South Asian Studies Institute
I have been working with the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) since fall 2022, working on various technical tasks like maintaining the South Asian Canadian Digital Archive (SACDA)’s automating repetitive tasks to save time, updating and maintaining the research websites, and creating new digital exhibits. Continuing my passion for computer science, I attended Canada’s largest hackathon, … Read more
On October 23, 2025, the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) and the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) held the first of five Community Gathering events, launching a series focused on Honouring Indigenous–South Asian Canadian Relations and Building Intercultural Futures. Carrying the Light marked the beginning of a vibrant partnership between SASI and MOA, celebrating connection and … Read more
On 22 September 2025, the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) hosted Cultural Discovery Day at the Sikh Heritage Museum (SHM) as part of the City of Abbotsford’s Cultural Day programming! SASI Museum Assistant, Makenna Brar, led guided tours of the grounds of the National Historic Site, Gur Sikh Temple with a fun scavenger hunt activity … Read more
On 26 August 2025, the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) hosted a successful workshop titled “Photography is Forever: Documenting History in the Present” at the Sikh Heritage Museum, in collaboration with photographer and content creator Gibi Saini. The workshop began with a contextual introduction by Thamilini Jothilingam, Digital Archivist at the South Asian Canadian Digital … Read more
July 20, 2025 – After months of dedicated preparation and meticulous curation, the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) at the University of the Fraser Valley proudly inaugurated its latest exhibit, Chandra Bodalia’s Legacy: The History and Heritage of Gurdwaras in BC, at the Sikh Heritage Museum in Abbotsford. This is the Museum’s seventeenth exhibit since … Read more
On Friday, July 11, 2025, the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) hosted an enriching event titled “The Art of Preservation: In Conversation with Museum Conservator Vasundhara Pradip Madhumita” at the Sikh Heritage Museum, housed within the Gur Sikh Temple National Historic Site in Abbotsford, British Columbia. The event was part of the National Trust for … Read more
July 15, 2025 – UFV Today. Across our institution, UFV faculty members lead the way in creating change, and Dr. Satwinder Bains is well known as an advocate for progressive causes. Satwinder, director of the South Asian Studies Institute, was recently honoured by the Chetna Association of Canada for her work to end oppression based … Read more
Welcoming Spaces for All People at the UFV Library. Includes interviews with Dr. Satwinder Bains, Director of the UFV South Asian Studies Institute; Provost Dr. James Mandigo; and artist Raghavendra Rao Karkala Vasudevaiah, who painted a portrait of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, a pioneer of anti-casteism. Additional reflections are shared by President Dr. Joanne MacLean … Read more
I began my journey as a UFV student in the Fall of 2021, but I had not heard much about SASI until 2024 – when faced with a presentation from Dr. Satwinder Bains in my South Asian Literature class (ENGL 380) with Dr. Rajnish Dhawan. You can imagine my surprise when learning about the South … Read more
On May 15, 2025, the Chilliwack Museum & Archives welcomed community members, educators, and cultural leaders to the opening of Haq and History. This travelling exhibition was developed by the Royal BC Museum in collaboration with the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) at the University of the Fraser Valley in 2022. An important exhibit that … Read more