UTM to establish an endowed chair in Sikh studies
Dr. Davindra Singh and U of T donate a total of C$5 million to bridge the gap in Sikh studies through education.
On October 9, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) announced its establishment of an endowed chair in Sikh studies, the first of its kind in Canada.
The announcement comes after the University of Toronto (U of T) received a C$2.5 million donation from Dr. Davindra Singh, a dermatologist and former chair of the Sikh Foundation of Canada. The gift was matched by U of T, bringing the total donation to C$5 million.
An endowed chair allows for the “recognizing and promoting” of “academic programs and fields of study,” according to the U of T’s Academic Administrative Procedures manual. The holder “is expected to develop the field of interest through both teaching, and where relevant, research.”
UTM’s new chair marks a new chapter in the university’s focused study of Canada’s fastest-growing religion and will enable developments in Sikhism-related research, education and engagement with the local and global Sikh communities.
The chair will involve initiatives across U of T, bringing with it new opportunities for “undergraduate studies at UTM and graduate studies at St. George,” according to UTM’s announcement. The chair is also meant to attract international scholars to breed new collaborations and produce future students and researchers who “will go on to become academic stars.” UTM will also develop a Sikh literature repository in its library.
In an interview with The Medium, Dr. Singh outlined his motivations for making the donation, explaining that he “strongly believes this chair will establish U of T as a global leader in Sikh studies, driving new research and fostering deeper engagement with the Sikh community.”
Through his donation, he hopes to “bridge gaps, foster deeper understanding, and create an environment where all learners, regardless of faith, can engage with Sikhism and appreciate the rich traditions, values, and history of our faith.”
Reflecting on what inspired him to make such a considerable donation, Dr. Singh highlighted his “lifelong belief in giving back, particularly through education”—a passion inspired by his father, a teacher, who arrived in Ontario in 1956, and his own education experience in Ontario.
Dr. Singh chose to contribute to education because of its potential for change and its importance to Sikhism. “For Sikhs, learning is fundamental to who we are, and I’ve always believed that knowledge is what bridges divides. Through education, we can create a more understanding and inclusive society.” Dr. Singh also pointed to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, as “the most wonderful example of someone who lived his life according to these principles.”
Regarding why he chose U of T to bring his vision to life, Dr. Singh pointed to how the institution has “been a huge part” of his own career and academic journey; its reputation as “one of the best institutions in the world;” and how its “proximity to the largest diasporic Sikh population” makes it “the ideal place to advance Sikh studies.”
Dr. Singh also discussed how by exploring Sikh history, philosophy, arts, culture, and politics, “learners can apply these teachings to their everyday lives and better understand our universal values like equality, compassion, service to others, justice, social responsibility, etc.—concepts that resonate with people of all cultures.”
The founding of the chair is just another accomplishment added to Dr. Singh’s star-studded repertoire, chronicling his rich history of community service. “Service has always been at the heart of my work, whether in healthcare or through community initiatives. I’ve seen firsthand the difference that can be made when we help those in underserved areas.”
As a physician, Dr. Singh started his career in rural Northern Ontario, which he still visits monthly to provide care. In Toronto, Dr. Singh founded AvantDerm, a clinic that “helps to solve the current healthcare crisis by creating the first and only rapid access clinic for dermatology.”
Dr. Singh also took the opportunity to thank his family, friends, and colleagues and noted the work of UTM Associate Professor Ajay Rao and UTM Executive Director of Advancement Andrew Stelmajovich, who he described as “visionaries” who were instrumental in driving forward the chair’s development.
The Medium also sat down with Mohkam Singh and Gurjaap Singh Brar, co-presidents of the UTM Sikh Students’ Association, who considered the establishment of the new chair a major step forward.
Prior to academic work regarding Sikhism, Gurjaap explained, “There was this very basic understanding of the faith [in academia] that oftentimes was blatantly incorrect,” reflecting on an incident in a UTM course about Sikhism.
“We’ve had empires, huge battles fought, so much literature written, so much philosophy, and all of it just gets overlooked. Having that represented academically is not something you would get without an endowed chair.”
Regarding the new funding, Mohkam said it will help to expand upon existing Sikh and Punjabi studies at UTM and create more learning opportunities. “We can see there’s a desire for this in the student community,” he mentioned, “so this [funding] will help us bridge this gap and give students what they want.”
The co-presidents also stressed the importance of guarding the integrity of Sikh studies moving forward, considering historical and recent instances of persecution of Punjabis and Sikhs, especially by the Indian government.
“Foreign interference happened in a lot of these chairs in universities around the world,” Gurjaap explained. “Making sure that foreign interference doesn’t impact the literature that’s being produced, the research that’s being produced, and the chair that’s coming in—all of that factors into maintaining the integrity of the new position.”
Gurjaap and Mohkam said that student reactions to the new funding have mostly been very positive. However, they noted that there have been some worrying instances of opposition from students, especially online.
“We’ve seen a lot of students feel upset about it, and wrongfully so,” Gurjaap said. “To have that kind of rhetoric and racism push back against this, it shows that there’s a lot of work that has to be done.”
Gurjaap stressed the significance of receiving this kind of recognition and noted, “Having this academic support is going to be huge for that, for raising awareness and making sure that our voice is heard.”
