Sikhism

Chapter 7 Conclusion: Sikhs in the Twenty-first Century

Sikhism in the twenty-first century is entering a new era that promises to be both challenging and rewarding. In terms of numbers, Sikhism has now replaced Judaism as the fifth largest religion worldwide . The regional character of Sikhism is being altered by characteristic migration patterns of Sikhs worldwide. This has led to greater attention given to the possible effects on the tradition of global economics , politics, and religion. New cultural, diasporic, anthropological , and religious studies are emerging based on a renewed interest in Sikhism. Politically and economically, the Sikhs of Punjab are attempting to find ways to fit within the parameters of the modern state and present-day realities of the age of globalization while struggling to define and establish their own political interests as the majority population in Punjab. The vast numbers of Sikhs who have migrated elsewhere have had positive economic influences on the homeland and their kin through remittances to Punjab. Many have also donated significant funds for the upkeep of important shrines and gurdwaras in ancestral villages. At the same time, Punjab has lost many of its best and brightest to new homelands, many with no intention of returning to take up residence in India. Sikhs continue to face their extreme minority status within India ’s overwhelming Hindu majority, struggling to keep their distinct religious identity intact while recognizing the need to work and interact peaceably with the larger religious communities in India. The issue of Sikh identity continues to confront the community given the Chapter 7 Conclusion: Sikhs in the Twenty-first Century Conclusion: Sikhs in the Twenty-first Century 113 diversity of Sikh practices and forms of devotion, including devotion to living saints and gurus by large numbers of adherents. Clashes between members of the Sikh mainstream and Sikhs who follow other spiritual teachers appear regularly in the media. Some of these clashes appear to be caste based. At the same time many youth, in India and in the diaspora, reject such Sikh identity markers as uncut hair and turbans. Sikh leaders are attempting to reach their youth in ways that honor Sikhism’s timeless truths while acknowledging that generational differences and needs are making these truths increasingly difficult to communicate. Sikhs and the Internet Scholars of religion are giving more attention to the significance of the Internet in the study of religion. Sikhs, along with other religious communities, have embraced this technology and are using it as a learning tool and resource. The ways that Sikhism and the Internet are intersecting are many. Moreover, the number of Sikh sites appears to be growing almost daily. Hymns and verses of the Guru Granth Sahib can be found through using search engines; examples of common Sikh baby names can be found online. Cyber courses teach the writing of the Gurmukhi script and offer effective tools for learning the Punjabi language. Sikh musical modes can be learned online, and tips can be found on playing the harmonium or other instruments associated with Sikh worship. Aspects of Sikh history or specific Sikh tenets are easy to find for discussion and debate between interested parties. Sikhs make extensive use of YouTube and other video- or audio -sharing sites to broadcast hymns, share turban-tying techniques, and publicize Sikh martial arts competitions. Maps pinpointing ancestral villages can be posted, and it’s possible for family members in rural Punjab to stay in daily touch with loved ones in cities in Canada and elsewhere. Philanthropic ventures in Punjab can be more easily and carefully administered from distant lands via the Internet. The worldwide Sikh community has never in its history been so connected, nor has there ever been as much information so readily available to anyone interested in learning about Sikhism. One important question of interest to scholars is how the new communications technology is changing religion. With regard to 114 si k hi sm Sikhism, though many sites simply reproduce information that can be found elsewhere, others are offering new ways of considering various aspects of Sikhism. Western Sikhs in particular are grappling with questions of identity and authority via blogs, discussion forums, videos, and online chat sites. Strategies are being explored in an attempt to claim global legitimacy for what has until recently been perceived as a regional tradition while also aligning Sikh values with dominant secular and humanistic value systems. The emergence of the virtual realm has raised the question of authority—who speaks...