Everyday, thousands of Sikhs leave Indian occupied Panjab in search for a new home in the West; yet, the plight of Panjabi Sikhs who flee their homeland is a grim and untold story. In the aftermath of the Indian State’s brutality on the Sikhs in 1984, Sikhs continue to be displaced to this day. Many Sikhs are left with no option and often find themselves in similar or worse circumstances.
The Sikh Displacement Project intervenes by mapping, documenting, and physically reaching Sikhs who are forced to take on these harrowing journeys. Additionally, the SDP unpacks the multitude of reasons behind Panjab’s continual and accelerated depopulation. Their journeys are a part of our history – we aim to bridge the gaps created by borders and tell their stories.
Our team is already on the ground and has established contact with Sikhs who have fled Panjab and are in various parts of Europe. In its first phase, the SDP team arrived in Poland in March 2022 to meet and document the stories of Sikhs who were forced to navigate precarious conditions at the height of the Ukraine War. Since then, the SDP team has interviewed, documented and supported 25+ Sikhs across Poland, Germany, and other countries in mainland Europe.
The team also assists Sikh migrants with their immediate needs, including access to food and water, rent, funds for safe travel, SIM cards, and other resources, along with connecting individuals and families to local organizations to provide long-term support.
To sustain the Sikh Displacement Project, we are raising funds in order to allow our small team to travel and meet Sikhs on their journeys. Having started in Eastern Europe, the team will also reach Sikhs elsewhere in various parts of the world, as well, in subsequent phases of the project.
Funding has been determined based on costs the team on ground has taken on so far:
Support with lodging, travel to and from locations (including local transit, airfare etc.), and basic necessities such as food and water – $5,000
Equipment for documenting stories such a camera, batteries, memory cards, and video/audio production – $2,000
For the team to have the ability to reach contacts in other parts of the world outside of Europe and maintain the project’s reach – $5,000
Support for Sikh migrants the team meets who require immediate assistance due to various conditions (immigration status, documentation, etc.) – $5,000
You can find out more about the Sikh Displacement Project at @DisplacedSikhs on both Instagram and Twitter.
The Sikh Displacement Project is a collaborative effort and the team greatly appreciates your support.
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫ਼ਤਹਿ