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.
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib was the 10th and last Guru of the Sikhs in a line of Prophets stretching from the 15th to the early 18th century that resulted in the formation of Sikhi: New Faith and its Followers.
In the melodic strains of Rag Gond, Guru Ramdas Sahib's Sabad resonates with a triumphant yet humble spirit, reflecting a balanced perspective on spiritual attainment.
My mind burns deeply for All-Pervasive’s experience, as the thirsty without water. 1. My mind is pierced by the arrow of All-Pervasive’s love. My All-Pervasive Divine knows my pain, my mind’s internal pain. Reflect. Whoever tells my All-Pervasive Beloved’s narrative is my Bhai1, my brother. 2. Girl-friends, unite, unite, imbibe the resolute wisdom of the Eternal Guru, Recount the virtues of my Divine. 3. O! All-Pervasive, fulfill servant Nanak’s wish, Seeing All-Pervasive, body quietens. 4. Honorific title in Sikh tradition for the eminent narrators of the Guru. Guru Ramdas Sahib in Rag Gond | Guru Granth Sahib 861 ਗੋਂਡ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਕਉ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਬਹੁ ਤਪਤੈ ਜਿਉ ਤ੍ਰਿਖਾਵੰਤੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਨੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਮੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੁ ਲਗੋ ਹਰਿ ਤੀਰ ॥ ਹਮਰੀ ਬੇਦਨ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਪੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਬਾਤ ਸੁਨਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਭਾਈ ਸੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਬੀਰ ॥੨॥ ਮਿਲੁ ਮਿਲੁ ਸਖੀ ਗੁਣ ਕਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਲੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਧੀਰ ॥੩॥ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਹਰਿ ਆਸ ਪੁਜਾਵਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਸਰੀਰ ॥੪॥੬॥
To the world, he is Bhai Vir Singh, the “Sixth River of Panjab.” To me, he is simply Pitaji. There are no family or blood ties, but there is a bond that transcends time and space.
This Sakhi is an excerpt from "Journey with the Gurus" volume 3 by Inni Kaur.
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 بدر در پیشِ رخت شرمنده است بلکه خورشیدِ جهان هم بنده است چشمِ ما هرگز بغیر از حق ندید ای خوشا چشمی که حق بیننده است ما نمی لافیم از زهد و ریا گر گنه گاریم حق بخشنده است دیگری را از کجا آریم ما شور در عالم یکی افگنده است حرفِ غیر از حق نیاید هیچ گاه بر لبِ گویا که حق بخشنده است English Translation Before Your face, the full moon is embarrassed. Rather, the sun of the universe too is a slave. Our eyes witness nothing but the Truth-Divine. Oh, fortunate is the eye that beholds the Divine. Neither do we flaunt piety nor do we indulge in hypocrisy. If we are sinners, the Divine is the forgiver. From where would we bring another? The world reverberates with echoes of Oneness. Nothing is ever uttered except Truth-Divine. By the lips of Goya, as the Divine is the forgiver.
Through this conversation, we imagine futures in which we move beyond the mere recognition of gendered differences and enact attention on reducing gender disparities while paying homage to the strides we have already made.
Follow along as Inni Kaur delves deep into the human experience, from the dark scores of negativity to the peaks of light.
Introducing Paigam-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 دین و دنیا در کمندِ آن پری رخسارِ ما هر دو عالم قیمتِ یک تارِ موی یارِ ما ما نمی آریم تاب غمزهٔ مژگانِ او یک نگاهِ جان فزایش بس بود در کارِ ما گاه صوفی گاه زاهد گه قلندر می شود رنگ های مختلف دارد بت عیارِ ما قدرِ لعل او بجز عاشق نداند هیچ کس قیمتِ یاقوت داند چشمِ گوهربارِ ما هر نفس گویا به یادِ نرگسِ مخمورِ او باده های شوق می نوشد دلِ هشیارِ ما English Translation My angel-faced Beloved holds the reins of the temporal and celestial worlds. These two worlds are worth just a single strand of my Beloved’s hair. We cannot bear the allure of that gaze. One rejuvenating glance would be enough for our lifetime. Sometimes a sūfī¹, sometimes a zāhid², at others a qalandar³; Our unfathomable Beloved has many tints and shades. Who, except the lover, would know the worth of [Beloved’s] red gems? But our eyes that shed pearls are aware of the value of rubies. In the memory of [Beloved’s] intoxicating eyes, Goya, with every breath; Our wakeful hearts sip on the nectar of longing.
Introducing Paigam-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 هوای بندگی آورد در وجود مرا وگرنه زوقِ چنین آمدن نبود مرا خوش است عمر که در یاد بگذرد ورنه چه حاصل است ازین گنبدِ کبود مرا در آن زمان که نیایی بیاد می میرم بغیر یادِ تو زیستن چه سود مرا فداست جان و دلِ من بخاک مردمِ پاک هر آن کس که بسوی تو ره نمود مرا نبود هیچ نشانها ز آسمان و زمین که شوقِ روی تو آورد در سجود مرا بغیر یادِ تو گویا نمی توانم زیست به سوی دوست رھایی دهند زود مرا English Translation I am brought into existence by the embrace of the winds of reverence-bondage. I would not have desired to come into this world, otherwise. Joyous is the life spent in Your remembrance, and if not: What else do I gain from this blue vault? I die when I do not remember You. Besides Your remembrance, what do I gain from living? I surrender my heart-mind to the dust of those pious beings Who guide me towards You. When there was no sign of the sky or earth, It was desire for Your face that brought me into prostration. Goya: I cannot live without remembering You. May I be freed quickly to meet the Beloved.
Listen to this webinar with social entrepreneur and children’s book author, Deanna Singh, writer, scholar, and activist, Simran Jeet Singh, and author, poet, and artist, Inni Kaur.
A new translation and brief essay on the twenty-fifth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.
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?
A new translation and brief essay on the twelfth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.
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.
A new translation and brief essay on the eighth ghazal from Bhai Nand Lal’s Divan-i-Goya.
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.