Curriculum Vitae
Scholar of Sikh intellectual history and religious thought with expertise in early modern South Asia, historiography, sikh traditions, scriptural hermeneutics, Punjab and Diaspora. Research engages archival, manuscript, and oral history sources in Panjabi, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and Braj. Developed a comprehensive suite of Sikh Studies and pluralism courses and led the creation of a four-year limited term appointment in Sikh Studies at the University of Calgary. Interests bridge religious studies and history, contributing to decolonial theory, epistemology, and community-engaged scholarship.
Dr. Grewal has been instrumental in developing new courses including "Introduction to Sikhism", "Sikh Migration and Diaspora", "Introduction to Pluralism", and "Religion, Truth, Pluralism". His teaching approach for Asian Religions emphasizes critical thinking and cultural understanding.
His current research includes work on Anti-Sikh Hate research and the development of Sikh curriculum in Canada, contributing to broader conversations about religious diversity and social justice in educational contexts.
Education
Ph.D., Asian Languages and Cultures
University of Michigan, 2017
Dissertation: "Janamsakhi: Retracing Networks of Interpretation"
Committee: Arvind Mandair (Chair), Donald S. Lopez, Christi Ann Merrill, Farina Mir, Madhav Deshpande, Shahzad Bashir (Stanford)
M.A., Asian Studies
University of British Columbia, 2005
Concentration: South Asia, Sikh Cultural and Literary History
Thesis: "Guru Nanak, A Light Brighter Than A Thousand Suns: The Sikh Tradition and Narratives of Conversion in South Asia"
Advisor: Dr. Anne Murphy
B.A., Asian Studies
University of British Columbia, 2003
Concentration: South Asia
B.Sc., Biological Sciences
University of Alberta, 2000
Specialization: Molecular Genetics