Sikhs in Storytelling: A Groundbreaking Event Celebrating Sikh Voices and Impact in Media and Arts
SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund) hosted a landmark “Sikhs in Storytelling” event, bringing together prominent Sikh creatives, journalists, and artists from across the world to celebrate their contributions and discuss the evolving landscape of representation in media. The inspiring full-day showcase featured candid conversations, powerful performances, and a strong message of community empowerment and garnered coverage in NBC Chicago, uplifting the impact to a national audience.
To experience the program, you can watch the full event on our YouTube here!
Artists & Performers:
- Kaviraj Singh: Cellist / Musician
- Karmick: Rock Band
- DJ Miss Mala: DJ
- Mona Bhalla: Renowned Global Singer
- Krishma Arora: Poet & Author
- Chandni Sahni: Chicago-based Painter
Panelists & Keynote Speakers:
- Ranjeev Puri: Michigan State Representative & Democratic House Leader
- Humble the Poet: Poet, Rapper, Author & Activist
- Inkquisitive: Globally renowned Artist & Illustrator
- PJ Randhawa: Investigative Reporter & Journalist, NBC Chicago
- Jag Bains: Reality Television Personality & Winner of Big Brother Season 25
- Jeevan Singh Neelam: Actor, CBS S.W.A.T.
- M’Laah Kaur Singh: Actress, Marvel’s Avengers, Dhoom 3, and more
- Harvind Kaur Singh: Producer & Journalist
- Seerat Kaler: Community Leader (Sikh Religious Society)
- Amrita Bamrah: Executive Director (Dasvand Network)
- Sharan Kaur Singh: Interfaith Leader (Parliament of the World’s Religions)
- Mohanbir S. Sawhney: Professor & Author, Northwestern University, Keynote Speaker
- Pardeep Kaleka: Anti-hate Activist
- Komal Kaur Chohan: Non-profit Founder (Umeed-Hope)
- Jessica Teji: Non-profit Leader (Apna Ghar)
Following a warm welcome from Amman Seehra, SALDEF Board Chair, the program unfolded with artistic performances. Cellist Kaviraj Singh delivered a captivating performance, accompanied by artist Chandni Sahni, who brought a live painting to life, offering a dynamic snapshot of Sikh history in Chicago.
The first panel, “Kaur Voices, Bold Choices: Chicago Women in Leadership Share Their Stories,” where Seerat Kaler, Amrita Bamrah, and Sharan Kaur Singh shared insights into their journeys as Sikh women blazing trails in their communities, nationally, and globally.
A compelling keynote address, “Standing Out, Standing Up,” by Mohanbir S. Sawhney, further energized the audience, highlighting his career
Discussions on the transformative power of narrative took center stage during the “Storytelling for Change and Advocacy” panel. Moderated by Jaslin Kaur, this segment featured activist Pardeep Kaleka, Umeed-Hope Founder Komal Kaur Chohan, Michigan Representative & Democratic House Leader Ranjeev Puri, and Apna Ghar Board Member Jessica Teji, who highlighted the critical role of storytelling in driving social change. The energy then shifted with an electrifying rock performance by Karmick Band, before transitioning into deeper conversations on media representation.
From Left to Right: Pardeep Kaleka, Komal Kaur Chohan, Ranjeev Puri, Jessica Teji, Jaslin Kaur
A highly anticipated panel, “From Stereotypes to Reality: Transforming Sikh Representation in Film and TV,” moderated by Kavneet Singh (SALDEF), delved into how Sikh identity serves as a powerful advantage in professional paths.
- Jeevan Singh Neelam (Actor, CBS SWAT) discussed how his experiences as a visible minority from a young age fostered strong communication skills, enabling him to confidently engage with diverse audiences. He noted Hollywood’s increasing openness to new narratives as a significant opportunity for Sikhs to share their rich, untold stories, referencing his authentic portrayal in SWAT.
