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 its establishment in 2011 during the centennial celebrations of the Gur Sikh Temple National Historic Site.
A full-capacity audience gathered at the museum to engage deeply with the exhibit’s exploration of the historical and cultural significance of Gurdwaras in small and large sawmill towns across British Columbia. Central to the exhibit is the photographic legacy of Chandra Bodalia, whose thirty years of work as a photojournalist has left behind a vast and deep documentation of the South Asian Canadian community’s evolving narrative in the region.
The opening ceremony featured thoughtful reflections and acknowledgments from several distinguished speakers. SASI’s own Dr. Satwinder Bains set the tone by emphasizing the enduring importance of preserving community histories through visual archives. Abbotsford City Councillor Patricia Ross and MLA Bruce Banman underscored the exhibit’s significance as a celebration of both local heritage and cultural identity. UFV’s Acting Provost Dr. Tracy Ryder-Glass highlighted the collaboration between academic research and public history initiatives, demonstrating how university-community partnerships can foster meaningful cultural preservation. Everyone was moved by words from Vimal and Mona Bodalia, the children of Chandra Bodalia, who expressed gratitude for the respectful stewardship of their father’s extensive photographic corpus and the trust placed in SASI to bring his work to wider audiences.
The exhibit’s content thoughtfully traces the growth and heritage of Gurdwaras throughout BC, intertwining the architectural, spiritual, and social histories of these institutions complimented by Bodalia’s rich contemporary visual documentation. His vast collection—estimated at over three million photographs—offers an unparalleled window into the lived experiences, celebrations, trials, challenges, and milestones of the South Asian diaspora in Canada.
For those unable to attend the opening, CBC’s coverage provides a compelling overview of the event and the exhibit’s highlights, accessible here: CBC Coverage.
Looking ahead, the SASI team continues the ambitious project of digitizing Bodalia’s photographic archive, ensuring that this invaluable resource remains accessible for scholars, community members, and future generations. A selection of his digitized photographs can be explored online here: SACDA Bodalia Collection.
Chandra Bodalia’s Legacy will be on display for a full year at the Sikh Heritage Museum, welcoming visitors free of charge from 9 AM to 5 PM daily until July 2026. The South Asian Studies Institute warmly invites all to visit and engage with this profound testament to BC’s South Asian heritage—an exhibit that honors both historical memory and the ongoing story of community resilience and identity.
Click here to view photos of the exhibit opening.