South Asian Studies Institute

The Sikh Heritage Museum is a touchstone of history, heritage, and culture for the Sikh community in the Fraser Valley and beyond to all parts of BC. Since it is housed in the oldest standing Sikh gurdwara – the National Historic Site Gur Sikh Temple in the Americas, Heritage Week is a moment in BC … Read more

Rails, Jails and Trolleys (August 2022) produced by the South Asian Studies Institute and directed by Henna Mann, documents history’s largest farmers’ protest and the Canadian diaspora’s response to it. This groundbreaking documentary captures the electric ethos of a protest that received international attention and the resounding response by Canadians to the movement. A full … Read more

The Haq and History exhibit was curated and designed by the Royal BC Museum in partnership with the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley. The exhibit gives visitors a chance to experience stories from, and about South Asian Canadians that document their lives, including highlights about work, home life and … Read more

On January 11th, the Character Abbotsford Council members, and the public were welcomed to a tour of the South Asian Studies Institute led by Acting President Dr. James Mandigo. Dr. Mandigo introduced Character Abbotsford to the work of SASI with great honour and respect. He expressed his personal gratitude to the SASI team for their … Read more

The Komagata Maru Lesson Plans Project was initiated in 2023, with support from the City of Abbotsford as part of their commitment to public education about the role of Abbotsford residents in 1914 regarding the fate of the Komagata Maru. The South Asian Studies Institute installed a permanent outdoor exhibit titled ‘Challenge and Denial-Komagata Maru … Read more

We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dr. Gurdev Singh Gill on Dec 17, 2023 in Chandigarh, Punjab, India. Dr. Gill made Canadian history as Canada’s first doctor of Indian descent and the first South Asian to graduate from the University of British Columbia’s medical school in 1957. Dr. Gill practiced medicine … Read more

After almost 19 years after the work started to establish the Center for Indo Canadian Studies, staff at SASI moved offices from Building F to Building K at UFV. On October 12th, we held a farewell party where many friends of the Institute came out and shared beautiful stories and memories that they had made … Read more

On Oct 14, in commemoration of Emancipation Day – the day that Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar embraced Buddhism, the SASI and CHETNA organized a discussion on the annihilation of caste. A painting of Dr. Ambedkar installed at the UFV library was unveiled in the presence of members of the community, Dr. James Mandigo, Acting President and … Read more

On September 19th, the SASI and UFV Library hosted a welcome back to campus event for students in the Library Rotunda that focused on creating an anti-caste UFV campus. Artist Raghavendra K.V. Rao donated a painting of Dr. Ambedkar to UFV Library where it will serve as a reminder of our commitment to anti-caste work. … Read more