The Story Isn’t Over: History from the Margins

In this episode I get the chance to talk to Peter Bance author of 'Sikhs in Britain: 150 years of photographs' about Sikh migration, immigration and settlement in Britain over the last 150 years. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★ As always here's a time stamped breakdown of the conversation: 00:00 - Introduction 01:18 - Why did decide to research this topic? 03:04 - When is the first instance of Sikh migration from India? 07:15 - How does caste and class influence migration and did this change? 11:57 - What was the relationship between early Sikh peddlars and the Jewish community? 15:00 - What is the legislation change that impacts 'chain-migration'? 16:18 - Is this the only instance of legislation impacting Sikh immigration, or does it occur in other places? 17:28 - What was it about Britain that attracted the first Sikh settlers? 24:18 - How did Sikh migration and the establishment of Gurdwaras work? 27:58 - Are the current concerntrations of the British Sikh population reflective of early Sikh settlement? 31:57 - During your research what were some of the common experiences that early Sikh migrants faced? 36:11 - How did the peddlar trade continue to be a career choice for Sikh immigrants throughout the 20th century? 45:33 - What's the difference between the two editions of your 'Sikhs in Britain' book? 47:22 - What about World War I influences Sikh immigration to England? 51:18 - What role did Britain play in the Indian nationalist movement? 56:07 - Udham Singh in Coventry? 01:00:01 - Accounts of Udham Singh 01:02:55 - Udham Singh, Communism and the IWA. 01:05:12 - Final comments

In this podcast I get to talk to Jasmine Rai, a recent graduate from the  University of Birmingham, about her dissertation entitled - “An  exploration of the representations of Punjabi-Sikhs within Bollywood  cinema and how this affects perceptions of their community”.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★ As always here's a time stamped breakdown of the conversation: 00:00 - Introduction 01:45 - Family, education and culture 04:52 - PPE & Punjab 05:54 - Research & fieldwork 12:46 - Stereotype of Punjabi-Sikh identity in Bollywood films 15:20 - Representation and responsibility 22:53 - Did you come across any movies that bucked the trend? 26:34 - Power to make a change 27:55 - Caricatures & the Punjabi film industry 28:54 - The diaspora and changing the narrative 29:26 - Majority-Minority framework 31:55 - 'Bollywood has culturally appropriated Punjabi culture' 37:09 - Deep rooted change and the politics of India

In this episode I get to talk to Dr. Kamalroop Singh once again and this time we discuss the Sodhak Committee, 'apocrypha' Bani and a lot more.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★ As always here is a time stamped breakdown of the conversation: 00:00 - Introduction 04:53 - When did the Sodhak Committee take place, who was involved and how did they decide what should and should not be included? 14:33 - The processes of the Sodhak Committee 29:32 - Which recension is used most today? 35:46 - Events leading up to the Sodhak Committee 45:27 - Debating 'apocrypha' 47:36 - A list of some 'apocrypha' bani 49:26 - The literary Court of Guru Gobind Singh Ji & languages 58:51 - Gobind Geeta & Hanuman Natak 1:05:45 - Ugurdanti, Sansar Sukhmana, Indra Kavach and more

In this episiode I get to talk to Bhupinder Singh Bance, also known as  Peter Bance is a sikh historian, author, art collector and Maharaja  Duleep Singh archivist.   In fact, His collection has been exhibited worldwide including at the  Victoria & Albert Museum, The British Museum, and the Bard Graduate  Centre in New York.He has written for the Times and The Oxford National Biography & is the author of four books - The Duleep Singhs: Photograph Album of Queen Victoria's Maharajah (2004)  Sikhs in Britain: 150 Years of Photography (2007) Khalsa Jatha British Isles Centenary 1908-2008 (2008) Sovereign, Squire and Rebel: Maharajah Duleep Singh & the Heirs of a  Lost Kingdom (2009) Sikhs in Britain: 150 Years of Photography (2012),He has also appeared in many BBC programmes such as The Story Of The  Turban (2012), Inside Out (2004), Desi DNA (2005), Britain's Maharajah  (2013), Sophia: Suffragette Princess (2015) and The Stolen Maharajah:  Britain's Indian Royal (2018)★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★As always here is a breakdown of the conversation:00:00 - Introduction03:25 - A doctor in India but a door-to-door seller in England04:23 - Why was peddling the go to occupation for early Sikh settlers in England?05:09 - Why did your family come to the UK?06:38 - Ancestry - Shaheedi Misl and Baba Deep Singh Ji08:13 - How did you go from a marketing degree to being a historian of Sikh history?14:21 - What type of items did you come across in your initial research?14:35 - What was it about the Maharaja that attracted you so much?16:38 - Anecdote of Prince Frederick Duleep Singh17:37 - The view of the Sikh Royal Family in East Anglia  19:36 - Princess Catherine Hilda Duleep Singh - The Punjabi Schindler20:59 - How was Catherine practically able to do this and also evade being caught?25:43 - Sister Suffragettes28:04 - Anita Anand and the suffragette story28:19 - How did the descendants of M. Ranjit Singh identify and view themselves?33:00 - The Pension that was never paid34:00 - A Russian Promise - 20k soldiers to march into Punjab via Afghanistan37:11 - The personal notebook of Maharaja Duleep Singh38:17 - The daughters of M. Duleep Singh39:30 - Guns of M. Duleep Singh - The Rolls Royce of Guns42:16 - How many wives and children did M. Duleep Singh have?44:14 - Museums and Repatriation48:21- A painting of a Prince52:48 - The Ramgharia Bakery55:25 - Monte Carlo01:01:32 - Rani Jinda Gravestone & Catacombs01:06:57 - Princess Pauline01:15:13 - Are you aware of the Sikh Royal Family visitng their items in a museum?  01:16:42 - £1.7million Statue01:25:32 - Illegitimate heirs to the throne01:28:48 - How many illegitimate heirs?01:30:18 - Sid Hammond01:31:53 - End of the legitimate heirs of M. Ranjit Singh01:34:32 - Interesting finds & advice in entering the field of Sikh history