- M’Laah Kaur Singh (Actress, Avengers) shared her personal journey of reconnecting with Sikhi, emphasizing its core values of service and community. She powerfully articulated the nuanced experience of identity: “Sikhism looks like a lot of different things. And we have a collectivist culture in India, but an individualistic culture in America. And so it’s the idea that growing up with both, I realized I could be an individual in a collective.” For her, pursuing a law degree will serve as “my turban,” symbolizing her commitment to helping others.
- Harvind Kaur Singh (Emmy-nominated producer and Journalist) recounted being advised early in her career that her appearance didn’t fit television norms. Undeterred, she found her power behind the scenes, asserting that “the power that we need to have behind the camera, running the camera, and in front of the camera, I think that’s the biggest takeaway.”
- Jag Bains (Winner, Big Brother) revealed the immense pressure he faced as the first Sikh on a 24/7 reality show. He made a conscious choice to play with loyalty, even if it meant risking the game, to uphold his community’s values. His faith, particularly the concept of Chardi Kala, served as his “superpower,” providing strength and gratitude, ultimately leading him to win a record-setting endurance challenge by focusing on the Sikh Gurus.
From Left to Right: Jag Bains, Jeevin Singh Neelam, M’Laah Kaur Singh, Harvind Kaur Singh, Kavneet Singh
The event featured a heartwarming Mother’s Day Tribute, celebrating the spirit of motherhood and the profound impact of parental support. This segment included a dynamic “Power Duo TedX” by a mother and daughter, culminating in a special announcement by DJ Miss Bhalla—she is set to be the official Disney World DJ for Diwali this October. She enthusiastically shared, “Not only been able to show that I’m a DJ, a female DJ, a Sikh DJ, but also that I’m able to let other women know that if you have a passion that you’re on the verge of pursuing, this is your sign to do it,” underscoring her mission to empower women entrepreneurs.
The day culminated with a powerful panel, “Past the Spotlight: The Work, the Weight & the Why,” moderated by Amrita Kular (SALDEF), which delved into the realities and profound impact of storytelling, from creative processes to navigating public perception.
- Humble the Poet (Poet/Activist/Author): offered reflections on the evolution of content creation from authentic expression to a pursuit of vanity metrics. He stressed that a creative career demands immense dedication, “You gotta work harder than a lawyer, engineer combined, as there’s no set path.” He encouraged aspiring creators to “be the change you want to see” and share what they genuinely cannot “shut up about.” On dealing with online criticism, he offered a unique perspective: “Hate comments are a sign of success because it means you’re growing outside your bubble.” He urged empathy when encountering such comments, seeing them as reflections of the commenter’s own pain.
- Inkquisitive (Global Artist) spoke on finding the courage to center his own experiences in his art, connecting his creative work to the Sikh fight against injustice, likening his paintbrush to a warrior’s sword. He bravely discussed the emotional challenge of creating two significant pieces: “King Without a Crown,” a controversial artwork designed to spark dialogue about Sikh history, and a deeply personal piece honoring his late mother. He advised, “be unapologetically you, be courageous with your artwork, and be strong, be kind.” Regarding online opinions, he asserted, “Art is opinionated. It always will be, no matter what… I’m not here to people, please anymore.”
- PJ Randhawa (Investigative Reporter, NBC Chicago) shared her journey to investigative journalism, driven by a Sikh-inspired desire to bring justice and humanity to those facing injustice. She highlighted her impactful investigative series on uninsured school buses in Chicago, which directly led to new legislation. PJ urged the Sikh community to actively engage with media, “We want to celebrate the successes of our community as well,” and passionately emphasized the importance of self-belief for navigating challenges: “You have to be your own biggest cheerleader… have the confidence of a mediocre white man.”
From Left to Right: Amrita Kular, PJ Randhawa, Inkquisitive, Humble the Poet
The panel concluded with a powerful call for community support for Sikh artists and storytellers. Humble the Poet delivered a heartfelt plea for fundamental support: “The support I’m asking for is don’t do that to them. Don’t tell someone to shut up because you don’t know what you’re shutting down.” He highlighted that art is an essential service and artists primarily need the space and encouragement to create and thrive.
