Sikh immigration, theology, and pan-ethnic solidarity: A comparative analysis of Sikh theology practiced in three different nation-states

This paper examines how Sikh theological principles, specifically Miri-Piri (the unity of spiritual and temporal authority) and Sarbat da Bhala (welfare of all humanity), function as operational frameworks for political action and pan-ethnic solidarity across the global Sikh diaspora. Drawing on oral history data from a Sikh-American activist and comparative case studies spanning India, the United States, and Indonesia, the analysis demonstrates that Sikh diasporic solidarity is not merely a sociological response to shared trauma but an active theological practice. The findings suggest that political theology may constitute an under-examined dimension of diaspora formation that existing frameworks do not fully capture.

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Publication Details

Journal
Sikh Formations
Published
2026-08-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/17448727.2026.2721152
Primary Topic
South Asian Studies and Diaspora
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Sikh immigration, theology, and pan-ethnic solidarity: A comparative analysis of Sikh theology practiced in three different nation-states

Harman Singh Sidhu
Sikh Formations
South Asian Studies and Diaspora
article

Sikh immigration, theology, and pan-ethnic solidarity: A comparative analysis of Sikh theology practiced in three different nation-states

Harman Singh Sidhu
article en

Abstract

This paper examines how Sikh theological principles, specifically Miri-Piri (the unity of spiritual and temporal authority) and Sarbat da Bhala (welfare of all humanity), function as operational frameworks for political action and pan-ethnic solidarity across the global Sikh diaspora. Drawing on oral history data from a Sikh-American activist and comparative case studies spanning India, the United States, and Indonesia, the analysis demonstrates that Sikh diasporic solidarity is not merely a sociological response to shared trauma but an active theological practice. The findings suggest that political theology may constitute an under-examined dimension of diaspora formation that existing frameworks do not fully capture.

Sikh Formations
University of California, Berkeley (US)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
South Asian Studies and Diaspora
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