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

Tuesday
,
23
January
2024

In the Sikh faith, is God a man?

In Sikh ideals, preference is not to use the term "God" as it often carries gendered imagery. Instead, we embrace ੴ pronounced as IkOankar, the genderless and transcendent Being. IkOankar is not just gender-neutral; it transcends gender.

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Tuesday
,
9
January
2024

Is the Sikh religion called Sikhi or Sikhism? Does it matter?

"I think it matters because what is our indigenous term? And what is the term which those who were studying us in the last hundred years started calling us? Our native term is Sikhi. Sikhism is something which was born out of the study of religions..."

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Wednesday
,
27
December
2023

What does “Sikh” mean?

When we look at the two meanings as they existed at the time (in Sanskrit and in Pali) and incorporate them into what we now call Sikhi, it actually means learners who are of the Guru. Guru is a mentor, Guru in Sikhi is Perfection.

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Tuesday
,
5
December
2023

Why do Sikhs have unique customs and traditions?

The initiation of community development with Guru Nanak Sahib marked the introduction of protocols aimed at organizing and highlighting the essential roles of governance and unity in any community.

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Tuesday
,
21
November
2023

What does "Chardi Kala" mean?

Delve into the profound essence of "Chardi Kala" in this enlightening podcast episode. Discover how embracing Nam and forging a connection with a potent force converge to bring forth the manifestation of Chardi Kala—Rising Power.

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Friday
,
10
November
2023

1984 Genocide: Relentless Pursuit of Justice in Indian Courts

It has been 39 years since the 1984 Sikh Genocide orchestrated by the Indian government. Why is the legal course of action still necessary? What outcomes have been achieved so far, and what else is being pursued?

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Articles

Monday
,
16
October
2017

Fortunate are Dyed in Red-Love-Color

In the joyous Rag Bilaval, Guru Arjan Sahib's Sabad resonates with themes of divine love, immortality, and spiritual fulfillment. Bilaval, a rag known for evoking feelings of happiness, accomplishment, and determination, is a fitting backdrop...

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Monday
,
30
October
2017

ਬੇਗਮ ਪੁਰਾ ਸਹਰ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ॥ "Be-gam-pura" – City’s name is "Sorrow-less-ville"

Sabad is Infinite; we are very finite. This is our understanding at the moment, which was different yesterday and may evolve tomorrow, as we deepen our relationship with the Sabad.

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Monday
,
30
October
2017

Gurmukhi: Guru Nanak Sahib’s Alphabets

Gurmukhi – what is it? Its two most popular etymological explanations are from “the mouth of the Guru” or “the utterance of the Guru."

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Monday
,
20
November
2017

ਐਸਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੇ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ Freedom and Final State of Existence is Through the One

Sabad is Infinite; we are very finite. This is our understanding at the moment, which was different yesterday and may evolve tomorrow, as we deepen our relationship with the Sabad. 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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Tuesday
,
28
November
2017

Can the next SGPC President be of the Panth?

The General House of Shiromani Gurduara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is meeting on 29 Nov. 2017 to elect its next President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President, General Secretary and 11 other executive members.

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Monday
,
4
December
2017

ਗੁਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਜੋ ਸਿਖੁ ਅਖਾਏ ਸੁ ਭਲਕੇ ਉਠਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥ One Who Calls Oneself a Sikh of the Guru, Rises at Dawn, Contemplates on All-Pervasive Nam

Sabad is Infinite; we are very finite. This is our understanding at the moment, which was different yesterday and may evolve tomorrow, as we deepen our relationship with the Sabad. 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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Read more ⟶

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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