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
,
25
July
2009

1984 & You

Two major events took place in India, during 1984 in quick succession within a span of 5 month. The Indian Army attacked Akal Takhat Sahib in June, and an anti-Sikh genocidal campaign was undertaken by the ruling political party......

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Podcasts

Tuesday
,
24
October
2023

Why does it seem that only men lead Sikh prayer services?

In Sikhi (commonly known as Sikhism), women's fundamental equality exists in both private and public spheres and within personal and corporate relationships. Women possess the freedom to lead in any capacity without predefined roles....

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Tuesday
,
10
October
2023

What is Nam Simran?

Nam Simran holds significant importance in Sikhi, extending far beyond mere identification with the Divine. ‘Nam’ goes beyond identification, and ‘Simran’ signifies remembrance....

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Friday
,
6
October
2023

Understanding Canada-India Disharmony in the Sikh-Panjab Context

Listen as Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur discuss the larger context around the latest events in Canada. ...

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Tuesday
,
26
September
2023

Why do Sikhs recite the same daily prayers?

“…it really has nothing to do with whether it is less or more. It has everything to do with that these are the aspirations of the community. When we come together as a community, we do a minimum of these recitations....

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Tuesday
,
12
September
2023

What is the significance of hair for Sikhs?

"Hair in Sikhi is part of the protocol, as well as part of the tradition...You emulate the modalities you believe in of the ones you love." In this podcast series, we dive into the community's greatest questions asked by people like YOU....

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Thursday
,
18
May
2023

Women & Gender in Sikhi

Listen as Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur explore Women & Gender in Sikhi from a Gurmat (Guru’s Way) perspective, as inferred from Bani (wisdom), Tavarikh (history), and Rahit (lifestyle)....

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Articles

Tuesday
,
7
May
2019

The Khalsa Raj – Banda, Battles & Body Politic

The Khalsa Raj – Banda, Battles & Body Politic. The journey of Baba Banda Singh Bahudar from getting hand selected by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to establishing the Empire- told by Harinder Singh ...

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Sunday
,
12
May
2019

Khalra: Khadur Sahib, The Panjab & Indian Elections

The 17th general election in India is already underway in seven phases over 38 days. Voting for 545 seats between April 11 and May 23 that will decide the next Government of India. There are 900 million registered voters, and about 70% are expected to cast their vote. 15 million are voting for the first time; 18 and over are eli...

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Saturday
,
28
March
2020

Sikh-Afghans

In 1521, Guru Nanak Sahib witnessed the terrible suffering of people at Saidpur (Eminabad), The Panjab. The Guru documents who to question while accepting the Command of the Creative and Pervasive 1Force: ...

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Monday
,
30
March
2020

Guru Harikrishan Sahib: Benevolent Wisdom-Child

An attempt to locate the Eighth Sovereign in the line of ten founder Gurus in Sikhi. Guru Nanak Sahib’s 1Force-1Ness paradigm continued in Nanak VIII’s political-spiritual realm as depicted in the Sikh writings....

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Monday
,
15
June
2020

Raj Karega Khalsa: The Khalsa & The Rule

Raj Karega Khalsa – what does this really mean? Why has it been part of so many controversies? In order to answer this, we must know its origin. Who wrote it? When was it written? What’s the context of it?...

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Monday
,
13
July
2020

Amritsar: Harimandar, Ramdaspur, Darbar, or Golden?

Amritsar, Ramdaspur, Harimandar, and Darbar – what are these terms referring to? Are they merely historical spaces? Do we have contemporary or near-contemporary accounts of the terms or of their development? Are there any citations in Guru Granth Sahib?...

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

Sun
,
May 11

Khalsa Raj and Banda Singh Bahadur

Glasgow Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib

Be inspired by the Khalsa Raj and fearless legacy of Banda Singh Bahadur. Join us in Glasgow for a thought-provoking lecture that dives into Sikh sovereignty, justice, and revolution.

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Mon
,
May 12

Sikhi and Leadership

The Social Hub Glasgow

Join us for an engaging conversation with Harinder Singh on Sikh leadership, values-driven action, and community impact - organized in collaboration with Sikh Professionals Scotland.

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Thu
,
May 15

Faith, Spirituality, and Modern Society

Rhodes House: Glass Pavillion, University of Oxford

Join Harinder Singh at the University of Oxford for a presentation and Q&A on Faith, Spirituality, and Modern Society.

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