Damanpreet Singh

Writer & Graduate Student

Damanpreet Singh is a writer and graduate student who studies race, religion, empire, and the history of capitalism in the nineteenth century.

He holds a master’s degree in religious studies and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Yale University. 

Videos

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Podcasts

Wednesday
,
19
May
2021

Ghazal Twelve, Divan-i-Goya | Bhai Nand Lal

Introducing Paigham-i-Goya: Expression of Love , new translations of a selection of ghazals from Bhai Nand Lal “Goya.” Today’s podcast begins with a recitation of Bhai Nand Lal’s ghazal in Persian, followed by a new English transcreation, the result of a unique collaboration between Dr. Fatima Fayyaz and Dr. Nadhra Khan of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Damanpreet Singh, writer, and graduate student, and Inni Kaur of SikhRI, followed by a discussion between Daman and Inni about the beauty of the ghazal and the transcreation process. Follow Damanpreet and Inni as they discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of Bhai Nand Lal. The unique and symbolic meanings that these ghazals reveal are a treat for those who yearn to get a glimpse into the court of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Author: Bhai Nand Lal “Goya” Collection: Divan-i-Goya Transcreators: Fatima Fayyaz, Inni Kaur, Nadhra Khan, and Damanpreet Singh Persian Narrator: Gholamhossein Sajadi English Narrator: Ryan Gillis Persian امشب به تماشای رخ یار توان رفت سوی بتِ عاشق کشِ عیار توان رفت در کوچه عشق ارچه محال است رسیدن منصور صفت با قدم دار توان رفت ای دل به سوی مدرسه گر میل نداری! باری به سوی خانه خمار توان رفت چون خاطرم از عشق تو شد رشکِ گلستان بیهوده چرا جانب گلزار توان رفت ای دل چو شدی واقف اسرار الهی در سینه ام ای مخزنِ اسرار توان رفت صد روضه رضوان است چو در خانه شگفته گویا به چه سوی در و دیوار توان رفت English Translation Tonight one may proceed to gaze upon the Beloved’s face, Towards the one who is mysteriously merciless towards the lover. Although it is impossible to arrive at the lane of love, One may walk towards the gallows in the footsteps of Mansur. Oh heart, if you don’t desire to go to a seminary, You may proceed towards a wine-house once. As your love has made my imagination the envy of a blooming garden, Why may one proceed towards the garden then? Oh heart, since you are aware of divine secrets, I can proceed within myself, oh treasure of secrets. A hundred paradisiacal gardens have bloomed in the house. Goya: why should one proceed elsewhere?

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Monday
,
29
March
2021

Ghazal Eight, Divan-i-Goya | Bhai Nand Lal

Introducing Paigham-i-Goya: Expression of Love , new translations of a selection of ghazals from Bhai Nand Lal “Goya.” Today’s podcast begins with a recitation of Bhai Nand Lal’s ghazal in Persian, followed by a new English transcreation, the result of a unique collaboration between Dr. Fatima Fayyaz and Dr. Nadhra Khan of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Damanpreet Singh, writer, and graduate student, and Inni Kaur of SikhRI, followed by a discussion between Daman and Inni about the beauty of the ghazal and the transcreation process. Follow Damanpreet and Inni as they discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of Bhai Nand Lal. The unique and symbolic meanings that these ghazals reveal are a treat for those who yearn to get a glimpse into the court of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Author: Bhai Nand Lal “Goya” Collection: Divan-i-Goya Transcreators: Fatima Fayyaz, Inni Kaur, Nadhra Khan, and Damanpreet Singh Persian Narrator: Gholamhossein Sajadi English Narrator: Ryan Gillis Persian بدر در پیشِ رخت شرمنده است بلکه خورشیدِ جهان هم بنده است چشمِ ما هرگز بغیر از حق ندید ای خوشا چشمی که حق بیننده است ما نمی لافیم از زهد و ریا گر گنه گاریم حق بخشنده است دیگری را از کجا آریم ما شور در عالم یکی افگنده است حرفِ غیر از حق نیاید هیچ گاه بر لبِ‌ گویا که حق بخشنده است English Translation Before Your face, the full moon is embarrassed. Rather, the sun of the universe too is a slave. Our eyes witness nothing but the Truth-Divine. Oh, fortunate is the eye that beholds the Divine. Neither do we flaunt piety nor do we indulge in hypocrisy. If we are sinners, the Divine is the forgiver. From where would we bring another? The world reverberates with echoes of Oneness. Nothing is ever uttered except Truth-Divine. By the lips of Goya, as the Divine is the forgiver.

