‘Home’ in Sikh Polity: Understandings of mīrī pīrī in contemporary Britain
Based on my doctoral work, this presentation examines the increasingly complex dynamics of practising Sikhī (the Sikh faith) in contemporary Britain, particularly in the context of public religious expression within a religiously and racially stratified public sphere. While earlier research has primarily focused on Sikh identity and assimilation, this work adopts an “anthropology at home” approach to explore both public and private dimensions of Sikh expression. It highlights how these practices are shaped by the interplay of kinship, religion, and the historically constructed relationship between Sikhs and the British state, resulting in a “spectrum of Sikhs” with diverse, yet interconnected, identities.
Focusing on the multilayered concept of “home,” I demonstrate how Sikhī acts as a unifying thread across diverse contexts, from private domestic spaces to public acts like sevā (selfless service). Using the Sikh framework of mīrī pīrī, which integrates spirituality and temporality, the analysis explores how Sikhs navigate the supposed tension between religious practices and political participation. Ultimately, this presentation argues that while Sikhī was originally conceived as a faith to dismantle oppression and hierarchy, its adaptation within the British context has often required significant compromise, reflecting broader challenges faced by minoritised religions in navigating inclusion within dominant sociopolitical structures.

Dr Jaskiran (Kiran)Kaur Bhogal is an anthropologist specialising in the Sikh diaspora, with a PhD in Anthropology from the London School of Economics, supported by the Alfred Gell Scholarship. Her research examines diasporic belonging, cultural heritage, and the sociopolitical experiences of Sikhs in Britain. She has contributed to studies on nationalist heritage revival, public health initiatives during COVID-19, and applied anthropology. A dedicated educator, Dr Bhogal has taught at institutions such as LSE and UCL, and her public engagement includes consulting on Sikh heritage, appearing in media, and serving as a trustee at Oxford Playhouse and Managing Editor of the International Journal of Sikh Studies.
Date: 11 March 2025, 14:00
Venue: St Antony's College, 62 Woodstock Road OX2 6JF
Venue Details: Pavilion Room
Speaker: Jaskiran Kaur Bhogal (University of Oxford)
Organising department: Asian Studies Centre
Organiser: Janaki Srinivasan (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: asian@sant.ox.ac.uk
Part of: Modern South Asian Studies Seminar Series
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Public
Editor: Clare Salter