UKPHA VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB

The Punjabi Sikh Presence in Early American Yoga. This talk tells the hidden history of the Punjbai Sikh presence in early American yoga through the stories of five Punjabi Sikh immigrants

Phillipe Deslippe

Phillipe Deslippe is a historian of American religion with a background in American Studies and literature. His research focuses on race and immigration in American religion, “cults” and new religious movements, the American metaphysical tradition, and Asian American religions
Phillipe explores the hidden history of the Punjbai Sikh presence in Early American yoga through the stories of five Punjabi Sikh immigrants : Wassan Singh (1882-­‐‑1942), Bhagwan Singh Gyanee (1884-­‐‑1962), Rishi Singh Gherwal (1889-­‐‑1964), Bhagat Singh Thind (1892-­‐‑1967), and Sadhu Balwant Singh Grewal (1899-­‐‑1985). After placing them in the context of modern yoga and its early history in America, these men are best understood as immigrants who occupied a unique position between the prevailing antagonisms against immigrants and a fascination with an imagined “metaphysical Asia.”
You May also be interested in:

Haroon Khalid

Haroon Khalid is an anthropologist and author of four books. Walking with Nanak is his highly rated third book and is a result of a lifetime’s fascination with the life of Guru Nanak. In the words of The Hindustan Times : “Khalid manages to bring the founder of Sikhism to life, manages to walk with him, and manages to take readers along.”

Anam Zakaria

Using the oral narratives of four generations of people - mainly Pakistanis but also some Indians - attempts to understand how the perception of Partition and the 'other' has evolved over the years.

Anita Anand

The remarkable story of Udham Singh who killed Sir Michael O’Dwyer to avenge the victims of the Amritsar massacre

Kirit Singh

Kirit Singh is currently undertaking his PhD,  SOAS University, London. His talk is on the Rababi Tradition in Sikh Gurbani Kirtan.

See All Events
HomeBookclubAbout UsPrivacy