, Attorney
Tej Sumbal
Veerpal Sidhu, CYCW
Vick Toor
Vijay Singh Mann, Registered Clinical Counsellor
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