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
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - Why did Guru Nanak Sahib introduce IkOankar?

Guru Nanak Sahib's introduction of IkOankar is discussed.This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

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Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - How would Guru Nanak Sahib respond in today’s Social Media?

Social media plays a heavy role in the world we live in today, it's interesting to think about what Guru Nanak Sahib's perspective on it would be.This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

watch now ⟶
Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - How shall we celebrate #Nanakshahi550?

Harinder Singh details the importance of #nanakshahi550 and how people as individuals and communities should commemorate it. This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

watch now ⟶
Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - Wasn’t Guru Nanak Sahib Peaceful?

The topic of Guru representation is discussed by Gursahiba “Sahiba” Kaur and Harinder Singh. This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

watch now ⟶
Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - What is the purpose of Guru Nanak Sahib’s advent?

Harinder Singh explores the purpose of Guru Nanak Sahib's advent. This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

watch now ⟶
Thursday
,
29
August
2019

#nanakshahi550 - Why did Guru Nanak Sahib choose Bhai Lahina as the next Guru?

Harinder Singh speaks about Guru Nanak Sahib's decision to make Bhai Lahina the next Guru. This video series attempts to shatter the prevailing image of Guru Nanak Sahib as a peaceful saint.

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Podcasts

Thursday
,
8
September
2022

1947: South Asia, Panjab & Sikhs

Several new South Asian nation-states were born as the British Raj ended in 1947.

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Thursday
,
12
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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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? How does it relate to the reverence Sikhs collectively show to the Guru Granth Sahib? And how, given recent cases in the news, can we understand individual and collective responses given the current realities on the ground?

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Friday
,
11
February
2022

Dan: Sikhi & Giving

Join us in conversation with Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur as we try to understand Dan from a Gurmat (Guru’s Way) perspective, as inferred from Bani (wisdom), Tavarikh (history), and Rahit (lifestyle). 

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Friday
,
17
December
2021

Shukrana, Shahadat & Dat: The Real Gift

There is a deeply profound sentiment tied to martyrdom in Sikhi as well as in many other faiths groups. Throughout the ages, we have seen challenging circumstances of oppression that have chosen to desecrate the bodies of those who address it. 

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Monday
,
18
October
2021

3Gs: Guru, Gurgaddi, Granth

In this conversation, we discuss the Sikh context of what Guru is, “Gurgaddi” as the enthronement to the status of the Guru in Sikh tradition, and how the eternal co-Guruship came about by the Command of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib to Granth-Panth.

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Articles

Friday
,
14
January
2022

Dan: Sikhi, Nonprofits & Giving

As the world becomes more interconnected, we understand how some have an abundance of monetary wealth, and others do not, and the more we understand the various needs unaddressed in our backyards and abroad.

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Monday
,
22
November
2021

Sultan-ul Duniya Wal-Akhirat: Guru Teghbahadar Sahib

What is the Guru’s grandeur? Why was the Guru martyred? How did the two contemporary texts document the Guru’s narrative?

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Wednesday
,
21
July
2021

Miri-Piri: The Spiritual-Political Sikh Doctrine

Miri comes from Perso-Arabic “Amir” or “Emir” and signals political power. Piri comes from the Perso-Arabic “Pir” and signals spiritual power. Miri-Piri encapsulates the Political-Spiritual doctrine in Sikhi, rooted in both the worldly and the timeless...

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Sunday
,
14
March
2021

Nanakshahi: Calendar & ‘Era of Nanak the Sovereign’

For the Sikhs globally, 1 Cet 553 is the Nanakshahi new year’s day. Cet or Chet is the month. 553 is the Nanakshahi year. Do you know about Nanakshahi?

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Wednesday
,
10
February
2021

Baj: The Hawk and The Sikhs

This essay locates and contextualizes the hawk in foundational Sikh texts, history, and lifestyle. It also connects how Baj in Khalsa tradition affects the Sikh psyche when the people see it.

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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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