Inni Kaur

Creative Director

Inni Kaur is Creative Director at the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI). She has served SikhRI in several capacities since 2010, including Chair of the Board, and most recently as CEO. 

She is a frequent speaker at community and interfaith events, the U.S. Office of the Pentagon Chaplin, and several universities. She is a passionate author, poet, and artist. Her published works include Journey with the Gurus, a children’s book series inspired by the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Sahib, Sakhi-Time with Nani ji, Thank-You Vahiguru, Daddy’s Turban, and The Story of Us.

She is passionately involved in transcreating Sabad (Infinite-Wisdom) and the writings of Bhai Vir Singh.

To Inni, every single day is a celebration. Her writing is inspired by that same outlook on life, as well as Sikh thought. While she writes anytime the spirit moves her, she thoroughly enjoys watching the clouds pass her, taking long mindful walks to appreciate nature’s innate beauty, and painting abstract artwork.

Inni Kaur resides with her family in the United States.

Videos

Thursday
,
4
April
2024

Countdown to Vaisakhi 2024: Inni Kaur

Inni Kaur, Creative Director at Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI), shares her thoughts on what she has been contemplating on this Vaisakhi.

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Thursday
,
18
January
2024

Explore Anand Sahib (Stanzas 31-40)

This composition explores the idea of bliss and how to achieve it. In the Sikh tradition, Anand Sahib is of such great significance that the entire composition or a portion (first five pauris and last pauri) is recited or sung to conclude all...

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Thursday
,
21
December
2023

Explore Anand Sahib (Stanzas 21-30)

This composition explores the idea of bliss and how to achieve it. In the Sikh tradition, Anand Sahib is of such great significance that the entire composition or a portion (first five pauris and last pauri) is recited or sung to conclude...

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Thursday
,
23
November
2023

Explore Anand Sahib (Stanzas 11-20)

Stanzas eleven to twenty of Anand Sahib by Guru Amardas Sahib delve into the pursuit of bliss, a concept of great significance in the Sikh tradition. Discover the joy within and experience the resonance of Rag Ramkali. Embrace the journey towards bliss...

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Thursday
,
26
October
2023

Explore Anand Sahib (Stanzas 1-10)

Delve into the profound wisdom behind the word 'anand,' as the Guru emphasizes that genuine bliss originates from eternal Wisdom, guiding seekers toward a joyful transformation.

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Thursday
,
22
June
2023

Guru Nanak Sahib: The Revolutionary - Shifting Paradigms

Inni Kaur explores the paradigm shift of Guru Nanak’s vision and revolution through secondary sources and historical examples.

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Podcasts

Thursday
,
12
August
2021

Episode 10: Keeping Promises

Do you know about Bhumi? The rich landlord from Dhaka, India? Well, if you don’t know of him, hit the play button. This is a sakhi you’re not going to want to miss. There’s a reason why Bhumi was so rich.

