Harmeet Shah Singh

When love and spiritual depth find expression in #kirtan, the soul is drawn in naturally. Kirtan has been performed with the harmonium for generations. Bhai Samund Singh, Bhai Santa Singh, Bhai Surjan Singh, Bhai Gopal Singh and Professor Darshan Singh are among the many examples. The harmonium itself is not an ancient #Sikh instrument. Yet it became a medium through which generations connected with the #Divine. The instrument could be a guitar, violin, traditional string instrument or the harmonium. It could also be the unaccompanied human voice, carrying the spiritual wonder and longing of #Gurbani. Even an ensemble of ancient instruments, without love at its heart, is merely singing. Today, at Khalsa Jatha Gurdwara in #London, I listened to this Bibi perform Kirtan. I found myself immersed in the divine Shabad. The guitar, tabla and violin, accompanied by her complete absorption with eyes closed, created something deeply moving. Her rendition opened the eyes of the soul. This is the spirit of Guru’s Kirtan. Kya baat 🙏 @ustaadji, afreen!

Pleased to share that I will be writing for NDTV as a London-based expert columnist, focusing on Punjab, diaspora and community affairs, and matters of faith. Looking forward to bringing perspectives shaped by my journalistic experience and community-related work across continents to NDTV’s readership.

#MooseWala’s ‘295’ is easy to embrace. Can #RahulGandhi own his ‘SYL’ and ‘Panjab’ tracks too? My column in NDTV. #Punjab #PunjabElections #Politics #Congress #SYL #Panjab

A bird’s-eye view of the US midterm elections, the setback for Trumpism, and its domestic and geopolitical implications. I also revisit the political immaturity of sections of the #Sikh diaspora who offered an Ardas for Trump’s presidency, only to see his administration deport Punjabi/Sikh immigrants in deeply inhuman conditions. Sharing my conversation in #Punjabi. #USElections #Trump

An issue that has resonated well beyond the #Sikh and #Punjab media circuit, and rightly so. The takeaway? Don’t rely on AI chatbots for #Gurbani citations. Go back to the sources you trusted before ChatGPT came along. Gurbani deserves that much care. The next step must be direct engagement with technology companies to ensure #AI systems are grounded in authoritative Sikh scriptural sources. #ArtificialIntelligence

A significant step towards addressing the challenges #AI poses to Gurbani. Glad to have briefed Singh Sahib Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj @J_SriAkalTakht on this issue during his London visit. What began as an effort to document AI-generated distortions is now attracting attention beyond community circles. The concern is straightforward: #chatbots are NOT reliably trained on Gurbani and should NOT be treated as authoritative sources for scriptural quotations or references. Engagement with Big Tech IS ESSENTIAL to ensure these systems draw upon authenticated Sikh religious sources when responding to queries about #Gurbani. #ArtificialIntelligence #religion timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…

AKAL TAKHT'S A.I. CRUSADE — CHATBOTS UNDER SCANNER During his Europe tour, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj announced plans to engage leading AI companies, including those in the Silicon Valley, to tackle AI-generated fabricated “Gurbani”. The announcement followed a briefing by UNITED SIKHS (UK) at London's historic Khalsa Jatha Gurdwara. The Jathedar also announced plans for authoritative digital Gurbani resources under Akal Takht supervision. Watch this video. ਆਪਣੇ ਯੂਰਪ ਦੌਰੇ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਜਥੇਦਾਰ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕੁਲਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਗੜਗੱਜ ਨੇ ਏਆਈ (ਆਰਟੀਫ਼ੀਸ਼ਲ ਇੰਟੈਲੀਜੈਂਸ) ਰਾਹੀਂ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਫੈਲਾਈ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਗ਼ਲਤ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਮਨਘੜਤ ਤੁਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਕਣ ਲਈ ਸਿਲੀਕਾਨ ਵੈਲੀ ਸਮੇਤ ਪ੍ਰਮੁੱਖ ਏਆਈ ਕੰਪਨੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਹ ਐਲਾਨ ਲੰਡਨ ਦੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਜਥਾ ਬ੍ਰਿਟਿਸ਼ ਆਇਲਜ਼ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿਖੇ UNITED SIKHS (UK) ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਗਈ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਜਥੇਦਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਨਿਗਰਾਨੀ ਹੇਠ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣਿਕ ਡਿਜੀਟਲ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਸਰੋਤ ਵਿਕਸਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਯੋਜਨਾ ਦਾ ਵੀ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਵੀਡੀਓ ਵੇਖੋ। #AI #artificialintelligence #gurbani #AkalTakht #AkalTakhtJathedar #Gurbani

