Basics of Sikhi explained

Basics of Sikhi is a Sikh educational initiative and charity founded in the United Kingdom by Jagraj Singh in 2012.^{[1] [2]} It aims to promote understanding of Sikh teachings and philosophy through engaging resources and community outreach.^{[3] [4]}

Based in the United Kingdom, it focuses on providing clear, accessible information about Sikhism's core beliefs, practices and values. Basics of Sikhi have been accredited as being influential in the revival of young Sikhs across the globe in returning to their faith.^{[5] [6]}

BoS has online resources about the Sikh religion in English, Punjabi, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Hindi and French. ^[7]

Background

Under its parent organisation Everything's 13, a UK registered charity,^[8] Basics of Sikhi was founded in 2012 by Jagraj Singh in the United Kingdom as a response to the increasing demand for accessible and relatable Sikh education. ^{[9] [10]} Recognizing the challenges faced by younger generations and individuals outside the faith in understanding Sikh beliefs, Singh set out to create an initiative that would bridge this gap. His vision was rooted in providing a sense of identity and belonging within the Sikh community while also promoting awareness among the broader public.^{[11] [12]}

Jagraj Singh, who had studied in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford, began his efforts by utilizing digital platforms such as YouTube to reach a global audience.^[13]

Activities

Basics of Sikhi embodies a modern approach to Sikh education, addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented by contemporary society. The initiative produces a wide range of videos mainly in both English and Punjabi, ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences. The videos cover various topics, including the significance of Sikh scriptures, the importance of community service, also known as Sevā and applications of Sikh values in everyday life.^[14]

In 2017, Jagraj Singh passed away with stage 4 inoperable liver cancer^{[15] [16]}

In 2019, Bos announced it would be doing more specific legal protections for Sikhs carrying kirpans and had launched a campaign to educate the public.^[17]

In 2023, BoS supported the motion made by the Akal Takht stop destination weddings involving the Sikh Anand Karaj.^[18]

Reception

As a result of the success of Basics of Sikhi, Jagraj Singh was honoured with the Points of Light award by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Theresa May in 2017. In the award letter, May wrote: "Your important work is doing much to positively engage both young Sikhs and the wider community with your faith. You are inspiring those of all faiths and none to make a difference with their lives".^[19]

Affiliate organisations

• SikhPressAssociation ^{[20] [21]}
• Everythings 13 ^[22] (registered UK charity)
• Basics of Sikhi Canada (registered Canadian charity) ^{[23] [24]}

See also

• Sikhism in the United Kingdom
• Jagraj Singh
• Sikhism
• Sikh literature
• Sikhism in Canada