In this episode I get to talk to Rav from Panjabi Hit Squad. We discuss Rav's background, upbringing, the history of Panjabi Hit Squad and so  much more. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★As usual, a breakdown of the conversation is below.  00:00 - Introduction - How are you? Have things gone back to normal in the entertainment industry?  02:00 - What is your family history and experience been?06:16 - How did you all meet and what is the history of Panjabi Hit Squad and where did the name come from?13:27 - What were the feature factors in the popularity of the British Asian music scene in the 90s/00s?17:39 - What have been the biggest changes over the last twenty years to the British Asian music scene and why isn’t it as popular?21:51 - Do you think we will see a group from the South Asian diaspora, similar to NSG?28:30 - Do you think the healthy competition in the early 2000s lent itself to pushing everyone?31:17 - What have your experiences of the music industry been like?39:32 - How was it working with Ms Scandalous, Alyssia and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan?  44:00 - Who has been the most interesting person you’ve worked with or  come across in the music industry? What was it like being signed by Def  Jam and working with people like Mariah Carey and Fat Man Scoop?51:12 - Have you ever thought about the impact of your music on popular culture?57:00 - Food heaven and food hell?

In this episode I get to talk to Gurinder Singh Mann about the history and dissemination of Sri Dasam Granth, amongst a whole host of other topics.Gurinder Singh Mann, is a Sikh historian and has published three books The British and the Sikhs: Discovery, warfare and friendship c1700-1900. Military and social interaction in Imperial India (From Musket to Maxim 1815-1914) Sri Dasam Granth Sahib: Questions and Answers The Granth Of Guru Gobind Singh: Essays, Lectures, and Translations, which was published by Oxford University PressHe is also the director of the Sikh Museum Initiative, a curator of the Anglo Sikh Virtual Museum and an advisor for the upcoming movie The Sikh Soldier.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★As always here is a breakdown of the podcast:00:00 – Introduction01:24 – Upbringing and family background04:29 - How were you introduced to Sri Dasam Granth?08:07 - What were you planning on studying in respect to Sri Dasam Granth?12:12 - What were some of the conclusions of your MA study?17:17 - What was the reaction to your MA & what is your opinion of past Dasam?19:47 - Why do you think certain scholars are hesitant to attribute Dasam Granth?25:13 - What is your view of the work of Jaggi and Reinhart?41:41 - Introduction to the physical historical dissemination of Sri Dasam Granth?47:59 - What methods were used to physically construct a Dasam Granth manuscript?53:02 - Anything of particular interest come up in your research?55:15 – Kavis (poets) of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.59:04 - Why 52?01:01:30 - What was the religious landscape like at the time of Guru Gobind Singh ji?01:06:49 - Where does the tradition of having Kavis come from?01:08:51 - Paonta Sahib Sri Dasam Granth manuscripts01:11:39 - The Bhai Daya Singh recension of Sri Dasam Granth Sahib01:15:26 - Any other Sri Dasam Granth manuscripts worth mentioning?01:17:27 - How did Sri Dasam Granth Sahib evolve historically?01:19:36 - How do the themes of Sri Dasam Granth and Sri Guru Granth Sahib relate?01:25:31 – What other ways was Sri Dasam Granth propagated?01:31:50 - What evidence is there to show the body armour once belonged to Guru Gobind Singh Ji?01:33:42 - How was Sri Dasam Granth propagated during the misl period and M. Ranjit Singh period?01:48:03 - Wilkins, Malcolm, Leyden, Anglo-Sikh Wars and the Singh Sabha movement01:54:30 - What is your opinion of the idea that the British purposefully removed Sri Dasam Granth sahib?01:55:53 - Did the changing relationship between Britain and the Punjab impact British accounts of the Sikhs?01:57:05 - Annexation and perception of Sri Dasam Granth sahib02:09:22 - The Sodhak Committee?02:14:32 – National armies, the Sikhs and Sovereignty02:26:55 – How did copies of Sri Dasam Granth end up in institutions across the world?02:23:20 - What is the most accurate translation of Sri Dasam Granth currently available?