As part of the Sangat, had the honour of welcoming the Akal Takht Jathedar, Singh Sahib Giani Kuldip Singh Ji Gargajj @J_SriAkalTakht, at the Khalsa Jatha British Isles Gurdwara in London, the oldest in Europe. Also had the opportunity to seek his gracious intervention in addressing the growing challenge of AI-generated distortions and hallucinations of Gurbani. From this historic gurdwara, Singh Sahib made significant announcements on safeguarding the authenticity and sanctity of Gurbani in the age of artificial intelligence. My thanks to @ustaadji, President of @khalsajatha, for his sterling efforts in facilitating this important gathering and creating the space for this interaction. Sharing some initial glimpses. Video follows shortly. #AkalTakhtSahib #JathedarAkalTakhtSahib #London #KhalsaJatha #AI #Gurbani #ArtificialIntelligence

I filed this first-person account of 1984 for CNN International seventeen years ago. Here I am, sharing it again. Have we reduced remembrance to an annual ritual? We revisit the horror, invoke the victims and move on. At what point does remembrance become a substitute for reckoning? I wonder. #1984 #SikhHistory #SikhGenocide #Sikhs #IndiraGandhi edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/a…

With Guru Ramdas Ji’s divine grace, I had the blessing of offering Kirtan Hazri today at Khalsa Jatha British Isles, London, home to Europe’s first Gurdwara, established in 1908. More than a century ago, Sikh pioneers in Britain created this spiritual sanctuary. To offer Gurbani Kirtan in this historic Darbar Sahib is always a deeply cherished experience. Accompanied on the tabla by Bhai Jobanpreet Singh Ji and on the vajja by Giani Deep Singh Ji, I share a few moments from today’s hazri. With gratitude @ustaadji 🙏 ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਜੀ ਕੇ ਪਦੇ ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ੴ ਸਤਿਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਮੇਰੀ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਪੋਚ ਸੋਚ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ॥ ਮੇਰਾ ਕਰਮੁ ਕੁਟਿਲਤਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਕੁਭਾਂਤੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਾਮ ਗੁਸਈਆ ਜੀਅ ਕੇ ਜੀਵਨਾ ॥ ਮੋਹਿ ਨ ਬਿਸਾਰਹੁ ਮੈ ਜਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਮੇਰੀ ਹਰਹੁ ਬਿਪਤਿ ਜਨ ਕਰਹੁ ਸੁਭਾਈ ॥ ਚਰਣ ਨ ਛਾਡਉ ਸਰੀਰ ਕਲ ਜਾਈ ॥੨॥ ਕਹੁ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਪਰਉ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਾਭਾ ॥ ਬੇਗਿ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਜਨ ਕਰਿ ਨ ਬਿਲਾਂਬਾ ॥੩॥੧॥ {ਅੰਗ 345} रागु गउड़ी रविदास जी के पदे गउड़ी गुआरेरी ੴ सतिनामु करता पुरखु गुरप्रसादि ॥ मेरी संगति पोच सोच दिनु राती ॥ मेरा करमु कुटिलता जनमु कुभांती ॥१॥ राम गुसईआ जीअ के जीवना ॥ मोहि न बिसारहु मै जनु तेरा ॥१॥ रहाउ॥ मेरी हरहु बिपति जन करहु सुभाई ॥ चरण न छाडउ सरीर कल जाई ॥२॥ कहु रविदास परउ तेरी साभा ॥ बेगि मिलहु जन करि न बिलांबा ॥३॥१॥ Video Courtesy: Sumeet Chauhan from the Sangat. #spirituality #kirtan #khalsajatha #london #Sikhi #Gurbani