References

1. News: Osborne . Sam . 19 October 2015 . Jagmeet Singh: Sikh charity calls on British media to provide coverage of treatment of Sikhs in India . The Independent . Basics of Sikhi, an educational charity based in the UK, later accused presenter Sian Williams of belittling Mr Singh..
2. News: McGarvey . Dan . 8 June 2018 . Sikh group uses power of food and hundreds of years of tradition to build bridges in Calgary . CBC . "We don't know who's right next to us and how much we have in common," said Rusveer Kaur Jones with the Sikh education organization Basics of Sikhi.
3. Web site: Mcneil . Daniel . 13 April 2022 . Vaisakhi 2022 London: when is Hindu and Sikh festival, what date is it celebrated, and events near me . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221215001226/https://www.londonworld.com/whats-on/vaisakhi-2022-london-when-is-hindu-and-sikh-festival-what-date-is-it-celebrated-and-events-near-me-3653716 . 2022-12-15 . LondonWorld.
4. Book: Jhutti-Johal, Jagbir . Racialization, Islamophobia and Mistaken Identity . 2019 . Routledge . 9781351138840 . However, Sikhs did not have the attention or advocacy of Oxbridge educated journalists like Oborne or Hasan, newspaper editors or academics when on the receiving end of anti-Muslim backlash. Nor were there any dedicated mainstream documentaries focusing specifically on the Sikh problem. It was through the efforts of grassroots organizations like the Basics of Sikhi (founded by the late Jagraj Singh) that the wider public were provided with an education on Sikhism through street dialogue or parchaar, which became widely disseminated via YouTube..
5. Web site: January 2020 – Sikhi(sm): A Question of Identity? – University of Wolverhampton . 2022-12-15 . www.wlv.ac.uk . en.
6. Web site: Young, Sikh and Proud (2020) . 2022-12-15 . Archives for Education . en-US.
7. Book: The Oxford Handbook of Digital Religion . Oxford University Press . 2023 . 9780197549803 . With over twenty-five hundred videos and 170,000 subscribers at the time of writing in 2021, the BOS YouTube channel has become one of the most important online resources about the Sikh tradition, containing resources in a variety of languages including Spanish (YouTube 2015a), Chinese (YouTube 2013b), French (YouTube 2013a), and Russian (YouTube 2015c). Indeed, BOS has produced resources in up to eighteen languages (Basics of Sikhi n.d.) to appeal to Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike..
8. Web site: EVERYTHINGS 13 . Charity Commission for England and Wales - UK Government Website.
9. Web site: 16 January 2020 . 'Young, Sikh and Proud': story of Jagraj Singh to air on BBC1 on 28th January | Barfi Culture . 2022-12-11 . Barficulture.tv.
10. Web site: Young, Sikh and Proud on BBC1 – Everything you need to know . 2022-12-15 . Radio Times . en.
11. Web site: Southall Gurdwara opens its doors for public screening of India's Daughter . 2022-12-15 . Ealing Times . 11 March 2015 . en.
12. Web site: BBC Radio 2 launches Faith In The World Week . 2022-12-15 . www.bbc.com . en.
13. News: 8 December 2016 . Bhai Jagraj Singh (BoS) SikhNet . 2022-12-15 . SikhNet . en.
14. Book: Jhutti-Johal . Jagbir . Racialization, Islamophobia and Mistaken Identity: The Sikh Experience . Singh . Hardeep . Routledge . 2019 . 9781351138840 . Routledge Studies in Religion and Politics . It was through the efforts of grassroots organizations like the Basics of Sikhi (founded by the late Jagraj Singh) that the wider public were provided with an education on Sikhism through street dialogue or parchaar, which became widely disseminated via YouTube..
15. Web site: BBC – Local BBC Radio – Faith in The World Week 2019 – Sukhmani Kaur's story . 2022-12-15 . BBC . en-GB.
16. Web site: "We are fighting…but I am ready" – Jagraj Singh gives speech to thousands SikhPA . 7 December 2016 . 2022-12-15 . en-GB.
17. News: 3 February 2019 . Sikh man held for carrying kirpan wants more education . BBC . Under current law, knives can be carried for religious reasons, but Basics of Sikhi wants to see more specific legal protections for Sikhs carrying kirpans, and has launched a campaign to educate the public..
18. News: Kaur . Amneet . 18 May 2023 . Sikhs should stop with destination weddings' says Basics of Sikhi . BirminghamLive.
19. Web site: 2 February 2017 . Everything's 13 . 2022-12-15 . Points of Light . en-GB.
20. Web site: 26 September 2018 . Sikhs to raise awareness of free communal kitchen concept in Milton Keynes . Milton Keynes Citizen.
21. Web site: Fancy a free lunch in Gravesend? . 2022-12-15 . News Shopper . 8 October 2015 . en.
22. Web site: Southall Gurdwara opens its doors for public screening of India's Daughter . 2022-12-15 . Ealing Times . 11 March 2015 . en.
23. News: Chong . Phoebe . 7 February 2019 . Langar brings the UBC Sikh community together to serve free meals for all . The Ubyssey . The Sikh Student Association of UBC in partnership with Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen and Basics of Sikhi Canada hosted Langar Day for the second time this school year..
24. Web site: Basics of Sikhi . CanadaHelps.