Sikhs Across Borders: Transnational Practices of European Sikhs

Sikhs Across Borders is the first study to explore patterns of transnational practices amongEuropean Sikhs, with particular focus on the links between the Sikhs in Europe,Punjab (the 'home-land') and within a global Sikh community. The bookillustrates how local and transnational spheres coexist and interact in amultitude of social and cultural practices and discourses among European Sikhspast 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 linkswith 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 asmarriages, 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.

'Theinternet, pilgrimage, religious controversies, kinship networks, Sikh soldiersin World War 1 - these are just some of the subjects addressed in a work thatvery accessibly presents fine scholarship from seasoned specialists and younger scholars inSikh Studies.  Research in specific fields andEuropean national contexts is excellently set in wider historical andgeographical contexts.  This volume will be important to teachers andstudents of religious and diaspora studies from a rangeof disciplines. '   Eleanor Nesbitt, Professor Emerita at the University of Warwick, UK.

 'Enriched by the contribution of a new generation of scholars from different disciplines of social sciences, the volume suggests how Sikh Studies continually incorporates new frontiers of academic enquiry and appeals to the interest of scholars of migration studies, demographers, students of economic development and researchers on social mobilization.'  Himadri Banerjee, Department of History, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India

 'Sikhs Across Borders illuminates a multitude of ways thatSikhs have sought to represent themselves across the varied geo-culturallandscape that is Europe. Moving beyond simply migrationhistory, Sikhs Across Borders offersa diverse collection of essays that are both theoretically grounded and rich intheir substantive content.Theessays in this volume are engaging in their presentation, and contain a wealthof empirical data making them valuable resources for future scholarship in thearea. Jacobsen and Myrvoldhave produced what is sure to become required reading for those interested inthis newly emerging and rapidly growing area of study.'  Michael Hawley, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Mount Royal University, Canada

 'The bookoffers empirically based case studies on Sikhs living in different regions of Europe. A pioneering effort in examining the history of establishment of theserecent communities, the book would serve as a major building block for theemerging sub-field of Sikhs in Europe.'  Gurinder Singh Mann, Professor of Sikh Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

Explores Sikh praxis and self-representation across geopolitical borders, with a focus on empirical research on Sikhs in Europe

Sikhs Across Borders is the first study to explore patterns of transnational practices amongEuropean Sikhs, with particular focus on the links between the Sikhs in Europe,Punjab (the 'home-land') and within a global Sikh community. The bookillustrates how local and transnational spheres coexist and interact in amultitude of social and cultural practices and discourses among European Sikhspast 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 linkswith 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 asmarriages, 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.

Knut A. Jacobsen is Professor of History of Religions at the University of Bergen, Norway.
Kristina Myrvold is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Linnaeus University, Sweden.

Notes on Contributors \ List of Tables \ Introduction: Transnational European Sikhs Knut A. Jacobsen and Kristina Myrvold \ Part I: Migration, Settlement and Challenges in the Diaspora \ 1. Comparative Experiences of Sikhs in Europe: Reflections on Issues of Cultural Transmission and Identity 30 Years On Shinder S. Thandi \ 2. Sikh Soldiers in Europe during the First World War, 1914-1918 David E. Omissi \ 3. Mobility as a Transnational Strategy: Sikhs Moving to and from Belgium Quincy Cloet, Sara Cosemans and Idesbald Goddeeris \ 4. Transnational Sikh Marriages in Italy: Facilitating Migration and Negotiating Traditions Barbara Bertolani \ Part II: Constructing Identities, Representations and Belongings \ 5. Narratives of 'Return'? Travels to Punjab in the Contemporary Transnational Sikhscape Federica Ferraris \ 6. Tuning Identity in European 'Houses of the Guru': The Importance of Gurdwaras and Kirtan among Sikhs in Europe Knut A. Jacobsen \ 7. Attending the Cyber Sangat: The Use of Online Discussion Boards among European Sikhs Satnam Singh \ 8. 'Sikhizing the Sikhs': The Role of 'New Media' in Historical and Contemporary Identity Construction within Global Sikhism Doris R. Jakobsh \ Part III: Learning, Teaching and Contesting Religious Beliefs and Practices \ 9. Global Sikh-ers: Transnational Learning Practices of Young British Sikhs Jasjit Singh \ 10. Transnational Sikh Preachers: Local Training and Global Aspiration of Kathavacaks in Punjab Kristina Myrvold \ 11. The Journey of Guru Granth Sahib to Italian Sikhs: Defining 'National' Leadership in Transnational Mass Media Barbara Bertolani and Iqbal Singh \ 12. Contesting and Confirming 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 \ Glossary \ Index