The outsider problem… from the Anglosphere to back home in Punjab. A frank, no-holds-barred conversation on rising anti-immigrant and racist sentiment across the Anglosphere, its impact on Sikhs, and an uncomfortable parallel closer to home… unease with “outsiders” in Punjab and with newly arrived Punjabi migrants among sections of the diaspora. An honest look at prejudice, belonging, and the contradictions. ਐਂਗਲੋਸਫੀਅਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਰਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਵਧ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਭਾਵਨਾਵਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਨਸਲਵਾਦ ’ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਬੇਬਾਕ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ। ਇਸ ਦਾ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ’ਤੇ ਪੈ ਰਿਹਾ ਅਸਰ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਘਰੇ ਪਣਪਦੀ ਅਸਹਿਜ ਹਕੀਕਤ ’ਤੇ ਵੀ ਚਰਚਾ... ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ‘ਬਾਹਰਲਿਆਂ’ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਪਰਵਾਸੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਕੁਝ ਹਿੱਸਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਵੇਂ ਆਏ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪਰਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਹੀ ਰਵੱਈਆ। ਪੱਖਪਾਤ, ਅਪਣੱਤ ਅਤੇ ਸਾਡੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰਲੇ ਵਿਰੋਧਾਭਾਸਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਇੱਕ ਇਮਾਨਦਾਰ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ। #immigration #diaspora #sikhs #france #canada #UK

At the Sikh Investors Club Autumn Forum at the Chamberlain Hotel, London. Encouraging to see enterprise, capital, and thought leadership converging, driven by a new generation of community professionals with a forward-looking economic outlook. @ustaadji #genz #business #Entrepreneurship #UK #London

Gen Z, Gen Zoom! #London sat in, #Toronto hosted, and #Punjabi did the talking on PTC. Joined journalist Jaideep Singh on Canada Insight to decode the Gen Z phenomenon. Watch the conversation. #GenZ #cockroaches #CJP #India #PTC

Why are we, the WhatsApp University alumni, a done bro? Excerpts from a Punjabi conversation on Gen Z, hosted by seasoned political editor @GurKuleria. #GenZ #cjp #cockroaches #india #france #UK

Why an increasingly insular #Punjab is inhospitable terrain for the Cockroaches to flourish as a pressure group. My piece in the Malaysia-based @AsiaSamachar #cjp #cockroach #GenZ 🔗 asiasamachar.com/2026/10/17/…

A Maharaja’s grave in England. A death address in Paris. I followed Duleep Singh’s trail across Europe and found a piece of Sikh history that deserves a closer look. Tap the link. #Sikh #History #DuleepSingh #MaharajaDuleepSingh #Paris #Elveden ✍️ harmeetshahsingh.substack.co…

#MaharajaDuleepSingh died in #Paris in 1893. I followed his final address and found two versions. Does the last Maharaja of the #Sikh Empire at least deserve a plaque where he officially breathed his last? My walking #history #vlog from #France: 🔗 youtu.be/WheCWf0oyLE?si=omJ7…

Running into Paris in Paris. My @ParisHilton moment outside @MuseeLouvre, wrapped in the most fabulous Parisian coincidence! ✨🇫🇷 #parishilton #parisfashionweek #paris @ElieSaabWorld

The Last Address of Maharaja Duleep Singh in France? In Paris, I followed the last known address of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. His 1893 French death certificate records that he died at 14 Rue de la Trémoille on 22 October 1893. I went there. The hotel reception, familiar with visitors asking about the Maharaja, told me he did not die there and directed me to 1 Boulevard Delessert, now a Serbian diplomatic residence. So I went there too. There is an interesting detail. The present building at 14 Rue de la Trémoille dates to 1883, but it was transformed into a hotel only in 1925, decades after Duleep Singh’s death. Fair enough. The Maharaja could have died in the building before it became a hotel. But then why does the present hotel distance itself from an address clearly recorded in his French death certificate? Two addresses. An official document. A different version from the present day. Perhaps the Sikhs in Europe should now ask for a plaque at the address recorded in his official death certificate, so that this part of his history is not left to competing versions. Video story follows. #Paris #sikhhistory #MaharajaDuleepSingh #MaharajaRanjitSingh #France #Europe