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.
Join Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur as they reflect on the life and legacy of Jaswant Singh Khalra, popular narratives around him, and the lesser-known facts about his work.
In Sikhi, free will exists within a larger Divine framework. Imagine a picture frame: you choose what to place inside but cannot change the frame itself. You don’t get to change cosmic laws or physical laws.
The word Nanak, which refers to Guru Nanak Sahib, the founder of the Sikh faith, appears throughout Guru Granth Sahib. It denotes the contributor or revealer of a composition, functioning as a “signature” used by Guru Nanak Sahib and the rest of...
Maya, in the Guru Granth Sahib, refers to temporary relationships and possessions that constantly change. While they are gifts from the eternal One, attachment to them amplifies I-ness (Ego). By recognizing their impermanence and not becoming attached, on
What is the foundational purpose of Akal Takht Sahib, and to whom does its authority truly belong?
In Sikhi, death is the end of our journey on earth. Unlike some traditions that focus on heaven, hell, or reincarnation, Sikhi emphasizes living a life of love and connection with the Divine.
73 years ago, two nation-states were carved by the British mapmaking: Hindustan and Pakistan. The historical Sikh Homeland in The Panjab was divided by the Radcliffe line. In now truncated Indian Panjab, a proportion of the Sikhs led many campaigns to fight for economic, political, state, human, and religious rights. What’s next to secure the Sikh aspirations and the Panjab’s autonomy?
The principle of Miri-Piri is often encapsulated with the two crossed swords in today's Sikh consciousness, one representing the political spirit of the Sikhs and the other representing the spiritual.
In the tenth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib declares that identifying with the attributes and existence of the 1 eliminates fear.
In the ninth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib declares that the One Divine will remain fully capable of destroying and creating.
In the eighth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib questions how That One can be said to be in one human form.
In the seventh composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib locates the Creator as the Death; there is no god or messenger of death to fear.
In the sixth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib calls on his 1-Beloved-Friend on behalf of the Khalsa in the forests of Machhiwara.
In the fifth composition of the “Sabad Hajare Patisahi 10” (popularly Shabad Hazare Patshahi 10) series, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib emphatically declares that anyone created or formed by the 1 cannot be confused with the 1 and...
Join us for an upcoming event commemorating Guru Teghbahadar Sahib: The Ninth Sovereign with SikhRI speaker Harinder Singh.
Harinder Singh of SikhRI will be speaking at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan in New Delhi.
Experience an afternoon of inspiring stories, meaningful conversation, and a collective vision for a brighter future. Together, let’s build a lasting impact.