Nurturing the faithful: The role of the Sant among Britain's Sikhs

Abstract

Among the factors which have sustained the religious and cultural orientation of Sikhs in Britain, the role of the visiting Sants is of crucial importance, though little studied. Sants have shaped the lives of many of their Sikh disciples directly, inspiring others to uphold the religious ideals, and have contributed in several ways to the community's causes and institutions. The paper contributes towards an understanding of the growth and multiplicity of the Sant's role among the British Sikh community.