From August 14th to 18th the Parliament of the World's Religions will take place in McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago USA. This unique gathering brings together thousands of people from different faiths to dialogue with one another about the pressing issues of our times. Here is an overview of the Sikh luminaries and speakers participating in this year's parliament, along with the subjects they will address and discuss.
Sikh Luminiaries at the Parliament
Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia OBE KSG
Harvinder Singh Phoolka
Achhar Singh
Sikh Speakers at the Parliament
* Please note: Times listed are according to Central Daylight Time and information available as of 8/9/2023. Please check POWR for changes and updates which can occur with rooms and times.
Achhar Singh -has been serving as Executive Secretary, Board of Trustee since April 2022 and has been volunteer since 2007 for Sikh Religious Society Chicago. He also commits his time to mentoring youth and is also involved with other organizations on several philanthropic efforts driving improvement in local communities.
Monday 14th August 10.00am-12.00pm Opening Ceremony.
Harvinder Singh Phoolka is a Senior Advocate of Delhi High Court, politician, human rights activist, and author.
Tuesday 15th August 1.00-3.00pm Crisis Plenary
Wednesday 16th August 8.00-9.30am Human Rights in Contemporary India
Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh is the Spiritual Leader and Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, UK – a charitable organisation with its Headquarters in Birmingham.
Tuesday 15th August 8.00-9.00am Faith for the Earth
Thursday 17th August 10.00am -12-00pm Community Plenary
Dr Anahat Kaur Sandhu is a Trustee for the Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations.
Wednesday 16th of August 5.30-7.00pm Persecution of Religious Minorities: Role of Democracies
Thursday 17th August 1.00-2.30pm Religious and Cultural Appropriation in Interfaith Engagement: Where Do We Draw the Line?
Anhad Singh Jolly is a Sikh young adult from the Chicago area.
Friday 18th August 1.00-2.30pm Sikh and Sikh Studies Approaches to the Waning of Liberal Democracy
Anneeth Kaur Hundle is an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine.
Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair is a Professor of Sikh Studies and Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan.
Friday 18th August 1.00-2.30pm Sikh and Sikh Studies Approaches to the Waning of Liberal Democracy
Dr. Balwant Singh Hansra is a co-founder of the Sikh Religious Society, a member of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, and Trustee of Parliament of the World's Religions from 1993-2009.
Tuesday 15th August 5.00-6.30pm What Is Your Faith Based Perspective on the Global Ethic Document of 1993?
Tuesday 15th August 7.00-9.00pm Global Sikh Meet
Prof. Balwant Singh Dhillon has published/edited two dozen books and contributed more than 100 papers published in Encyclopedias, research journals, and books.
no sessions available
Dilpreet Jammu is the Executive Director of the Colorado Sikhs, a community collaborator at the University of Denver, and President of Sona Capital.
Monday 14th August 2.30-4.00pm Learn How University Students Advance Human Rights Through Intercultural Langar Course
Ek Ong Kaar Michaud is Executive Director at SikhNet.com and a Minister for Sikh Dharma International.
Monday 14th August 1:00 PM - 2:30 pm Understanding and Transforming Systemic Religious Patriarchy
Gian Singh Sandhu is the President of Guru Nanak Institute and former President of World Sikh Organization.
Tuesday 15th August 8.00-9.30am Sikh Diaspora: Lessons from History
Tuesday 15th August 5.00-6.30pm Sikh Diaspora: Emerging from the Fringes
Dr. Gunisha Kaur is an Assistant Professor and the Co-Medical Director of the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights at Cornell University.
No sessions available at this time
Gurbhej Singh Khalsa
Tuesday 15th August 3.00-4.30pm How Does Your Spirituality Enhance Your Personal Freedom and How Can You Help Others?
Gurcharanjit Singh Lamba is passionately committed to Sikh Rahit Maryada and Akal Takhat Saheb.
Tuesday 15th August 10.30am -12.00pm Minority Perspectives on Indian Democracy and Secularism
Harinder Singh is the Senior Fellow of Research & Policy at the Sikh Research Institute.
Wednesday 16th August 4.00-5.30pm Religion as an Active Anti-Authoritarian Voice
Thursday 17th August 1.00-2-00pm O My Beloved: A Documentary on Bhai Vir Singh
Harbaldeep Singh is a filmmaker and founder of Nishkam TV (www.nishkam.tv).
Tuesday 15th August 10.30am -12.00pm Baywatana: 'Without a Home'
Tuesday 15th August 5.00-6.30pm SEVA: A Documentary
Harinder Singh
Wednesday 16th August 5.30-6.30pm Defending Human Rights by Adopting the Concept of Oneness of Humanity as Advocated by Guru Nanak
Dr. Harjeet Grewal is a faculty member at the University of Calgary and an expert in the field of Sikh Studies.
