Dr. Mohinder Singh, a renowned Sikh scholar, was born on 23rd November 1941 in Haripur District
(now in Pakistan). He did his M.A. (History) with first class from Punjabi University and Ph.D. from
University of Delhi. He started his career teaching History at SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi (1968-
79) and afterwards taught at Punjabi University, Patiala. He served as Director, Guru Nanak Foundation,
New Delhi (1982-90);Member, National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities, Government
of India, (2005-07);Member National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Government of
India (2010-2014). Currently he is Professor of Eminence in the Deptt. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi
University, Patiala, and Director, National Institute of Panjab Studies, BhaiVir Singh SahityaSadan, New
Delhi.
As Dr. Singh has held many prestigious positions wherein he has played an important role in protecting
the interest of minorities including Sikhs, he becomes a role-model in this regard. His teaching of Sikh
history to a large number of students has also motivated many of them to understand the unique features
of Sikh religion. He has lectured on Sikh studies at several Indian and foreign universities and was Visiting
Professor of Sikhism in the Dept. of Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara. He had the
rare privilege of representing Sikhism in several international events and was given audience by the Queen
during Commonwealth Observation Day in London in 1975, audience with H.H. the Dalai Lama, audience
with Archbishop of Canterburyand audience with H.H. Pope Francis duringPrayer for Peace in Vatican in
October, 2013 and Sept. 2016.
Dr. Singh’s role as a Director of BhaiVir Singh SahityaSadan, Delhi, which was established in 1958 in the
memory of BhaiVir Singh, has been of paramount importance. With Dr. Manmohan Singh as President and
Dr. J.S. Neki as General Secretary of the Sadan, Dr. Mohinder Singh took the initiative of establishingGuru
Granth Sahib Resource Centre, which has emerged as major repository of tangible Sikh heritage. His initiative
has led to publication and translation of a number of rare works of BhaiVir Singh. Dr.Singh organized
various national and international seminars, most important of them being International Seminar on `Guru
Granth Sahib and its Context’ in 2005; `Pluralistic Vision of Guru Granth Sahib’ in 2010 and International
Seminar on `Guru Gobind Singh: Life & Legacy’in November, 2016. Dr. Singh has played a notable role in
promoting Punjabi language, literature and history and culture of Panjab. His email is: s.mohinder@gmail.
com.
