[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":397},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-kaurs-leading-the-way-sikh-women-making-a-global-impact":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"category":378,"description":18,"draft":379,"extension":380,"featured":379,"imageUrl":381,"listed":382,"meta":383,"navigation":382,"path":386,"publishedAt":387,"schemaType":388,"seo":389,"stem":390,"tags":391,"twitterUrl":387,"__hash__":396},"guides/guides/kaurs-leading-the-way-sikh-women-making-a-global-impact.md","Kaurs Leading the Way: Sikh Women Making a Global Impact","The Maastarji Team",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":367},"minimark",[10,15,19,22,39,42,47,50,95,97,101,104,136,138,142,145,177,179,183,186,226,228,232,271,273,277,282,345,347,351,358,364],[11,12,14],"h1",{"id":13},"kaurs-leading-the-way-sikh-women-making-a-global-impact-in-2026","Kaurs Leading the Way: Sikh Women Making a Global Impact in 2026",[16,17,18],"p",{},"This International Women’s Day, Maastarji celebrates the extraordinary Sikh women who are shaping communities, breaking barriers, and inspiring the next generation across the globe.",[16,20,21],{},"From parliaments to cricket pitches, from poetry stages to courtrooms, Kaurs are leading the way—carrying forward a legacy of courage that stretches back to Mata Gujri Ji, Mai Bhago Ji, and Bibi Nanaki Ji.",[16,23,24,25,29,30,33,34,38],{},"The Sikh tradition has always held that women are equal partners in faith and action. Guru Amar Das Ji fought against the practice of ",[26,27,28],"em",{},"purdah"," and ",[26,31,32],{},"sati",". Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave every Sikh woman the name ",[35,36,37],"strong",{},"Kaur","—sovereign, princess, lioness—to free her from caste and patriarchal naming conventions. Today, Kaurs worldwide are living that principle in every field imaginable.",[40,41],"hr",{},[43,44,46],"h2",{"id":45},"canada-top-5-sikh-women","🇨🇦 Canada: Top 5 Sikh Women",[16,48,49],{},"Canada is home to nearly 800,000 Sikhs. From the political corridors of Ottawa to the literary world stage, Canadian Kaurs have been blazing trails for decades.",[51,52,53,68,74,83,89],"ul",{},[54,55,56,59,60,63,64,67],"li",{},[35,57,58],{},"Rupi Kaur:"," A global literary icon whose debut collection ",[26,61,62],{},"Milk and Honey"," sold over 12 million copies. She executive produced the 2024 Academy Award-nominated film ",[26,65,66],{},"To Kill a Tiger",".",[54,69,70,73],{},[35,71,72],{},"Bardish Kaur Chagger:"," Made history in 2016 as the first woman ever to serve as Government House Leader in the Canadian Parliament.",[54,75,76,79,80,67],{},[35,77,78],{},"Manjit Minhas:"," Co-founder of one of North America’s largest independent breweries and a well-known \"Dragon\" on CBC’s ",[26,81,82],{},"Dragons’ Den",[54,84,85,88],{},[35,86,87],{},"Palbinder Kaur Shergill:"," The first turbaned Sikh woman to be appointed as a judge to the British Columbia Supreme Court.",[54,90,91,94],{},[35,92,93],{},"Monita Rajpal:"," A prominent international broadcast journalist and former long-time anchor for CNN International.",[40,96],{},[43,98,100],{"id":99},"united-states-top-5-sikh-women","🇺🇸 United States: Top 5 Sikh Women",[16,102,103],{},"The American Sikh community has made remarkable strides in politics, law, and civic leadership.",[51,105,106,112,118,124,130],{},[54,107,108,111],{},[35,109,110],{},"Bobbie Singh-Allen:"," In 2020, she became the first Sikh woman directly elected as mayor in the United States (Elk Grove, California).",[54,113,114,117],{},[35,115,116],{},"Manpreet Kaur:"," A City Councilwoman in Bakersfield, California, bridging Sikh community values with local governance.",[54,119,120,123],{},[35,121,122],{},"Raji K. Brar:"," The first Sikh woman elected to a municipal government seat in California and co-founder of the Bakersfield Sikh Women’s Foundation.",[54,125,126,129],{},[35,127,128],{},"Jaslin Kaur:"," A prominent political organizer in New York and a leading voice for Sikh youth engagement in American electoral politics.",[54,131,132,135],{},[35,133,134],{},"Komal Kaur:"," Founder of Umeed-Hope Inc, a nonprofit focused on mental health resources within the Sikh American community.",[40,137],{},[43,139,141],{"id":140},"united-kingdom-top-5-sikh-women","🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Top 5 Sikh Women",[16,143,144],{},"The 2024 UK general election was a watershed moment, with a record five Sikh women elected to Parliament.",[51,146,147,153,159,165,171],{},[54,148,149,152],{},[35,150,151],{},"Preet Kaur Gill MP:"," The first Sikh woman ever elected to the UK Parliament (2017). She has successfully championed the legal protection of the Kirpan in the UK.",[54,154,155,158],{},[35,156,157],{},"Satvir Kaur:"," Elected in 2024 as the MP for Southampton Test.",[54,160,161,164],{},[35,162,163],{},"Harpreet Kaur Uppal:"," Part of the historic 2024 cohort, representing Huddersfield in the House of Commons.",[54,166,167,170],{},[35,168,169],{},"Sonia