Friday 18th August 1.00-2.30pm Sikh and Sikh Studies Approaches to the Waning of Liberal Democracy
Harpreet Singh
Wednesday 16th August 8.00-9.30am Human Rights in Contemporary India
Thursday 17th August 5.00-6.30pm Greening of Congregations: The State of the Movement | Part 3
Dr. Harvinder Kaur is professor of Economics and dean faculty of Social Sciences at Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
Wednesday 16th August 2.30-4.00pm Sustainability and Climate With Real Life Examples of Success
Haumaijeet Singh is a Trustee for the Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations.
no sessions available
Inderpreet Singh is a member of the Board of Directors of the Sikh Research Institute.
Friday 18th August 10.30am-12.00pm Women's Rights and Freedoms
Friday 18th August 1.00-2.30pm Spirituality and Religion
Ipninder Singh is a Sikh young adult from Chicago who has participated in Catholic-Sikh Dialogue and attended the World Assembly of Religions for Peace in Kyoto, Japan.
Wednesday 16th August 1.00-2.30pm Sikh Intrafaith Multi-Generational Seminar: Faith and Democracy
Jagbir Jhutti-Johal has been an academic at the University of Birmingham since 2002 focused on Sikh theology, inter-faith dialogue, gender inequality, Sikh identity in the diasporic community, racialization and mistaken identity and other contested issues that confront the Sikh community nationally and globally.
Monday 14th August 5.30-7.00pm Defending Women’s Rights in the Contemporary World – A Faith Perspective
Jasbir Kaur is a Sikh activist supporting women and children in our world.
Wednesday 16th August 2.00-3.30pm Disturbance of Regional Ecology Causing a Water Crisis in Punjab
Jasbir Singh is an active member of the executive committee of the Interfaith Council of Central Florida, participating in international Interfaith groups, and lecturing on Sikhism to promote peace in the world.
Wednesday 16th August 1.00-2.30pm Ultimate Freedom – A Discussion on the Mystic Way of World Traditions.
Jasleen Kaur is a Research Associate at the Sikh Research Institute.
Wednesday 16th 4.00-5.30 Religion as an Active Anti-Authoritarian Voice
Friday 18th 10.30-12.00pm Women's Rights and Freedoms
Jasleen Kaur is a Sikh leader and a member of the Faith & Trust Future Interfaith Leadership Cohort of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.
Monday 14th August 1.00-2.30pm The CRLMC Faith & Trust Cohort: A Model for Developing Future Interfaith Leadership
Jasvir Kaur Singh is a trustee of the Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations.
Wednesday 16th August 1-2.30pm Sikh Intrafaith Multi-Generational Seminar: Faith and Democracy
Wednesday 16th August 5.00-6.30pm Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Stories of Faith
Dr. Jaswant Singh Sachdev is a board-certified Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and a member of the Sikh Community for over four decades.
Wednesday 16th 3.00-4.30pm My Faith and My Religious Freedom: Challenges to Our Freedom and How Do We Defend It?
Jetvir Singh is a Medical Student in the city of Chicago and a trainee of Sikh Martial Arts of Shaster Vidiya/Gatka for the past 15 years.
Wednesday 16th August 5.30-6.30pm Sikh Martial Arts “Gatka”: Its Origin, and How It Was Used to Fight for Human Rights
Dr. Jyotsna Singh is a trustee of the Temple of Understanding and Director of the Dara Shikah Centre for the Arts
Monday 14th August 5.30-7.00pm Syncretism in the Indian Subcontinent Over the Ages: Challenges in the Modern World
Dr. Kala Singh is a Sikh who is vice-chair of Multi-Faith Summit Council of British Columbia, Canada.
Tuesday 15th August 8.00-9.30am Religion and Human Rights
Tuesday 15th August 3.00-4.30pm How Does Your Spirituality Enhance Your Personal Freedom and How Can You Help Others?
Dr. Kamaljit Kaur Sidhu is the Director of Academic & Research at the Guru Nanak Institute in Canada.
Wednesday 16th August 1.00-2.30pm Sikh Intrafaith Multi-Generational Seminar: Faith and Democracy
Dr. Kanwaljit Kaur is President of the Global Sikh Council and Deputy Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations in the UK.
Tuesday 15th August 8.00-9.30am Sikh Diaspora: Lessons from History
Tuesday 15th August 5.00-6.30pm Sikh Diaspora: Emerging from the Fringes
Karanveer Singh an advocate for youth and young adults steeped in education and universal solutions to support all children.
Tuesday 15th August 10.30am-12.00pm Bullying of Sikh American Children
Kavneet Singh is an activist protecting young adults from bullying and building them in educational strength.
