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

Friday
,
6
May
2022

Vaisakhi: Reviving Panthic Leadership

The Khalsa inauguration on Vaisakhi day in 1699 infused the Sikhs and gave them a structure of ideas and institutions that continue to shape their lives both individually and collectively. We will discuss Panthic leadership through Sikhi ideals and historical models. We will also explore the current deficits in leadership and their code of conduct. How can Love-drenched & Wisdom-centered impetus revive organic leadership in the vicinity of ideals!

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Wednesday
,
16
March
2022

Women: Gateway to Freedom

To commemorate International Women's Day, Harinder Singh highlighted that the Sikh culture, as envisioned in the Guru Granth Sahib and created by the Ten Nanaks, insists on complete equality.

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Tuesday
,
22
February
2022

Beadbi: Distortions, Transgressions, Responses

Join Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur as they discuss the larger Sikh context around beadbi as a political problem in need of a political solution. What is beadbi? How has it been dealt with historically? What are its Panthic and legal understandings?

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Monday
,
31
January
2022

Dan: Sikhi & Giving

Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) has released its eighth report in the State of the Panth series titled Dan: Sikhi & Giving, exploring what it means to give in a Sikh context, how giving is understood throughout Sikh history.

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Monday
,
18
October
2021

Who is God to a Sikh?

Sikhs believe in the idea of IkOankar (1Force, Oneness, One Universal Integrative Force).

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Monday
,
18
October
2021

Do Sikhs Fear God?

Transcending fear only comes when you have a loving relationship with IkOankar.

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Podcasts

Thursday
,
5
August
2021

The Political-Spiritual Being

Listen as Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur explore Miri-Piri from a Gurmat (Guru’s Way) perspective, as inferred from Bani (wisdom), Tavarikh (history), and Rahit (lifestyle). Event moderated by Manvinder Kaur.

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Thursday
,
10
June
2021

1984 Remembrance: The Sikhs and the Indian State

Join Harinder Singh and Manpreet Singh as they discuss 1984 and explore its parallels with human rights movements today. 

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Friday
,
21
May
2021

Sikhs, Statecraft & Civil Society

This conversation touches upon lessons and guidance to the Sikh community on how to pursue advocacy, long-term strategies, and building coalitions via both positive and not so positive case studies from the Afghan-Sikh crisis to the Farmers movement.

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Monday
,
26
April
2021

Sultan-ul-Duniya Wal-Akhirat: The Sovereign of the World and the Hereafter - Harinder Singh & Jasjit Singh | The Sikh Cast | SikhRI

Harinder Singh speaks about the Sikh historical narratives that live in the psyche of the Guru Khalsa Panth, the flag-bearers of the Sikh collective.

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Saturday
,
20
February
2021

Nankana Sahib Massacre

Harinder Singh and Manpreet Singh talk about what happened 100 years ago at Nankana Sahib.

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Friday
,
18
December
2020

#FarmerProtests

Harinder Singh and Manpreet Singh talk about the current farmer protests happening in India and it's impact on the Sikh Diaspora. They talk about langar, Diljit, Modi, social media, what to expect next and much more!    

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Articles

Sunday
,
22
January
2017

My Mind Pines for Guru’s Vision

This composition by Guru Arjan Sahib is in Rag Majh. This rag (musical mode) evolved from the folk music of the Majha area of the Panjab. There is no reference to this rag in Indian music. It is only sung in Panjab and is in the Guru Granth Sahib.

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Monday
,
30
January
2017

Slowly and Gently Rains the Immortal Stream

This composition by Guru Arjan Sahib is in Rag Majh. This rag (musical mode) evolved from the folk music of the Majha area of the Panjab. There is no reference to this rag in Indian music. It is only sung in Panjab and is in the Guru Granth Sahib.

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Monday
,
30
January
2017

Who Are Panjabis Voting for?

117 members for the Panjab Legislative Assembly will be elected in five days. Like it or not, the stark reality is that caste and religion play a big role throughout India, including Panjab. 

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Monday
,
6
February
2017

Your Nam is the Merchandise and the Trade, Indeed!

Delve into the Sabad (Shabad) of Guru Nanak Sahib in Rag (raag) Gauri Bairagan, from the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs. Read the translation done by Harinder Singh and Inni Kaur.

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Sunday
,
12
February
2017

O! People, if I Meet a Trader of the Charmer-Divine...

Explore the Sabad (Shabad) of Bhagat Ravidas in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs. Read the translation done by Harinder Singh and Inni Kaur. Listen to Inni Kaur’s reflection on this Sabad.

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Tuesday
,
14
February
2017

Love Amongst Loves?

I am sitting next to “Bhagvan” as I type this blog on Valentine’s Day. Bhagvan is someone glorious, illustrious, revered, venerable, divine, or holy.

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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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