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

Thursday
,
3
May
2018

Sri Gur Sobha

This “Khalsa in Sri Gur Sobha” webinar will explore the Khalsa ideals, values and conduct to mark the Vaisakhi commemorations. Sri Gur Sobha is a significant source of Sikh history written by Guru Gobind Singh Sahib’s court poet Sainapat in 1711. The focus will be on three chapters entitled Command Illuminated (Bacan Pragas), Command Reflected (Bacan Bicar), and Lifestyle Illuminated (Rahit Pragas).

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Monday
,
23
October
2017

Who is a Sikh? – State of Panth Report #1

As the global Sikh population expands in size and complexion, the definition of a Sikh becomes increasingly important to support and shape the community. This study sets out to establish an understanding of how to conceptualize who is a Sikh.

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Sunday
,
27
August
2017

Guru Ramdas Sahib in Rag Gond | Guru Granth Sahib 861 | Artist: Bhai Amarjit Singh

My mind burns deeply for All-Pervasive’s experience, as the thirsty without water. 1. My mind is pierced by the arrow of All-Pervasive’s love. My All-Pervasive Divine knows my pain, my mind’s internal pain. Reflect. Whoever tells my All-Pervasive Beloved’s narrative is my Bhai1, my brother. 2. Girl-friends, unite, unite, imbibe the resolute wisdom of the Eternal Guru, Recount the virtues of my Divine. 3. O! All-Pervasive, fulfill servant Nanak’s wish, Seeing All-Pervasive, body quietens. 4. Honorific title in Sikh tradition for the eminent narrators of the Guru. Guru Ramdas Sahib in Rag Gond | Guru Granth Sahib 861 ਗੋਂਡ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਕਉ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਬਹੁ ਤਪਤੈ ਜਿਉ ਤ੍ਰਿਖਾਵੰਤੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਨੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਮੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੁ ਲਗੋ ਹਰਿ ਤੀਰ ॥ ਹਮਰੀ ਬੇਦਨ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਪੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਬਾਤ ਸੁਨਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਭਾਈ ਸੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਬੀਰ ॥੨॥ ਮਿਲੁ ਮਿਲੁ ਸਖੀ ਗੁਣ ਕਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਲੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਧੀਰ ॥੩॥ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਹਰਿ ਆਸ ਪੁਜਾਵਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਸਰੀਰ ॥੪॥੬॥

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Friday
,
18
August
2017

Why was Guru Arjan Sahib Martyred?

Why was Guru Arjan Sahib Martyred? A talk by Harinder Singh (Senior Fellow, Research & Policy) in Abbotsford on June 18.

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Thursday
,
10
August
2017

Who is a Sikh?

SikhRi presents the conclusion of a six-part series long videos where we provide answers to fundamental questions.

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Thursday
,
10
August
2017

How do I know that being Sikh is working?

SikhRi presents Part 5 of a six-part series featuring videos where we provide answers to fundamental questions.

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Podcasts

Tuesday
,
19
December
2017

Enticer Enticed My Mind

The Sabad opens with the Guru's profound declaration of being a "maiden-slave" of the Divine Ruler, symbolizing complete surrender and dedication.

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Tuesday
,
26
December
2017

Ep65 - “On the platter are placed three things...”

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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Tuesday
,
28
August
2018

Words of Faith - Ik Oankar

IkOankar (1Force, The One, Divine, Creator) is Guru Nanak Sahib’s offering to humanity, and the opening of the Guru Granth Sahib.

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Tuesday
,
28
August
2018

Words of Faith - Har

Did you know that "Har" is the most used word in Guru Granth Sahib?

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Tuesday
,
4
September
2018

Words of Faith - Nam

Words of Faith: a new series explaining the recurring words in Guru Granth Sahib. Nam is Identity. Nam is the culture of Sikhs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O_rtTswxyM --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-sikh-cast-sikhri/support

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Tuesday
,
11
September
2018

Words of Faith - Guru

Words of Faith: a new series explaining the recurring words in Guru Granth Sahib Is Guru perfection? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnx400HuVxU&t=25s --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-sikh-cast-sikhri/support

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Articles

Tuesday
,
17
January
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 02: Yoga Disrupted

In the second composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib emphasizes union with the 1.

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Tuesday
,
10
January
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10 - Sabad 01: Renunciation Redefined

In the first composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib redefines everything yogic. Yoga is reframed as the original idea of union or the connection with the 1.

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Thursday
,
5
January
2023

Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10

Multiple sources of knowledge, visits to historical places, and personal experiences to date fuel the deeper meanings of Sabad Hajare (popularly Shabad Hazare) attributed to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.

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Monday
,
12
September
2022

From Pothi to Guru Granth Sahib

Guru Arjan Sahib gifted the eventual Guru Granth Sahib to humanity. Why did the Guru envision it? How did the Guru compile it? What did the Guru curate?

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Sunday
,
31
July
2022

At Fifty, The Foot Falters

Personal reflections on wrestling with being ‘in the world’ but ‘not of the world’ while the why, what, and how ‘of the world’ keeps creeping in. 

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Tuesday
,
8
March
2022

Beadbi: Locating Irreverence amongst the Sikhs

In recent news and current events, “beadbi” has come to the forefront as a topic of discussion. But do we as Sikhs collectively understand what beadbi is, how it has been dealt with historically,...

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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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