Monday 14th 5.30-7.00pm Sustained Sikh Genocide (1984 - 1998)
Wednesday 16th 2.00-3.30pm Disturbance of Regional Ecology Causing a Water Crisis in Punjab
Kiran Gill is the Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF).
Tuesday 15th August 5.00-6.30pm SEVA: A Documentary
Wednesday 16th August 8.00-9.30am Unaccompanied Minors in America And How Faith Organizations Can Help
Kirpal Singh Grewal is a respected member of the Sikh community and a retired teacher of youth in the Punjabi language and Sikh scriptures.
Wednesday 16th August 8.00-9.30am Guru Granth Sahib Ji: The Present Eternal Guru of the Sikh Community
Thursday 17th August 8.00-9.30am Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahibs: The Protectors and Defenders of Freedom and Human Rights
Kirtan-Singh Khalsa Chief Operating Officer at Sikh Dharma International
Monday 14th August 5.30-7.00pm Defending Women’s Rights in the Contemporary World – A Faith Perspective
Kuldeep Singh is a recognized author, speaker, and leader within North America on Sikh and Gurmat topics.
Wednesday 16th August 8.00-9.30am Guru Granth Sahib Ji: The Present Eternal Guru of the Sikh Community
Kulmeet Galhotra
Friday 18th August 9.00-10.30am The Global Ethic and the Death Penalty
Kulwinder Singh
Wednesday 16th August 5.00-6.30pm Afghani Sikhs and other Minorities: Their Exodus in Their Own Words
Manjot Kaur Pannu is a Trustee of the Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations.
No sessions times available
Manmeet Singh is an award-winning filmmaker, a classical musician, and an activist.
Wednesday 16th August 5.00-6.30pm Afghani Sikhs and other Minorities: Their Exodus in Their Own Words
Manmohan Singh is the Chair of the Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations.
Tuesday 15th August 8.00-9.30am. Sikh Diaspora: Lessons from History
Tuesday 15th August 5.00-6.30pm Sikh Diaspora: Emerging from the Fringes
Mantej Singh Ubhi
no session times available
Dr. Manohar Singh Grewal is a trustee of PoWR and served as Chairperson of the Langar committee at the 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Thursday 17th August 8.00-9.30pm Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahibs: The Protectors and Defenders of Freedom and Human Rights
Mohinder Singh
Wednesday 16th of August 1.00-2.30pm Interfaith Musical Performance
Muntara Kaur Singh Sikh Community of Clinton, Connecticut; FEZANA
18th of August 9.30-11.00am Youth Perspective on Intrafaith Dialogue and Peacebuilding in the World | Part 2
Natasha Kaur Singh works in the Chicago Public Schools in a variety of roles: teacher, content specialist, curriculum developer, and learning facilitator.
16th of August 2.30-4.00pm Farmers Protest: Peaceful Protests Mobilized Communities Across India & How Faith Made it Possible.
Navraaz Kaur Basati is a certified Horticultural Therapist, documentary filmmaker, and trained musician of sacred poetry from Sikh scriptures.
Thursday 17th of August 1.00-2.00pm Love of Creation: A Journey into Sikh Beliefs and History
Navraj Singh is a student at the University of Pennsylvania, involved in diversity, equity, & inclusion work with SALDEF and the Biden Administration.
Thursday 17th August 5.00-6.30pm Religious Persecution of the LGBTQ Community and Steps to End It
Nikky Guninder Kaur
Monday 14th of August 1.00-2.30pm Ethics and Diplomacy of Food: Wisdom from Mahatma Gandhi & Jain, Jewish, and Sikh Traditions
Nirinjan Singh Khalsa Founding and Current Advisory Council Member of The Guibord Center – Religion Inside Out. Participant in “ANIMA. Animals. Faith. Compassion.” For nearly two decades Nirinjan has served as a commissioner on the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission (6 years as President).
Wednesday 16th August 1.00-2.00pm ANIMA: Animals. Faith. Compassion
Dr. Pashaura Singh is the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies and Professor and Saini Chair in Sikh Studies at the University of California.
Friday 18th August 1.00/2.30pm What Are Our Human Rights, Where Are They Being Violated, and How Should We Defend It?
Prakash Singh Student at Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan
Thursday 17th August 2.30-4.00pm Sikhi 101
Paramjit Singh Bedi is a leader in the Kabul Sikh Community and spearheaded the effort to support hundreds of families to safety.
Wednesday 16th August 5.00-6.30pm Afghani Sikhs and other Minorities: Their Exodus in Their Own Words
Pragat Singh
Thursday 17th of August 1.00-2.30pm Punjab: Making Peace with Each Other for a Better Future
Rajinder Mago is the past president and the current Executive Secretary of the Asian American Coalition of Chicago.Wednesday
16th of August 4.00-5.30pm Similarities and Differences between Sikhism and Judaism
Ralph Singh currently Chairs the Wisdom Thinkers Network. He was the founding President of Gobind Sadan, USA and H.H. Baba Virsa Singh ji’s first foreign devotee.
