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

Monday
,
2
June
2014

Mape-Niana: Parenting in Sikhi

On May 3, 2014, a seminar, 'Empowering Sikhi', was held to help educate and inspire youth and adults about different aspects of Sikhi and their lives. SikhRI members Harinder Singh and Kulvir Singh visited Gurdwara Mill Woods in Edmonton, AB, Canada, to conduct this seminar. This video is from the third session of the day. 

watch now ⟶
Saturday
,
3
May
2014

Vaisakhi: Panjabi Festival to Sikh Ideals

On May 3, 2014, a seminar, 'Empowering Sikhi', was held to help educate and inspire youth and adults about different aspects of Sikhi and their lives.

watch now ⟶
Wednesday
,
24
July
2013

Anti Sikh Programs in India

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 with the active support of majority community masses and the State machinery in November same year. The events completely shook the already eroding faith of Sikhs from India system. Many were seen scrambling for explanations in the immediate geo-political context. And the trend continues. The current presentation takes a step back and analyses the event by placing it in the socio-political, religious and ideological context of the Sikh tradition that stretches well beyond contemporary history and shows a how this was not an isolated event. It tries to explore the links behind theo-political status of Akal Takhat Sahib and repeated aggression of the State on it, a visible pattern consistent throughout Sikh history.

watch now ⟶
Saturday
,
6
July
2013

Will Spring Come?

Harinder Singh speaks about spring and Hola Mohalla at Bridgewater Gurdwara.

watch now ⟶
Sunday
,
30
June
2013

Guru Nanak Sahib Prakash Day

Harinder Singh speaks at the Garden State Sikh Association for Guru Nanak's Gurpurab on the topic "How to Feel Guru Nanak."

watch now ⟶

Podcasts

Tuesday
,
18
September
2018

Words of Faith - Sabad

Words of Faith: a new series explaining the recurring words in Guru Granth Sahib Sabad is vast. It is infinite wisdom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrdpd9FRRug --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-sikh-cast-sikhri/support

watch now ⟶
Tuesday
,
23
October
2018

State of the Panth Report: Gurduara

What’s the relationship between the Gurduara governance and the local sangat worldwide? We traced Gurduara’s history throughout the ages and surveyed the opinions of 1,172 self-identified Sikhs from 22 countries.

watch now ⟶
Wednesday
,
6
November
2019

What would Guru Nanak Sahib do in 1984?

What would Guru Nanak Sahib do in 1984? Listen to this discussion between Harinder Singh and the Sikh Cast host, Manpreet Singh.

watch now ⟶
Friday
,
14
February
2020

Love in Sikhi

Harinder Singh talks about Valentine's Day, the concept of Love in Sikhi, Martyrdom, the Lovers of Panjab and more.

watch now ⟶
Friday
,
27
March
2020

COVID-19, Kabul Attack & The Sikh Response – The Sikh Cast | SikhRI

Harinder Singh discusses how Sikhs need to respond to COVID-19 starting with healthcare in their own home and communities. A deadly attack on Sikhs took place in Afghanistan on 25 Mar 2020. We break down what really happened and how Sikhs can be prepared for the future.

watch now ⟶
Friday
,
5
June
2020

1984: The Devoted & The Worldly: Harinder Singh – The Sikh Cast | SikhRI

We're taking an in-depth look at the events of Operation Blue Star in 1984 in Amritsar, Panjab. It's considered the third Ghallughara, or massacre, in Sikh history. The Indian government assaulted the sacred Golden Temple Complex and Akal Takht. In this episode, SikhRI's Senior Fellow on Research and Policy speaks to a live audience to provide clarity and context on the operation and it's legacy on the Sikh community. He answers why the attack happened, it's the historical context and why the memory is kept alive in #Remember1984.

watch now ⟶

Articles

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,...

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

Presenting at Upcoming Events

Wed
,
Jan 8

Guru Nanak's Medicine for Life

Penrith Gurdwara

Join Harinder Singh as he discusses Guru Nanak Sahib's Medicine For Life.

Learn More ⟶
Sun
,
Jan 12

Guru Nanak's Medicine for Life

Deakin University, Building LC

Join Harinder Singh as he discusses Guru Nanak Sahib's Medicine For Life.

Learn More ⟶