2023 was a pivotal year for the Sikh Panth. A year of shock, awakening, and reckoning.
We witnessed the arrest of Bhai Amritpal Singh — a prominent Sikh preacher and leader who ignited imaginations and fears alike. We also witnessed the shaheedi of influential Sikh figures around the world, including Bhai Hardeep Singh in Canada. These were not moments of mourning — they were moments of reflection, of remembrance, and of resolve. Each shaheedi was a reminder of the deeper current that has always flowed through the Sikh struggle known as the Khalistan Lehar.
Like many of you, I didn’t just witness these events unfold — I felt them deeply. But I couldn’t stop at merely feeling. I kept asking myself:
“What were our Shaheeds really fighting for?”
“What vision did the Kharkus hold in their minds when they picked up arms — or laid down their lives?”
The answer, time and again, was the same:
A space where the sovereignty of the Khalsa Panth was upheld, and where governance operated within a just and ethical framework. For most, this vision pointed clearly toward the formation of a Sikh state — Khalistan.
But vision without strategy is just a dream.
That’s when I knew it was time to do something different — something grounded in statecraft and built for impact. That’s how The Outpost was born: North America’s first statecraft-driven chauni — a strategic Sikh intentional community.
What is a Chauni?
A chauni (also spelled “shaoni” or “chowni”) is a traditional base historically used by Khalsa forces for spiritual discipline, martial training, shelter, and recovery. It was a disciplined environment characterized by the recitation of prayers, meditation, maintenance of weapons and horses, shared meals, and acts of mutual care. The Outpost adapts this concept into a modern, replicable model centered on Sikh statecraft, community resilience, and strategic sovereignty-building.
What’s Holding Back the Sangarsh?
In reflecting on where our struggle stands today, I identified two major gaps holding us back — both critical to any sovereign movement rooted in statecraft:
Hard Power: Economic strength. Strategic infrastructure. Military capability. Coercion — when the time and global conditions align. Without hard power, sovereignty can’t sustain itself.
Soft Power: Influence. Attraction. The ability to shape perceptions, build cultural and ideological influence, and assert legitimacy — without coercion.
Both are necessary. Neither can be skipped. And our goal is not simply to match the Indian state in these areas — but to exceed it. To outperform it economically, outbuild it institutionally, and outshine it ideologically. This is the only way forward for a sovereign and self-sustaining Panth.
What is The Outpost?
The Outpost is a chauni - a base, a seed, a beginning.
But it’s more than a single project. It’s a replicable model designed to be adopted, adapted, and multiplied into a decentralized yet united network network of Khalsa chaunis, urban and rural alike, each committed to cultivating the Khalsa Panth’s hard and soft power.
These chaunis include, but are not limited to:
Darbars featuring Shastar Prakash, with space for personal and collective spiritual practice
Temporary camp setups organized and maintained by the host Sangat
Multipurpose land use supporting gardens, stables, and local service initiatives
Each is rooted in a shared vision, contributing to a broader movement for sovereignty—spiritually and strategically.
The Outpost is a lifelong, generational effort grounded in vision, resilience, and service. Over time, it will grow into a vibrant Khalsa hub—attracting, connecting, and empowering Sikhs dedicated to community-building, seva, and sovereignty.
Collaboration Over Isolation
This vision was never meant to be pursued alone. The Outpost welcomes collaboration — with those in the Sikh community who align with our principles and direction. When like-minded individuals and organizations unite, the Sangarsh moves from momentary responses to strategic initiative — grounded, coordinated, and future-focused.
With that all being said, this is just the beginning.
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