By Jagdeesh Mann,
Special to The Post

Sikhism is the world’s youngest major religion. The founders of this progressive faith were so bent on breaking through India’s repressive caste system that not only did they declare all Sikhs to be equal, they also acted to name them such.
Sikh women typically all take on the middle name Kaur while men take on the middle name Singh.
Launched in 2015, The Kaur Project, articulates the ‘Kaur experience’ from a 2nd generation point of view. Think of it as a version of the Humans of New York inspired by an Oprah podcast.
The identity web project was launched by Vancouver residents Jessie Kaur Lehail, the storyteller and Saji Kaur Sahota, the photographer.
The result has been an online space for Sikh women to share their stories, each written in the first person and opening readers to the diversity within the faith. The stories are quilted together from pieces of personal philosophy, experiences of struggle and their corresponding moments of catharsis, and axioms by which to live.
The result is a striking collage of Sikh women sharing their disparate experiences but revealing how much they all actually have in common.
Read more at www.kaurproject.com.

Lucky Kaur – Entrepreneur

My relationship with God is very simple, it is having my values aligned with my faith. Following the principles of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, I believe in earning an honest income, sharing with others and meditating. Being religious for me is a journey from the inside out and I am still a seeker, still on a path of learning. 

Juss Kaur – Artist

“In the creative process I find stillness and rhythm. With intention, I aim to share and to celebrate this fantastic adventure; to inspire and be inspired. My hope is that my paintings be a mirror, a reflection of Waheguru, your universal light, your human essence, and your timeless divinity.”

Sundeep Kaur – Lawyer

“I feel empowered by my physical appearance in every part of my life: lawyer, camp director, wife, daughter, and mother. When I am walking into a court room or seva focused boardroom, I can easily be spotted as a Kaur. For me, my outward identity aligns with my internal values that are fundamentally rooted in Sikhi.”

Kanwalnain Kaur – Student

Being a Kaur empowers me as a person, it gives me a sort of stamp…everything I do and represent is embodied and ensures I do things to the best of my ability.