DALIP KAUR TIWANA is no more. The most feminist of the feminist writers has passed into the bylanes of history but her contribution to Punjabi literature, to the ...
The traditional narrative is as follows: The tenth guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, introduced Kaur and Singh when he administered Amrit to both male and female Sikhs; all female Sikhs were asked to use the name Kaur after their forename, and male Sikhs were to use the name Singh. [10]
Men were instructed to adopt the last name Singh, meaning lion, and women were encouraged to use Kaur, meaning princess. The use of Kaur, as opposed to adopting family names in marriage, promotes women as individuals with value and identities existing independently of their relationships with men.
Why do so many Sikhs have the last name Singh or Kaur?
Sikhism is a traditional Indian religion in which all members have the same two surnames as an expression of unity. All men are named Singh, and all women are named Kaur.
Sikh Surnames: Why the Names Singh and Kaur Relate to Princesses and ...
Kaur Life is the premier women’s publication tailored for and targeted to young Kaurs (Sikh women). Kaur Life is a space where Kaurs can express their ideas, share stories, learn more about their Sikh culture, and empower themselves.
Some Sikh women choose to use Kaur as their surname, others use Kaur as a middle name, and some don’t use this name at all. The name Kaur represents different things to different people. For us at KF, Kaur reflects Sikh values of equality, strength, social justice, and empathy.