What We're About

Samrath is a community-based organization that strives towards the actualization of informal networks of women nurturing women. 

Through community initiatives and programs coupled with internet based resources, we hope:
- to provide a strong support network of positive women,
- to provide information and access to local resources,
- to provide for Sikh women a place to share, learn, explore and create without the risk of being alienated, and
- to help communities to develop generations of strong Sikh women. 

Samrath is a new non-profit organization that was founded within the spirit of the Guru's message and with the hope of instilling pride and confidence within young Sikh women.

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New Idea?

The Sikh revolution began in the mid 1600’s by Guru Nanak.   divinely revealed message was one of equity, social justice, truthful living, and hard work.  He traveled over 1000 miles on foot meeting with different communities to encourage them to live an honest and just life, while embodying love, mutual respect, and equality for all. 

Guru Nanak, his nine living predecessors and the current Guru- the “Word” all call for action to be taken in a political and spiritual realm to uphold values of social justice and honesty.

Samrath is not something radically different from many of the idealized practices of Sikhs.  It is just a way to get this community back to the practices, which we have traveled away from in all the complex negotiations of a new place and time

samrath [sumh-rha-th]

The following Shabad is by the fifth Nanak, Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa on Pannaa 389

thoo maeraa thara(n)g ham meen thumaarae ||
thoo maeraa t(h)aakur ham thaerai dhuaarae ||1||
thoo(n) maeraa karathaa ho saevak thaeraa ||
saran gehee prabh gunee gehaeraa ||1|| rehaao ||
thoo maeraa jeevan thoo aadhhaar ||
thujhehi paekh bigasai koulaar ||2||
thoo maeree gath path thoo paravaan ||
thoo samarathh mai thaeraa thaan ||3||
anadhin japo naam gunathaas ||
naanak kee prabh pehi aradhaas ||4||23||74||

You are my waves, and I am Your fish.
You are my Master; I wait at Your Door. ||1||
You are my Creator, and I am Your servant.
I have taken to Your Sanctuary, O Creator, most profound and excellent. ||1|| ||Pause & Reflect||
You are my life, You are my Support.
Beholding You, my heart-lotus blossoms forth. ||2||
You are my honor;  You make me acceptable.
You are All-powerful, You are my strength. ||3||
Night and day, I chant the Name,
the Name of the Supreme, the treasure of excellence.
This is Nanak's prayer to the Creator. ||4||23||74||

The Back Story

The inception for this organization came out of a need in the Seattle Sikh community for programming for young women, my understanding of Sikh history, and out of my own lived experience.  

As a Sikh woman who grew up in Seattle, I had no mentors, community of peers, or even other Sikh girls to relate to.  There is a longer story to why there are no programs specifically designed to serve Sikh women. 

The primary set back has to do with the complex negotiation that Punjabi immigrant families have to make – especially regarding their daughters. But in general, after speaking to many young women in the community, this a pattern has developed which began a generation before me and continues into the present.

Sikh women in general have not been able to mobilize together- and it is unfortunate because of the strong tradition of equity and justice, which our ancestors embodied.

-SUJOT KAUR, Founding Co-Director

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