Harinder Singh

Senior Fellow, Research & Policy

Harinder Singh is the Senior Fellow at the Sikh Research Institute. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University, an MS in Engineering Management from the University of Kansas, and an MPhil from Punjab University in the linguistics of the Guru Granth Sahib. 

He co-founded the Sikh Research Institute and the Panjab Digital Library, envisioned the Kaur and Singh Academy, and organized the Free Akal Takht campaign.

He appears on radio and television programs and speaks at universities, parliaments, museums, conferences, and civic institutions. He has authored several books and numerous articles integrating the political and the spiritual. He consults on curriculums, exhibitions, and films and is featured in many documentaries on the Sikhs, the Panjab, and South Asian matters.

His current focus is on developing critical thinking for Sikh institutions via the State of the Panth report series and developing open-source decoding of Guru Granth Sahib in contemporary Panjabi and English for a global audience.

He has served on the National Conference on Community and Justice boards, The Fellowship of Activists to Embrace Humanity, The Nanakshahi Trust, among others. He looks for culturally-specific things to experience and a light roast pour-over coffee to sip during travels, reads and binge-watches to stay in touch with what the world is up to, and listens to sabads, poetry, Hir, jazz, and political rap.

Harinder Singh resides with his family in the United States.

Videos

Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - Why did Guru Nanak Sahib introduce IkOankar?

Guru Nanak Sahib's introduction of IkOankar is discussed.This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

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Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - How would Guru Nanak Sahib respond in today’s Social Media?

Social media plays a heavy role in the world we live in today, it's interesting to think about what Guru Nanak Sahib's perspective on it would be.This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

watch now ⟶
Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - How shall we celebrate #Nanakshahi550?

Harinder Singh details the importance of #nanakshahi550 and how people as individuals and communities should commemorate it. This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

watch now ⟶
Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - Wasn’t Guru Nanak Sahib Peaceful?

The topic of Guru representation is discussed by Gursahiba “Sahiba” Kaur and Harinder Singh. This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

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Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - What is the purpose of Guru Nanak Sahib’s advent?

Harinder Singh explores the purpose of Guru Nanak Sahib's advent. This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

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Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - Why did Guru Nanak Sahib choose Bhai Lahina as the next Guru?

Harinder Singh speaks about Guru Nanak Sahib's decision to make Bhai Lahina the next Guru. This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

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Podcasts

Friday
,
6
December
2024

Sikhi & History: Bhai Vir Singh's Perspectives

Harinder Singh explores Bhai Vir Singh's unique framing of Sikh history at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, Delhi.

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Wednesday
,
12
June
2024

Sant Jarnail Singh: The Man, the Myth, the Truth

Listen as Santbir Singh delves into an in-depth conversation with Harinder Singh about Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a pivotal figure in 20th-century Sikh history.

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Thursday
,
23
May
2024

1984 Path of the Warrior Saints

Harinder Singh, Senior Fellow of Research and Policy at the Sikh Research Institute, delves deeper into the themes of Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation, and Prevention.

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Thursday
,
2
May
2024

1984 Path of the Warrior Saints

Join Harinder Singh and Mo Dhaliwal as they delve into the profound experiences of the Third Ghallughara (large-scale massacre) in India in 1984 and beyond.

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Wednesday
,
24
April
2024

Exploring the Sikh Genocide

The discussion aims to shed light on the systematic campaign of violence perpetrated by the Indian State against the Sikh community, which led to thousands of disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

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Wednesday
,
7
February
2024

Is Guru Nanak Sahib’s Prakash Purab in April or November?

The date of Guru Nanak Sahib's birth is immaterial. Our focus needs to be on the Infinite Wisdom; that’s Prakash Purab.

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Articles

Thursday
,
24
April
2014

Are You Ready to Be a Decision-maker for Sikhs?

I heard as recently as last Sunday at a Baltimore gurduara, that Sikhs don't know how to make their own decisions. True, and false.

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Tuesday
,
13
May
2014

Mata-e-Panth: Sahib Kaur

Four days ago, my daughter Gani’s teacher at The Preschool Place invited my wife for the mother’s day celebration. Gani “carefree” Kaur was entrusted to us by the Divine to “grow” and “care” over four and half years ago. To Gani’s surprise, her ma (mom), her dadi (paternal grandmother), and pardadi (paternal great grandmother) showed up; her teacher had to arrange for three “diamond” necklaces and few more brownies with ice cream given the pleasant surprise. Gani sang, created, shared, thanked, and enjoyed; three moms loved it too.

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Wednesday
,
5
November
2014

Wanted – A New Sikh

In the struggle to solve the crisis facing the Sikhs today, I believe the tide is finally shifting. We are beginning to win the fight, but there is much more work to do and the clock is ticking away.

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Wednesday
,
8
April
2015

Punjabi in Me

Did I ever leave Panjab? Growing up in the west, my earliest memory of Panjab is taking a train ride from Jhansi (UP) to Ludhiana (Panjab) during summer breaks to visit my nanke (maternal grandparents). There are also fond memories of trips with my family to mostly Eastern Panjab, and one to Western Panjab in June 1984.

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Tuesday
,
27
October
2015

I Am a Sikh

How come you are asleep? Wake up, fool! You think your life in this world is the truth. – Guru Granth Sahib, p. 793 I am disenfranchised. Is it because they are afraid we’ll vote to return to Sarbat Khalsa? Self-governance bestowed by Guru Gobind Singh that will once again represent the values that the rest of South Asia looked up to us for? Sikhs are rising globally, renewing their allegiance to the Guru Granth-Panth.

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Tuesday
,
24
November
2015

Top Ten Truths About Guru Teghbahadar Sahib

Guru Teghbahadar Sahib’s life and legacy are unparalleled in the annals of world history. The Guru proclaimed: “Be very clear in your mind; the insightful person is the one who doesn’t fear anyone nor frightens anyone.”

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

Sun
,
Jan 12

Guru Nanak's Medicine for Life

Deakin University, Building LC

Join Harinder Singh as he discusses Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Medicine For Life.

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