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.
Through Babar Bani presentation explores the nexus between religion, society, politics at large and the Divine Will, as seen by Guru Nanak Sahib. It builds upon the relationship of a state vis-à-vis other states, civilians and the wider issues of human rights and morality. It tries to address question like, why a Divine remembering self- awakened individual is central to the idea of a dignified and sovereign society; what should be the duty of truly religious individuals and their role in the larger world politics? Finding contemporary parallels and learning lessons!
Everyone says they are panthak or panthic (committed towards the betterment of the Panth) while the allegiance is varying. The presentation will include: Guiding Principle form Gurbani, Panthak Mind & Cordialness, Exploring Criterion in History, Understanding State Roles, and Lessons for Today.
This is the story of an ascetic living in a remote Monastery established on the banks of Godavari in Nanded, who became the disciple of tenth Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. He challenged the might of the powerful Mughals Empire, and went on to establish the rule of the Khalsa within a very short span of time. This is an inspirational story of commitment, humility, courage, dedication and sacrifice.
On the centennial of the Anand Marriage Act, Sikh Research Institute is making available preliminary resources aimed at drawing attention to the ratification of this historic legislation, as well as to impart to young Sikh couples the significance of the Sikh marriage ceremony.
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...
This composition by Bhagat Ravidas is in Rag Siri, an ancient musical mode sung at dusk. Its mood is majestic, reflective, and meditative.
Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) has released its sixth report in the State of the Panth series titled Sikhi & Sexuality, exploring how Sikhi has influenced the collective behavior of the Sikhs when it comes to sex, pleasure, and procreation.
On September 20th, of this year, the Indian government passes a farming reform bill that makes sweeping changes in agricultural practices throughout the country. What has followed since then are mass protests by farmers alleging that the changes threaten their livelihood. Manpreet Singh and Harinder Singh come together to discuss what and why this is happening now, what is in the bill and what this could mean for the future of farmers in India.
Hear Harinder Singh and Surinder Singh Jodhka in a cross-continental conversation on historical and contemporary caste dynamics through the life and times of Giani Dit Singh.
The Sabad opens with a poignant tale of selflessness, where one assumes the role of a disguiser to protect the honor of the king's daughter. Despite harboring lustful and selfish desires, the individual's act preserves honor, highlighting the...
The imagery of "Be-gam-pura" conveys a city free from grief, fear, and oppression—a place of eternal sovereignty and stability. This vision is not of a distant afterlife but a present reality available through inner realization.
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.
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,...
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.
What is the Guru’s grandeur? Why was the Guru martyred? How did the two contemporary texts document the Guru’s narrative?
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...
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?
There is an inherent connection that already exists for all of us with the Divine. We do that through heritage, ancestry, and culture. Why embrace Sikhi? How did our elders do? What can I do to explore?