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

Sunday
,
6
December
2020

Bhai Vir Singh: His Fragrance Travels Through Centuries

Scholar Dr. Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, author, poet, and artist, Inni Kaur, and educator, Surinder Singh discuss the poetry, Gurbani, and the inspiration of Bhai Vir Singh.

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Saturday
,
14
November
2020

Stories That Transform Children

Watch the entire conversation with social entrepreneur and children’s book author, Deanna Singh, writer, scholar, and activist, Simran Jeet Singh, and author, poet, and artist, Inni Kaur.

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Monday
,
15
June
2020

Babanian Kahanian Divas

This drop-in live webinar is made just for children! Join us as we welcome various guest presenters to engage with Sabad, sakhi, story-telling, poetry, puzzles, art, and much more.

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Sunday
,
10
May
2020

Blessed Mothers

Celebrate Mother’s Day while social distancing as we engage in conversation with Inni Kaur, Neelu Kaur, Mandeep Kaur, and Sharanjeet Kaur to discuss how Sikhi has informed their ideas of motherhood, their challenges, and their triumphs. 

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Tuesday
,
11
June
2019

Don't Ask – Inni Kaur #Remembering1984

Don't Ask. Poem by Inni KaurDon’t ask, my daughter what happened in 1984.These wounds are still raw don’t touch them.

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Sunday
,
15
July
2018

Journey with the Gurus — Volume 1

A story-time session with Inni Kaur. In this webinar, Inni Kaur reads “Nuri’s Awakening,” from Journey with the Gurus, Volume 3. All you need to enjoy this webinar is your imagination, a blanket, and a stuffed toy! “You are a spark of the Light of Ik Oankar. I want you to remember that the Light of Ik Oankar lives within you….” said Guruji Audience: Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and children who love to hear stories! About the Presenter: Inni Kaur is a passionate author, poet, story-teller, and painter. She is the author of the children’s book series, Journey with the Gurus that is inspired by the life and teachings of Guru Nanak. Her other children’s books are Sakhi-Time with Nani Ji and Thank-You, Vahiguru. To Inni, every single day is a celebration. While she writes anytime the spirit moves her to, she also thoroughly enjoys watching the clouds pass her by, taking long mindful walks to appreciate nature’s innate beauty, and painting abstract artwork Learn more about Journey with the Gurus here: http://www.journeywiththegurus.com

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Podcasts

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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Thursday
,
27
May
2021

Episode 7: Remembering Vahiguru’s Beautiful Creation

The next sakhi in our series takes us to the town of Puri, in India. The Mayor of the town invited Guru ji and Bhai Mardana to listen to Aarti , a special prayer performed by the priests. Guru ji happily accepted.

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Wednesday
,
19
May
2021

Ghazal Twelve, 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 امشب به تماشای رخ یار توان رفت سوی بتِ عاشق کشِ عیار توان رفت در کوچه عشق ارچه محال است رسیدن منصور صفت با قدم دار توان رفت ای دل به سوی مدرسه گر میل نداری! باری به سوی خانه خمار توان رفت چون خاطرم از عشق تو شد رشکِ گلستان بیهوده چرا جانب گلزار توان رفت ای دل چو شدی واقف اسرار الهی در سینه ام ای مخزنِ اسرار توان رفت صد روضه رضوان است چو در خانه شگفته گویا به چه سوی در و دیوار توان رفت English Translation Tonight one may proceed to gaze upon the Beloved’s face, Towards the one who is mysteriously merciless towards the lover. Although it is impossible to arrive at the lane of love, One may walk towards the gallows in the footsteps of Mansur. Oh heart, if you don’t desire to go to a seminary, You may proceed towards a wine-house once. As your love has made my imagination the envy of a blooming garden, Why may one proceed towards the garden then? Oh heart, since you are aware of divine secrets, I can proceed within myself, oh treasure of secrets. A hundred paradisiacal gardens have bloomed in the house. Goya: why should one proceed elsewhere?

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Articles

Monday
,
28
June
2021

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the twenty-fifth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.

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Friday
,
4
June
2021

Guru Teghbahadar Sahib Voices: O Mind! Transcend

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?

This is some text inside of a div block.
Read more ⟶
Wednesday
,
19
May
2021

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the twelfth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.

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Wednesday
,
14
April
2021

Vaisakhi & I

Explore the spiritual journey of Inni Kaur as she reflects on the profound significance of Vaisakhi, drawing parallels between the historical events of 1699 and her path of self-discovery.

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Monday
,
29
March
2021

Paigham-i-Goya: An Expression of Love

A new translation and brief essay on the eighth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.

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Monday
,
8
March
2021

Shadow

Embedded in my consciousness are scars that I have borne through the centuries. Deep as they were, deep as they are, Light penetrated, and the healing began.

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

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