Kaur Kumar:"," Elected in 2024 as the MP for Dudley.",[54,172,173,176],{},[35,174,175],{},"Princess Sophia Duleep Singh (Historical Honouree):"," A prominent suffragette who fought for women's right to vote in Britain.",[40,178],{},[43,180,182],{"id":181},"australia-top-5-sikh-women","🇦🇺 Australia: Top 5 Sikh Women",[16,184,185],{},"Australia’s Sikh population is rapidly growing, producing leaders in arts, public service, and social enterprise.",[51,187,188,194,200,206,216],{},[54,189,190,193],{},[35,191,192],{},"Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa (OAM):"," Awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2025 for her service to the performing arts and advocacy for diversity.",[54,195,196,199],{},[35,197,198],{},"Dr. Rattan Virk:"," A political trailblazer who secured a federal election ticket for the 2025 Australian federal election.",[54,201,202,205],{},[35,203,204],{},"Parvyn Kaur Singh:"," An ARIA-nominated singer and cultural ambassador who bridges Sikh heritage with Australian contemporary music.",[54,207,208,211,212,215],{},[35,209,210],{},"Deepa Pasricha:"," Founder of ",[26,213,214],{},"The Guidebook",", Australia’s largest publication for seniors, and winner of the 2024 Australian Sikh Award of Excellence.",[54,217,218,221,222,225],{},[35,219,220],{},"Daizy Kaur Maan:"," Founder of the Australian South Asian Centre and ",[26,223,224],{},"Brown Women Comedy",", using humor for social change.",[40,227],{},[43,229,231],{"id":230},"india-top-5-sikh-women","🇮🇳 India: Top 5 Sikh Women",[51,233,234,240,246,252,258],{},[54,235,236,239],{},[35,237,238],{},"Harmanpreet Kaur:"," Captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team and a global icon of the sport with over 8,000 international runs.",[54,241,242,245],{},[35,243,244],{},"Harnaaz Sandhu:"," Crowned Miss Universe 2021, the first Indian to win the title in 21 years.",[54,247,248,251],{},[35,249,250],{},"Harsimrat Kaur Badal:"," A prominent political leader and former Union Minister who resigned in 2020 in solidarity with the farmers' protests.",[54,253,254,257],{},[35,255,256],{},"Navjot Kaur:"," A decorated wrestler who won Gold at the 2018 Asian Championships.",[54,259,260,263,264,267,268,67],{},[35,261,262],{},"Nimrat Kaur:"," An internationally acclaimed actress known for her roles in ",[26,265,266],{},"The Lunchbox"," and the American series ",[26,269,270],{},"Homeland",[40,272],{},[43,274,276],{"id":275},"global-top-10","🏆 Global Top 10",[16,278,279],{},[35,280,281],{},"Sikh Women Making the Greatest Global Impact (2026)",[283,284,285,291,297,303,309,315,321,327,333,339],"ol",{},[54,286,287,290],{},[35,288,289],{},"Harmanpreet Kaur"," 🇮🇳 (Sports Leadership)",[54,292,293,296],{},[35,294,295],{},"Rupi Kaur"," 🇨🇦 (Literature & Arts)",[54,298,299,302],{},[35,300,301],{},"Preet Kaur Gill MP"," 🇬🇧 (Political Representation)",[54,304,305,308],{},[35,306,307],{},"Harnaaz Sandhu"," 🇮🇳 (Global Advocacy)",[54,310,311,314],{},[35,312,313],{},"Bobbie Singh-Allen"," 🇺🇸 (Civic Leadership)",[54,316,317,320],{},[35,318,319],{},"Bardish Kaur Chagger"," 🇨🇦 (Governance)",[54,322,323,326],{},[35,324,325],{},"Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa OAM"," 🇦🇺 (Creative Arts)",[54,328,329,332],{},[35,330,331],{},"Harsimrat Kaur Badal"," 🇮🇳 (Public Service)",[54,334,335,338],{},[35,336,337],{},"Manjit Minhas"," 🇨🇦 (Entrepreneurship)",[54,340,341,344],{},[35,342,343],{},"Parvyn Kaur Singh"," 🇦🇺 (Cultural Preservation)",[40,346],{},[43,348,350],{"id":349},"a-note-to-our-community","A Note to Our Community",[16,352,353,354,357],{},"This article celebrates individual achievements, but it also honors the invisible labor of countless Kaurs—the mothers, the ",[26,355,356],{},"sevadars",", the teachers, and the grandmothers who keep our stories alive.",[16,359,360,363],{},[35,361,362],{},"Do you know a Kaur who is making a difference in your local community or classroom?"," We want to hear her story! Help us build a directory of \"Local Kaur Heroes\" by submitting her name and work via our contact form so we can celebrate her too.",[16,365,366],{},"To every Kaur reading this: your story matters. Happy International Women’s Day.",{"title":368,"searchDepth":369,"depth":369,"links":370},"",2,[371,372,373,374,375,376,377],{"id":45,"depth":369,"text":46},{"id":99,"depth":369,"text":100},{"id":140,"depth":369,"text":141},{"id":181,"depth":369,"text":182},{"id":230,"depth":369,"text":231},{"id":275,"depth":369,"text":276},{"id":349,"depth":369,"text":350},"Social Studies & History",false,"md","/images/guides/kaurs-leading-the-way-sikh-women-making-a-global-impact/kaur-leading-the-way.jpg",true,{"slug":384,"date":385},"kaurs-leading-the-way-iwd-2026","2026-03-08","/guides/kaurs-leading-the-way-sikh-women-making-a-global-impact",null,"Article",{"title":5,"description":18},"guides/kaurs-leading-the-way-sikh-women-making-a-global-impact",[392,393,394,395],"International Women's Day","Sikh History","Role Models","Global Impact","7yxBCtM8g4JtMeiTx5optpRUGWepvZOoEdU3TOnbVwY",1775652680345]