Basics of Sikhi

Basics of Sikhi is a Sikh education project based in the United Kingdom. It is run by the UK charity Everything's 13 (Everythings13) and is best known for its YouTube channel, where it explains Sikh teachings and history in everyday language for young Sikhs and for non-Sikhs who ask questions.

How it began: its founder was Bhai Jagraj Singh, a UK-based Sikh preacher who studied at Oxford. Wikipedia gives 2012 as the start of Basics of Sikhi, which began with videos on digital platforms. By July 2017 it had three full-time parcharaks teaching in schools, colleges, universities, gurdwaras and workplaces in the UK and abroad, and its channel held more than 800 videos. Jagraj Singh was diagnosed with stage four inoperable cancer in December 2016 and died in July 2017. Tributes came from Sikh groups including the Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) and the National Sikh Campaign.

Leaders in order: Jagraj Singh founded it and led it until his death. The organisation's own website names him "Late Bhai Jagraj Singh, Parcharik, Founder of E13" and lists a core team of parchariks and staff after him.

Scale and work

• The organisation's own site claims more than 2,700 videos, more than 230,000 YouTube subscribers and content in 13 or more languages. Wikipedia reported about 2,500 videos, 170,000 subscribers and up to 18 languages in 2021. These are self-reported figures.
• Besides the main channel it runs Exploring Sikhi and BoS TV, a podcast, a speaker request service, and Camp Panth in Dallas, Texas.
• Its site says it does not charge for parchar and relies on sangat support, with a suggested donation of 5 pounds or 5 dollars.
• Wikipedia, citing the Points of Light programme, records that Jagraj Singh received the UK Points of Light award in 2017.

Where it stands: Basics of Sikhi continues after its founder's death as a volunteer and donor-supported parchar project, working mainly in English, with material in other languages, and it remains one of the best-known Sikh educational channels online.