Beyond the Khalsa Panth: recognizing diversity in the Sikh community

Abstract

Within mainstream academia, Sikhism is often presented as a monolithic religion, and Sikhs as a monolithic community, concerned with outward markers of faith, political activism, and a history closely linked to the British Army. This thesis aims to shed light on the construction of this narrative within scholarship and bring to the forefront some of the more complex issues with Sikh identity. Through a historical look at the early Sikh Panth and the changes it underwent during colonial rule I will show that the traditional values of the Sikh community were quite different than those that are currently perpetuated in academia. Two case studies will illustrate the diversity of the Sikh Panth today, in an effort to begin a dialogue about non-Khalsa groups and practices within the Sikh community. Recognizing this diversity will bring scholars a deeper understanding of Sikhism and the complex issues of Sikh identity, both historically and in the modern day.