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

Tuesday
,
3
December
2024

Sikhi & History: Bhai Vir Singh's Perspectives

Join Harinder Singh at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, Delhi, as he explores Bhai Vir Singh's unique framing of Sikh history on 25 September 2024.

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Monday
,
2
December
2024

The Eternal Spirit of Giving

Join Harinder Singh as he delves into The Eternal Spirit of Giving, exploring timeless wisdom from the Guru Granth Sahib. This talk invites reflection on the essence of giving—not just as a responsibility but as a journey towards grace and connection.

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Thursday
,
14
November
2024

Key Challenges & Advice for the Sikh Community’s Future

As individual achievements within the Sikh community continue to rise, a new challenge emerges: prosperity often brings caution, with people becoming more reluctant to take risks when there’s more at stake.

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Wednesday
,
13
November
2024

Diaspora's Role in Justice for 1984 & Speaking on Panjab's Future

What role should the Sikh diaspora play in seeking justice for 1984 and discussing sovereignty and Khalistan, especially from a place of relative safety?

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Tuesday
,
12
November
2024

Youth Activism & Misrepresentation: Sikhs, Sovereignty, and Media Narratives

Violence in modern forms, like drone warfare, has become normalized, making it difficult for communities visibly associated with arms—such as Sikhs—to be understood within their cultural and historical context.

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Monday
,
11
November
2024

Navigating Identity, Justice, and Safety: A Message to Sikh Youth

In recent years, Sikh youth in the diaspora have taken up advocacy, challenging narratives and seeking justice despite fears of backlash. How can they navigate the tension between family commitments, safety, and the drive for community empowerment?

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Podcasts

Tuesday
,
9
June
2020

A Black Lives Matter Conversation — The Sikh Cast | SikhRI

The Sikh Cast is taking a close look at the Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM). The United States is in a moment of turmoil following the death of Minnesota resident George Floyd, leading to an outpouring of protests across the country. Manpreet Singh holds a spirited conversation with special guests Corey Winchester, Harinder Singh, SikhRI’s Senior Fellow on Research and Policy and, Asha Marie Kaur SikhRI’s Researcher on what the BLM movement means in education, policy and much more. Corey Winchester is a public educator in Evanston, Illinois with an MEd in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies. You can watch his TED talk on education and identity here: https://bit.ly/2MLToE8

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Friday
,
12
June
2020

Black Lives Matter & Sikhi: Harinder Singh – The Sikh Cast | SikhRI

The Sikh Cast Host has a one on one dialogue with Harinder Singh on how the Guru would deal with the Black Lives Matter Movement. They ask how can Sikhs around the world go beyond the protest and how do we explore it from the Sikhi lens.

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Tuesday
,
30
June
2020

Raj Karega Khalsa: The Khalsa & The Rule (ft. Harinder Singh) - The Sikh Cast | SikhRI

This episode of The Sikh Cast is from a live webinar recorded on June 29th, 2020. It features Senior Fellow Harinder Singh and The Sikh Cast host Manpreet Jassal, together they discuss the controversial sikh motto "Raj Karega Khalsa." They get into its usage from the 1700's to a modern context, discussing the how and the what of its meaning.

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Friday
,
21
August
2020

The Sikhs and The Panjab

73 years ago, two nation-states were carved by the British mapmaking: Hindustan and Pakistan. The historical Sikh Homeland in The Panjab was divided by the Radcliffe line. In now truncated Indian Panjab, a proportion of the Sikhs led many campaigns to fight for economic, political, state, human, and religious rights. What’s next to secure the Sikh aspirations and the Panjab’s autonomy?

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,

The Sikhs and The Panjab

73 years ago, two nation-states were carved by the British mapmaking: Hindustan and Pakistan. The historical Sikh Homeland in The Panjab was divided by the Radcliffe line. In now truncated Indian Panjab, a proportion of the Sikhs led many campaigns to fight for economic, political, state, human, and religious rights. What’s next to secure the Sikh aspirations and the Panjab’s autonomy?

watch now ⟶
,

Miri-Piri: The Political and Spiritual Paradigm

The principle of Miri-Piri is often encapsulated with the two crossed swords in today's Sikh consciousness, one representing the political spirit of the Sikhs and the other representing the spiritual.

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Articles

Friday
,
30
June
2017

Brimful Immortal Nectar is Within the Home

In this trans-creation, we have chosen to keep the repeating words in the Sabad same. We aspire to learn and retain the Divine attribute as used in the original Sabad and avoid terms like God or Lord.

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Sunday
,
2
July
2017

Surrender Mind and Body, Forsake Societal Norms

In the vibrant rhythm of rag Suhi, Guru Arjan Sahib's Sabad emanates profound love and devotion, evoking a sense of reverential adoration.

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Monday
,
10
July
2017

O! Ignorant. Wake up! Why Are You Asleep?

Bhagat Ravidas's Sabad captures the essence of deep love, devotion, and reverential adoration in the resonance of Rag Suhi.

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Wednesday
,
19
July
2017

That Protector Protected. All Ailments Eradicated.

In the vibrant melody of Rag Bilaval, Guru Arjan Sahib's Sabad resonates with themes of divine protection, grace, and spiritual sustenance. Bilaval, known for its uplifting mood, provides a fitting backdrop for this expression of profound faith and...

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Wednesday
,
26
July
2017

I Surrender to My Own Guru

In the melodic embrace of Jaitsari rag, Guru Ramdas Sahib's Sabad unfolds with poignant sincerity, echoing the heartfelt sentiment of dependence and longing.

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Monday
,
31
July
2017

How to Develop a Sikh Response

Who can curate a Sikh response? Why is a framework necessary? What is Gurmat? How do Bani, Tvarikh, and Rahit consitute Gurmat? Which sources can be classified as primary and secondary?

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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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