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Friday
,
26
February
2021

Ghazal Two, Divan-i-Goya | Bhai Nand Lal

Introducing Paigam-i-Goya: Expression of Love , new translations of a selection of ghazals from Bhai Nand Lal “Goya.” Today’s podcast begins with a recitation of Bhai Nand Lal’s ghazal in Persian, followed by a new English transcreation, the result of a unique collaboration between Dr. Fatima Fayyaz and Dr. Nadhra Khan of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Damanpreet Singh, writer, and graduate student, and Inni Kaur of SikhRI, followed by a discussion between Daman and Inni about the beauty of the ghazal and the transcreation process. Follow Damanpreet and Inni as they discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of Bhai Nand Lal. The unique and symbolic meanings that these ghazals reveal are a treat for those who yearn to get a glimpse into the court of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Author: Bhai Nand Lal “Goya” Collection: Divan-i-Goya Transcreators: Fatima Fayyaz, Inni Kaur, Nadhra Khan, and Damanpreet Singh Persian Narrator: Gholamhossein Sajadi English Narrator: Ryan Gillis Persian دین و دنیا در کمندِ‌ آن پری رخسارِ ما هر دو عالم قیمتِ یک تارِ موی یارِ‌ ما ما نمی آریم تاب غمزهٔ مژگانِ‌ او یک نگاهِ جان فزایش بس بود در کارِ ما گاه صوفی گاه زاهد گه قلندر می شود رنگ های مختلف دارد بت عیارِ ما قدرِ لعل او بجز عاشق نداند هیچ کس قیمتِ یاقوت داند چشمِ گوهربارِ ما هر نفس گویا به یادِ نرگسِ‌ مخمورِ او باده های شوق می نوشد دلِ هشیارِ ما English Translation My angel-faced Beloved holds the reins of the temporal and celestial worlds. These two worlds are worth just a single strand of my Beloved’s hair. We cannot bear the allure of that gaze. One rejuvenating glance would be enough for our lifetime. Sometimes a sūfī¹, sometimes a zāhid², at others a qalandar³; Our unfathomable Beloved has many tints and shades. Who, except the lover, would know the worth of [Beloved’s] red gems? But our eyes that shed pearls are aware of the value of rubies. In the memory of [Beloved’s] intoxicating eyes, Goya, with every breath; Our wakeful hearts sip on the nectar of longing.

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Friday
,
29
January
2021

Ghazal One, Divan-i-Goya | Bhai Nand Lal

Introducing Paigam-i-Goya: Expression of Love , new translations of a selection of ghazals from Bhai Nand Lal “Goya.” Today’s podcast begins with a recitation of Bhai Nand Lal’s ghazal in Persian, followed by a new English transcreation, the result of a unique collaboration between Dr. Fatima Fayyaz and Dr. Nadhra Khan of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Damanpreet Singh, writer, and graduate student, and Inni Kaur of SikhRI, followed by a discussion between Daman and Inni about the beauty of the ghazal and the transcreation process. Follow Damanpreet and Inni as they discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of Bhai Nand Lal. The unique and symbolic meanings that these ghazals reveal are a treat for those who yearn to get a glimpse into the court of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Author: Bhai Nand Lal “Goya” Collection: Divan-i-Goya Transcreators: Fatima Fayyaz, Inni Kaur, Nadhra Khan, and Damanpreet Singh Persian Narrator: Gholamhossein Sajadi English Narrator: Ryan Gillis Persian هوای بندگی آورد در وجود مرا وگرنه زوقِ چنین آمدن نبود مرا خوش است عمر که در یاد بگذرد ورنه چه حاصل است ازین گنبدِ کبود مرا در آن زمان که نیایی بیاد می میرم بغیر یادِ تو زیستن چه سود مرا فداست جان و دلِ من بخاک مردمِ پاک هر آن کس که بسوی تو ره نمود مرا نبود هیچ نشانها ز آسمان و زمین که شوقِ روی تو آورد در سجود مرا بغیر یادِ تو گویا نمی توانم زیست به سوی دوست رھایی دهند زود مرا English Translation I am brought into existence by the embrace of the winds of reverence-bondage. I would not have desired to come into this world, otherwise. Joyous is the life spent in Your remembrance, and if not: What else do I gain from this blue vault? I die when I do not remember You. Besides Your remembrance, what do I gain from living? I surrender my heart-mind to the dust of those pious beings Who guide me towards You. When there was no sign of the sky or earth, It was desire for Your face that brought me into prostration. Goya: I cannot live without remembering You. May I be freed quickly to meet the Beloved.

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Articles

Tuesday
,
27
February
2024

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the fifty-fifth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.‍

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Monday
,
21
March
2022

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the fifty-second ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.‍

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Tuesday
,
8
February
2022

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the forty-fourth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.‍

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Thursday
,
16
September
2021

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the thirty-sixth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.

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Friday
,
30
July
2021

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the thirtieth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.

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Monday
,
28
June
2021

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the twenty-fifth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

Damanpreet Singh
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