Hybrid lecture | Sikh Philosophy: Exploring gurmat Concepts in a Decolonizing World (drinks & snacks included!) In-Person
Sikh philosophy, one of the major spiritual-philosophical traditions of India, is often missing from discussions of cross-cultural philosophy. In his book, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair provides the first rigorous engagement in the West with Sikh philosophy. Sensitive both to the historical formation of Sikh Philosophy and to the decolonial context in which he writes, he examines some of the key concepts of Sikh philosophy and how they inform its vision of life. The introduction helps the reader understand the place of Sikh Philosophy within modern Sikh studies and why the philosophical quest became marginalized in contemporary Sikh studies. It also makes the reader aware of the importance of looking beyond the well-trodden terrain of Hindu and Buddhist thinkers and involving Sikh philosophical thought in the emergent field of world philosophies. Come listen to Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair at 3D@VU and ask your question in the Q&A!
During this event, you’ll also hear about the research of VU/AUC students Tanmay Chawla and Maria Wołczyk and VU researcher Merel Talbi into the library’s Special Collections. What’s more: you can leave the event with inspiring reading tips from the library's book collection.
About the speaker: Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair teaches at the University of Michigan, where he is Professor in Asian Languages and Cultures, and holds an Endowed Chair in Sikh Studies.
ONLINE PARTICIPATION
This is a hybrid event. Would you like to attend online? Please send an email to Michèle Meijer (VU Library) to receive the Zoom-link: m.l.meijer@vu.nl.
PROGRAM
15:30-16:00 doors open (grab yourself a free snack and drink and make yourself comfortable)
16:00-16:30 presentations by Tanmay Chawla, Maria Wołczyk, and Merel Talbi on the Special Collections
16:30-17:30 Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair on his book Sikh Philosophy: Exploring gurmat Concepts in a Decolonizing World (incl. Q&A)
About this event series
This is the second of four events based on the Bloomsbury Introductions to World Philosophies series organized together with Monika Kirloskar-Steinbach, Professor of Diversifying Philosophy at the VU and editor of the series. Each event centers around one book. Come listen to the authors talking about their books and ask them your questions in the Q&A, all while enjoying a snack and a drink!
Special Collections
Students have dived into the library’s Special Collections and selected items that connect with the book themes. During the events you’ll hear more about these items and the students’ research!
Books for further reading
Interested in these topics and looking for further reading? Get inspired by the book collections that have been especially curated from the library’s collection for these events and will be on display during the events.
Project Omboeken
The University Library houses 30 kilometers of books, many of which are rarely used and are simply gathering dust in the stack rooms. The library started an innovative project, Omboeken (literally ‘rebook’), to find new ways to present these books to the public. For example, we created a multidisciplinary collection on sustainability for the Green Office and created an art installation with books, called Pantheon. New forms of presentation also means that we are experimenting with new ways of working, for example by offering more people a role in selecting books to be placed prominently on display, such as during these events!