In this latest podcast episode I get to talk to Satnam Singh again.   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★We discuss Bhai Nand Lal, his birth in Ghazni, Afghanistan, his  upbringing and education. We discuss Bhai Nand Lal's parents, their  passing and the different narratives regarding his life. We then explore  Bhai Nand Lal's tenure under Aurangzeb before joining the court of Guru  Gobind Singh Ji. We then dive into the plethora of works penned by Bhai  Nand Lal, along with the importance of Persian.

In this episode I get to talk to Amal Malik, a recent history graduate from the University of Warwick. We discuss her dissertation regarding how South Asian women forged solidarity and created spaces for their Community in Britain.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★As always here is a breakdown of the podcast:00:00 – Introduction02:38 – Family background06:59 – The Maldives, railways and Milan fashion week14:34 – Why was it important to acknowledge “the women of the Sari Squad, the Jagonari Centre, Bradford Women’s Centre and Club Kali”?17:03 – How did you go about your research?19:32 – Oral history and academia22:41 – Section 1: Hostile Territories26:27 – To what extent was the work of the Sari Squad making South Asian women be acceptable rather than creating a safe space?28:06 – Assimilation or integration?35:59 – Is the term “South Asian” adequate?41:01 – The Sari Squad and mixed martial arts42:47 – Section 2: Community Services – Jagnoari Centre & Bradford Women’s Centre44:38 – Section 3: Transgressive Sexualities – Club Kali and DJ Ritu50:02 – Why do you think South Asian history is thoroughly sanitised?53:41 – What was the lesson you took away from your dissertation?58:29 – Last thoughts

In episode 15 of the ਸੋਚ (Sōch) Podcast I have the pleasure to talk to  Amandeep Madra - one of the main individuals behind UKPHA - about warrior-saints, empire, history and so much more.    ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★ Here's a brief breakdown of the podcast:   00:00 - Introduction 06:34 - Early career, Susan Stronge, Parmjit, Akali Bunga and the V&A 32:45 - WW2 and enlisting 33:14 - WW1 and family 43:00 - Learning history and modern India 44:28 - How influential do you think martial race theory is? 48:26 - Guru Sovereignty and Nation State Sovereignty 1:00:46 - Did you expect to take what you're doing to the heights you  have? 1:04:28 - Old Mad Eyes 1:09:51 - What does it take to produce the books Kashi House publishes? 1:14:32 - How long does it take to produce one of these Kashi house  books? 1:14:53 - The authoritative biogarphy of M Ranjit Singh 1:16:37 - The aftermath of Warrior Saints - Books & Private Number Plates 1:29:23 - Written History, Oral History and an Eclipse 1:38:31 - WWI and the Commonwealth Commission 1:46:09 - OBE & Empire? 1:57:25 - Contemporary Sources - Sicques, Tigers and Thieves

In this episode I get to talk to Sathnam Sanghera - author of  EmpireLand: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain, memoir The Boy  With the TopKnot and a novel, Marriage Material. In addition, Sathanm is  a writer for The Times and a presenter for Channel 4.   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★ ★ Buy this podcast a coffee ★ Below is a rough breakdown of the conversation, as usual, it was an absolute blast.   00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Leaving Wembley at the end of the EURO 2020 final 02:40 - Upbringing 04:00 - Parents arriving in the UK in the 1960s 05:38 - What was Wolverhampton like growing up? 07:31 - What led you to write Empireland? 10:38 - What were the reactions to Empireland when it was first published? 12:39 - Football, Priti Patel and racism. 15:38 - What goes into producing something like Empireland? 19:11 - Martial Race Theory 21:45 - "You can't review the history of Empire like it's a bloody kettle on Amazon." 23:05 - Imperial history often being monolithic in nature 25:26 - British Empire and Nazi Germany 29:00 - Dangers of making comparisons between the British Empire and Nazi Germany 30:05 - Anti-semitism within Europe before WWII 30:54 - "Every Empire rests on force, the British were not habitually cruel." 31:45 - What fuelled the violence and barbarity of the British Empire? 35:24 - Inheritance of law enforcement practices within post-colonial nations 38:28 - Statues 41:24 - How to make imperial history part of normal history 43:42 - Jane Austen and slavery 44:43 - Was profit the driving force behind the Empire? 47:10 - Legacy of Empire, recent events and privilege 49:20 - Empire Day 2.0 and the East India Company 51:13 - Final thoughts