Title_South Auckland Sikhs and Punjab Issues: Justice, Identity Work and Development

Author_ Teena Brown Pulu, Harminder Singh, Gurmeet Singh Sarkaria

Pages 129-141

Abstract_ In South Auckland, New Zealand, we surveyed under three hundred Sikhs on how theyused their internet-connected mobile phones to gather and share news on the 2019 Punjabelections. Survey participants identified “Punjab issues” as the main topic they communicatedmessages about on social media. Our paper explores the notion of “Punjab issues” inthe context of Sikh social identity and habitus, or the circumstances and conditions of dayto-day existence for this migrant group. We examine how this habitus is underpinned by aninterest in justice, which is based in deep historical memory and has persisted over time, asseen in the experiences of events such as the Partition of India in 1947 and the attack on theGolden Temple in 1984, and across space, as more Sikhs migrate from Punjab. Interwovenin the discussion is how the Sikh emphasis on justice fits with the United Nations’ 16th SustainableDevelopment Goal (SDG16), which underlines that justice and strong institutionsdetermine how well a state practices the social inclusion of minorities by recognising theirrights to peace, security, and prosperity.

Keywords_ South Auckland, Punjab, Punjab Elections 2019, Sikh, Habitus, Migrants, Justice, Development