Voices of Resilience - New York Seminar
This seminar invites reflection on the legacy of the 1984 Sikh genocide and the impacts it continues to have on generations of Sikhs around the world. We will examine the ongoing impunity granted to the architects of anti-Sikh state violence in India, alongside the growing concern of Indian transnational repression reaching into North America.
As we resist the forces that seek to erase, deny, or rewrite history, we gather to remember, to speak, and to act. Through storytelling, advocacy, and lived experience, our speakers will share the Sikh community’s journey of resilience—confronting memory erasure, state denial, and systemic injustice while envisioning a future grounded in justice and freedom.
Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur is a New York Times best-selling poet and author, internationally recognized for her poetry collections that explore themes of love, loss, healing and migration. She rose to prominence with her debut collection, milk and honey (2014), which became an international bestseller. Beyond her literary success as a widely acclaimed writer, Kaur is a dedicated community activist who has consistently raised global awareness about the intergenerational trauma of the 1984 Sikh genocide.
Ravi Singh
Ravi Singh is a humanitarian and the founder of Khalsa Aid, an international aid and relief organization established in 1999. Since its inception, the NGO has provided humanitarian assistance in disaster zones and regions affected by civil conflict around the world. Singh has led numerous relief efforts, including aid missions for communities affected by conflict, such as Sikh families impacted by state repression in Punjab since 1984. His work has earned international recognition for impacting lives across borders and cultures.
Sukhman S. Dhami
Sukhman is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Ensaaf, a human rights organization working to end impunity and achieve justice for crimes against humanity in India, with a particular focus on Punjab. Ensaaf is at the forefront of efforts to document and expose gross human rights violations, hold perpetrators accountable, and empower survivors to advocate for their rights. Ensaaf believes that addressing impunity is essential to ensuring truth, justice, and reparations for survivors.