A TowardPrayer Inclusion

Serene Singh made history by sharing a Sikh prayer at Oxford University

As a student at University of Oxford in England, Serene Singh frequently heard the Latin grace spoken before every formal meal. As President-Elect of the Oxford Sikh Society, she wondered if any other grace or prayer was ever shared, but she was told this prayer was always the traditional one given—no exceptions.

That got her thinking if there might be more avenues to incorporate more inclusion and representation, especially in a place of higher education. She started working with the organizers of her college’s annual Equality, Diversity and Inclusion formal dinner, and offered to share a Sikh prayer. They agreed, and on the night of the formal she shared the Mool Mantar, a Sikh prayer which translates to ‘root chant’ and includes the opening line to the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture.

The prayer included the opportunity for everyone to speak some of the words together in response, which was especially meaningful to Singh. “It’s completely a unique feeling to have people who have never engaged with the Sikh faith, or maybe never met a second member. And now they’re participating in something that’s so meaningful in my history,” said Singh.

The event likely marked the first time in the university’s history that a Sikh prayer was shared in the formal hall. She’s also helping to organize Oxford

University’s first langar, which will offer free food to all as is custom in the Sikh tradition, while also creating a space for the community to ask questions, and learn about Sikh cultural practices from turban tying to martial arts.

Unique among all the world’s religions, the Sikh holy text starts with a number — the number one, which Singh finds to be profoundly unifying. “Even if I’m a Sikh, even if you’re this faith or from this country, or this age group, we all are so much more connected in one.”