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Dan: Sikhi & Giving

Join us in conversation with Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur as we try to understand Dan from a Gurmat (Guru’s Way) perspective, as inferred from Bani (wisdom), Tavarikh (history), and Rahit (lifestyle). 

Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) has released its eighth report in the State of the Panth series titled Dan: Sikhi & Giving, exploring what it means to give in a Sikh context, how giving is understood throughout Sikh history, and how it is understood by Sikhs today. The report traces conceptions of giving, charity, and philanthropy through their development, institutionalization, and application over a period of 553 years, from the Guru period to the present day.

What is giving, or Dan, in Sikh understanding? How have Sikhs historically understood and applied Nam-Dan-Isnan doctrine to their individual contexts through time? How is giving understood in Sikh institutions and organizations across India and the diaspora? How can we evaluate these institutions and organizations that are tasked with addressing the short-term and long-term needs of the Panth? How do we give thoughtfully and with purpose?

Join us in conversation with Harinder Singh and Jasleen Kaur as we try to understand Dan from a Gurmat (Guru’s Way) perspective, as inferred from Bani (wisdom), Tavarikh (history), and Rahit (lifestyle).

In This Podcast

Harinder Singh

Senior Fellow, Research & Policy
Senior Fellow, Research & Policy

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. 

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Jasleen Kaur

Research Associate
Research Associate

Jasleen Kaur is a Research Associate at the Sikh Research Institute. She has received a Religious Studies B.A./M.A. from the University of Virginia, focusing on South Asian Religions through the lens of literature and poetry.

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Manvinder Kaur

Webinar Coordinator
Webinar Coordinator

Manvinder Kaur is the webinar coordinator at SikhRI. She holds a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from McMaster University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto.

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