By Liz Frei
Professor Arvind Pal-Sing Mandair, the holder of the Sardarni Kuljeet Kaur Bindra Endowed chair in Sikh Studies and Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion has made a long journey throughout his life, from being born in Punjab, to living in London, England, to now working the University.
Mandair grew up as in the Sikh tradition in Punjab but was not, however, wearing the full turban or beard until thirty one years later.
Mandair graduated from Coventry University in England where he gained a Bachelors of Science and then worked in the University of Aston in Birmingham where he then gained a PhD in application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Mandair has also worked teaching humanities at Coventry University, The University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.
However, after working with science for many years, Mandair gained an interest in his Sikh culture and background.
“I questioned my own relation to my traditions,” Mandair said. “It as living two cultures [Western and Sikh] that led me into the interest of Sikh studies.”
Therefore, after numerous years of not fully grasping his Sikh background, Mandair’s interest flourished during this identity crisis. In the 1990’s, Mandair was baptized as Sikh. His full turban and beard also grew out of his new found interest in his religious and philosophical background.
“It basically started as a dare from the Sikh community. If I was teaching it I should have the guts to wear the full form,” Mandair said. And he took the dare and ran with it.
Mandair’s childhood in England was not the happiest of times for him. Going to school was difficult for him and therefore, coming to America to teach was a great opportunity for him.
“I’ve always been attracted to [the United States], especially the East Coast. We watched US Hollywood films and got a romantic image of what the US is. I feel happier here,” stated Mandair.
The Bindra Endowed chair was a notable award granted for a professor in Columbia University in New York City. The founders wanted students to be able to learn about Sikh studies, but the program unfortunately fell through at Columbia. The founders, still wanting students the opportunity to study, began to donate money to Hofstra in order to sponsor a chair in Sikh studies.
“We’ll never have this area being studied in other universities,” stated Mandair on the vast opportunity Hofstra students are given.
In the year 2000, an international search began for the Bindra Endowed chair in Sikh Studies, and it was only natural for Mandair to apply. One year later, Mandair began his teaching career at Hofstra. Besides Sikh studies, Mandair also teaches numerous other studies, including Indian religions, Eastern religions, and Western Philosophy.
Teaching in America has been quite different for Mandair. Mandair states that he enjoys, “the challenge of teaching American students. They’re very different from the average European student. Americans are both open and has a mind set closed – I get to see both of that.”
Seeing the Hofstra religious department is also something that Mandair enjoys to be a part of. “The Sikh chair started a snowball affect, “Mandair stated.
The extreme different in studying the Sikh religion is quite different then studying many other things at Hofstra. There are numerous stereotypes that students have when they first walk into Mandair’s class, however Mandair’s hopes are to, “change opinions – break stereotypes.”
“I can guarantee by the seventh or eight week of class, the stereotypes will have fizzled,” stated Mandair.
However, one of Mandair’s favorite parts of teaching is “the reaction of students. The positive say at the end that we’ve learned something.” Mandair obviously cares about both his subject matter and those who are learning about it equally.
Aside from his work at Hofstra, Mandair is in the process of building a house here on Long Island and having a life with his wife and two children. He also loves tennis and soccer, and would love if he had more time to play them!