Punjab: Understanding the Literature of Guru Gobind Singh
Punjab: Among Sikh scholars worldwide, Guru Gobind Singh is seen as a transformative and fearless military leader who integrated spiritual order and political responsibility and laid the moral foundation of the Khalsa Panth. While much is known about the 10th Sikh Guru, many layers remain undiscovered. Sharing insights into Guru Gobind Singh’s life and perspectives through readings written by those close to him, Sikh scholar Harinder Singh, author and co-founder of the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI), recently conducted a session at Khalsa College here, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational resources that help connect Sikhs with Sikh principles and thought.
In the lecture, Singh interacted with Gunbir Singh, Secretary of the Khalsa College Governing Council, and Indu Arora, President of the Voice of Amritsar. He began the conversation by noting how Guru Gobind Singh’s life was unparalleled, dedicated to the welfare and well-being of humanity. “Such a life becomes a source of inspiration for us, in which we abandon self-interest and work for humanity,” he said, explaining that such teachings are the core of Sikhism. The US-based scholar is working to increase awareness and education on panthic knowledge and issues among Sikhs worldwide through various initiatives, including the Punjab Digital Library.
In his new book, “Guru Gobind Singh Sahib: Life, Vision, and Philosophy,” Singh has combined 10 compositions by “Sabad Hazare” with poems by Bhai Nand Lal Goya and Chandra Sai Saipati, offering readers a unique glimpse into the world of the Guru’s “Sabad,” literature, sovereignty, and spiritual depth. Sharing his thoughts, Harinder Singh also spoke about several projects related to Gurbani being carried out under the Sikh Research Institute to simplify the teachings of the Gurus and integrate them into the mainstream education system. Speaking about the book ‘Guru Gobind Singh Sahib’, he said that Gurbani and several religious texts of the Gurus have been reinterpreted to connect the youth and today’s readers with spiritual values.
