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

Sunday
,
5
June
2016

1984: After the Darkness

1984: After the Darkness - June-November in Personal Memory - Genocide in Collective Sikh Psyche - Confronting Injustice with Light-Love

watch now ⟶
Tuesday
,
15
September
2015

Adi Granth Establishment at Harimandar Sahib - A Talk by Harinder Singh

Harinder Singh speaks at Sikh Dharamsal in San Antonio. He takes us back in time during Guru Arjan Patshah's and Bhai Gurdas Ji's time when they established the Adi Grant at Harimandar Sahib. "Gur Bin Gyan Na Hoye" Guru Granth sahib is meant to be a source of knowledge only or more than that? We know how and what of Guru Granth Sahib Ji but do we know the answer to the why’s? Why did Guru Arjan Sahib compiled Granth Sahib?

watch now ⟶
Thursday
,
11
June
2015

Guru Arjan Sahib's Martyrdom

Harinder Singh explains why Guru Arjan Sahib was tortured and martyred. The martyrdom took place under the orders of Emperor Jahangir during the second year of his reign.

watch now ⟶
Friday
,
8
May
2015

Vaisakhi: Panjabi Festival to Sikh Ideals

Harinder Singh at PAMA | Brampton ON, Canada - Celebrating Sikh Heritage Month (2015)

watch now ⟶
Tuesday
,
14
April
2015

Vaisakhi | Khalsa | Panth

The presentation looks at the roots of the word, idea and institution that Khalsa is, in the context of Vaisakhi and beyond.

watch now ⟶

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.

watch now ⟶
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.

watch now ⟶
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.

watch now ⟶
Tuesday
,
28
August
2018

Words of Faith - Har

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

watch now ⟶
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

watch now ⟶
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

watch now ⟶

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.

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
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?

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
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...

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
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?

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
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.

This is some text inside of a div block.
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.

Learn More ⟶