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

Saturday
,
3
October
2020

Sikhi & Sexuality Webinar

Watch the entire thought provoking conversation with Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur as they try to understand and explain sexuality in the context of a Sikh worldview.

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Monday
,
14
September
2020

Surinder Singh Jodhka's Final Thoughts - Giani Dit Singh & Caste Dynamics

Surinder Singh Jodhka is Professor of Sociology at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He researches on different dimensions of social inequalities – old and new – and the processes of their reproduction.

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Wednesday
,
19
August
2020

Kapur Singh vs Jodh Singh

This clip is from our webinar "Raj Karega Khalsa: The Khalsa & The Rule" which discusses the clash between Kapur Singh and Jodh Singh. 

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Monday
,
10
August
2020

"Is Khalistan the same Raj we are talking about?"

Harinder Singh, “Those who are working on the Khalistan issue need to articulate the movement as to what it is...With a clear and unified understanding, the movement could offer more answers as a result.

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Thursday
,
23
July
2020

Miri Piri Day with Harinder Singh

What is Miri-Piri? Did it start with the Sixth Sovereign Guru Harigobind Sahib? Are the two “swords” necessary? Why is this so important in Sikhi? How can it be a lived reality in current times of divided allegiances?

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Thursday
,
4
June
2020

1984: The Devoted & The Worldly

1984 is considered the third Ghallughara in Sikh history. Why was Sri Harimandar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib complex attacked? What’s the Sikh historical context? How must the memory be kept alive 36 years on?

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Podcasts

Tuesday
,
7
February
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 05: Creator Ruler

In this sixth podcast, Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur explore Guru Gobind Singh Sahib’s utterances on the Creator Ruler, and his guidance of considering IkOankar as the only true Ruler.

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Tuesday
,
31
January
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 04: Divine Protector

In this fifth podcast, Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur explore Guru Gobind Singh Sahib’s many invocations of divine names and attributes and their contexts in larger Indic systems.

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Tuesday
,
24
January
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 03: Mentor Specified

In this fourth podcast, Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur discuss what it means to attach to the feet of the Supreme Being, the poisons we are collecting, and the remembrance we are being asked to collect instead.

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Monday
,
16
January
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 02: Yoga Disrupted

In this third podcast, Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur explore what it means to earn union in comparison to transactional relationships with the divine. 

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Tuesday
,
10
January
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 01: Renunciation Redefined

In this second podcast, Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur explore the context of Indic paradigms, rituals, systems, and popular understandings that the Guru addresses in his reframing of renunciation and non-attachment.

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Wednesday
,
4
January
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Introduction

Introducing Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 (Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10), new translations, and commentaries of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib's composition. This podcast is an introduction to the series.

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Articles

Tuesday
,
7
March
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 09: Divine Creator

In the ninth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib declares that the One Divine will remain fully capable of destroying and creating.

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Tuesday
,
28
February
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 08: That One

In the eighth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib questions how That One can be said to be in one human form.

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Tuesday
,
21
February
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 07: Creator Death

In the seventh composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib locates the Creator as the Death; there is no god or messenger of death to fear.

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Tuesday
,
14
February
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 06: Beloved Friend

In the sixth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib calls on his 1-Beloved-Friend on behalf of the Khalsa in the forests of Machhiwara.

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Tuesday
,
7
February
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 05: Creator Ruler

In the fifth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib emphatically declares that anyone created or formed by the 1 cannot be confused with the 1 and...

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Tuesday
,
31
January
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 04: Divine Protector

In the fourth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib proclaims to the world that he seeks the protection from only the 1-Divine; his honor and dignity are with the 1.

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

Sat
,
Apr 26

Human Rights & Inclusion in Sikhi

Judy Silver Commons, Maples Collegiate

Join Harinder Singh in Winnipeg, Manitoba on 26 April 2025, for a keynote address and interactive session on Human Rights & Inclusion in Sikhi.

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Sun
,
Jul 20

Sidak 2025

Khalsa Centre

Sidak is a transformative educational experience designed for young Sikh adults aged 18 to 39. It brings together seekers from all over the world to learn, grow, and lead with purpose.

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