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Friday
,
30
July
2021

Ghazal Thirty, Divan-i-Goya | Bhai Nand Lal

Introducing Paigham-i-Goya: Expression of Love, new translations of a selection of ghazals from Bhai Nand Lal “Goya.” Today’s podcast begins with a recitation of Bhai Nand Lal’s ghazal in Persian, followed by a new English transcreation, the result of a unique collaboration between Dr. Fatima Fayyaz and Dr. Nadhra Khan of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Damanpreet Singh, writer, and graduate student, and Inni Kaur of SikhRI, followed by a discussion between Daman and Inni about the beauty of the ghazal and the transcreation process. Follow Damanpreet and Inni as they discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of Bhai Nand Lal. The unique and symbolic meanings that these ghazals reveal are a treat for those who yearn to get a glimpse into the court of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Author: Bhai Nand Lal “Goya” Collection: Divan-i-Goya Transcreators: Fatima Fayyaz, Inni Kaur, Nadhra Khan, and Damanpreet Singh Persian Narrator: Gholamhossein Sajadi English Narrator: Ryan Gillis Persian کسی به حالِ‌ غریبان بی نوا نرسد از آنکه هیچ بدان کوی دلربا نرسد هزار خلد برین را به نیم جو نخرند!‌ رسیده ایم به جایی که بادشاه نرسد طبیبِ عشق چنین گفته است می گویند به حالِ‌ درد غریبان به جز خدا نرسد برای روشنی چشمِ‌ دل اگر خواهی! به خاکِ درگه او هیچ توتیا نرسد به یادِ دوست توان عمر را بسر بردن که در برابرِ آن هیچ کیمیا نرسد تمامِ دولتِ گیتی فدای خاکِ درش که تا فداش نگردد کسی به جا نرسد فدای خاکِ درش می شود از آن گویا که هر که خاک نگردد به مدعا نرسد English Translation No one looks after the state of the helpless wanderers, As no one ever reaches the Beloved’s lane. A thousand heavens are not worth half a grain of barley, As where we are is far beyond the reach of monarchs. The one who is called the physician of love is known to have said, That no one but God can heal the pain of these wanderers. If you want to light up the heart’s eye, The finest kohl is no match to the dust of His threshold. It’s worth spending one’s life remembering the Beloved, As there is no alchemy equivalent to that. All the world’s wealth can be given up for the dust of His door, As unless one surrenders to Him, no one reaches anywhere. Goya surrenders to the dust of His door, As the destination cannot be reached unless one turns into dust.

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Thursday
,
15
July
2021

Episode 9: Vahiguru Is Everywhere

The next sakhi takes us to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Around the year 1525, Guru ji and Bhai Mardana arrived in Mecca. Guru ji’s interaction with the qazi (a Muslim scholar) was very shaky at first because the qazi thought Guru ji was disrespectful.

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Thursday
,
1
July
2021

Episode 8: Protecting the Rights of Others

Vahiguru exists in everyone – even in those who don’t embody what Guru ji stood for. Surprisingly, mean people also have Vahiguru in them; they just have forgotten that. All they need is a special reminder from a place of love that Vahiguru is in them.

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Monday
,
28
June
2021

Ghazal Twenty-Five, Divan-i-Goya | Bhai Nand Lal

Follow Damanpreet and Inni as they discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of Bhai Nand Lal.

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Friday
,
4
June
2021

Guru Teghbahadar Sahib Voices: O Mind! Transcend - Inni Kaur | The Sikh Cast | SikhRI

Journey with Inni Kaur as she shares her learnings from the three Sabads of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib in Rag Devgandhari through Bhai Vir Singh’s expositions. Transcendence lies not in the wishful disappearance of opposition from without but in the resolution within to disregard and rise above it. How do we rise from the fragmented universe of our fears? How do we rejuvenate from within to attain the fullest human stature? 

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Articles

Friday
,
4
August
2023

Journey to The Gur Sikh Temple

The article explores the captivating journey to The Gur Sikh Temple (Gurduara) in Abbotsford, BC, a revered National Historic Site.

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Monday
,
19
December
2022

The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh - Rana Surat Singh

When the Guru-oriented being attains all three—Nam, dan, isnan—this is what happens. Realization dawns and the being recognizes the self as the observer.

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Monday
,
12
December
2022

The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh - Rana Surat Singh

Love does not emerge through dedicated practice or method. Remembrance is one form of love. Contemplating remembrance develops love. Contemplating virtues, contemplating Nam (Divine-Identification, ਨਾਮ), is also a form of love.

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Monday
,
5
December
2022

The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh - Rana Surat Singh

Bhai Vir Singh’s poem “Rana Surat Singh” unveils the mysteries of mystical love via 14,270 lines of verse in thirty-five cantos. The poem artistically presents a passionate vision of a world beyond the divisions of time and space.

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Tuesday
,
8
November
2022

The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

Guru Nanak Sahib and the Jogi narrative is from Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh’s book, "Guru Nanak Chamatkar". The dialogue occurs at the hermitage of an ascetic sect residing in South India's Kanji Forest.

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Monday
,
31
October
2022

I Remember…

Genocide doesn’t happen in isolation. It is a combination of deep-seated hatred and racism. There are many who will deny the 1984 Genocide. But I remember…

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

Inni Kaur
 is not presenting at any upcoming events as of yet. Explore our upcoming events.