Thursday 17th August 2.30-3.30pm Arson, Forgiveness, and Healing in a Post-9-11 World: A True Story of Transformation
Ramneek Singh Pannu is a naturalist and dedicated restoration ecologist.
Friday 18th August 8-00-9.30am Restoring Traditional Landscapes in the Nilgiris!
Chaplain Sardarni Navleen Kaur is Head of Sikh Ministry of Education in London, UK.
14th August 5.30-7.00pm Countering Gender Violence Against Women and Girls
Dr. Satpal Singh is a Trustee for the Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations.
15th August 8.00-9.30am Sikh Diaspora: Lessons from History
15th August 5.00-6.30pm Sikh Diaspora: Emerging from the Fringes
Satwant Kaur is the co-founder and President of the first Sikh Students Association at Northwestern University.
Tuesday 15th August 8.00-9.30am Chicago Faith Based Diaspora Communities Addressing Issues in the Motherland
Sharan Kaur Singh Sharan Singh is the Midwest Deputy Director for the Anti-Defamation League. As a Board member of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, President of Camp Sikh Virsa and a member of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago.
Monday 14th 5.30-7.00pm How Can We, the People, Reclaim Our Freedom? | Part 2
Tuesday 15th 3.00-4.30pm Violation of Freedom of Religion in Houses of Worship
Singh Sahib Shiva Singh Khalsa is a Minister of Sikh Dharma International who is a respected presenter of Sikh history and beliefs.
Tuesday 15th August 10.30am- 12.00pm Interfaith, Healthcare, and Beyond: The Intersection of Faith and the Right to Equitable Healthcare
Thursday 17th August 1.00-2.00pm Love of Creation: A Journey into Sikh Beliefs and History.
Sukhbir Singh
Monday 14th August 5.30-7.00pm Compassion and Forgiveness in Langar
Tuesday 15th August 10.30am-12.00pm Peace Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Deepening the Understanding of Core Values in Peacebuilding
Sukhjit Dhillon is actively involved in Gurdwara Sahibs as President and the Punjabi Cultural Club of America.
Thursday 17th August 5.30-7.00pm Female Leaders from CaoDai and Sikhism Who Fought for Religious Freedom
Supreet Singh Manchanda
Wednesday 16th August 1.00pm -2.30pm Accommodation of Religious Identity in the US Workplace
Friday 18th August 10.30-12.00pm Visible Religious Identities: Dealing with Religious Prejudices
Surjit Singh- Surjit Singh is a scholar of Guru Granth Sahib, specializing in the sacred music of the Sikhs. He received his Master of Philosophy degree in Music from Panjab University, Chandigarh. He received the best singer award from Government College Mohali. He currently serves as a Granthi in Sikh Gurdwara, Rochester Hill in Michigan.
Wednesday 16th of August 8.00-9.30am Guru Granth Sahib Ji: The Present Eternal Guru of the Sikh Community
Sutinder Dhanjal -works with several Sikh advocacy organizations.
Thursday 17th August 8.00-9.30pm Religious Harmony and Social Change Leading to Prosperity
Tarina Ahuja is a junior at Harvard College dedicated to building just institutions grounded in empathy.
Wednesday 16th August 10.00am-12.00pm Conscience Plenary
Thursday 17th August 8.00-9.30am Youth Making Changes
Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia -currently serves as the Executive Director of Religions for Peace USA.
Monday 14th August 1.00-2.30pm Righteousness and Self-Righteousness: Faith Perspectives
Monday 14th August 2.30-4.00pm Diversity in Action: Mobilizing Community, Youth, and Empowering Partnership
Shri. Vikramjit Singh Sahney An Indian entrepreneur, educationist, philanthropist and social activist. Shri Sahney has been conferred with one of the highest civic honors of Padma Shri by the Hon'ble President of India for his extraordinary contribution towards the welfare of society at large, besides many other national and international accolades.
Tues 15 August 10.30am Baywatana “Without a home”
Wednesday 16th Aug 5.00-6.30pm Afghani Sikhs and other Minorities: Their Exodus in Their Own Words
The Sikh Religious Society of Palatine, based in Illinois, is actively preparing to provide langar to an estimated 5 to 6 thousand participants each day during the week of the Parliament at McCormick Place in Chicago. This practice mirrors the Sikh community's contributions at previous parliaments in Barcelona, Spain (2004), Salt Lake City, Utah (2015), and Toronto, Canada (2018).