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.
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.
Listen as Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur explore Miri-Piri from a Gurmat (Guru’s Way) perspective, as inferred from Bani (wisdom), Tavarikh (history), and Rahit (lifestyle). Event moderated by Manvinder Kaur.
Join Harinder Singh and Manpreet Singh as they discuss 1984 and explore its parallels with human rights movements today.
This conversation touches upon lessons and guidance to the Sikh community on how to pursue advocacy, long-term strategies, and building coalitions via both positive and not so positive case studies from the Afghan-Sikh crisis to the Farmers movement.
Harinder Singh speaks about the Sikh historical narratives that live in the psyche of the Guru Khalsa Panth, the flag-bearers of the Sikh collective.
Harinder Singh and Manpreet Singh talk about what happened 100 years ago at Nankana Sahib.
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 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.
With all attention currently on the debt ceiling in the US, the faith community is calling on leadership to save money through addressing the wasteful costs of incarcerating 2.3 million Americans.
Understanding Dr. Iqbal’s perspectives on Guru Nanak Sahib and the Khalsa, his interactions with Sirdar Kapur Singh and his favorite compositions from the Guru Granth Sahib.
Guru Arjan Sahib was martyred as per the orders of Emperor Jahangir on 30 May 1606.
The June 1984 army action on the Golden Temple complex – Sri Harimandar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib – was a tipping point in the Sikh and Indian history 33 years ago.
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.