By Harbans Lal, PhD., D.Litt. (hons) In the worst days of the Mogul empire, India was in great danger that its cultural and religious diversity would be eclipsed. King Aurangzeb (1618 – 1707) created havoc by trying to convert everyone living in the empire to his version of Islam. To fully appreciate the extent of… Read More Protecting and Promoting Diversity
By Harbans Lal, PhD., D.Lit. (hons) I admire Pope Francis for undertaking a worldwide year of events to promote the acceptance of diversity within Christianity, which has come to accept a wide range of Protestant and Catholic beliefs. The inaugural event was a recent ecumenical service led by the Pope in Sweden. It was a run up… Read More There are Many Ways to Love the Creator
By Dr. Harbans Lal A prayer is a common practice among couples who are desperate for conceiving a child. This custom is found in most cultures, and is very common in India. Prayers are often offered at a shrine popular for pilgrimages, and they are usually done with the help of the clergy or a… Read More A Prayer For A Child: An Inspiring Sikh Tradition
By Dr. Harbans Lal Sardar Ganga Singh Dhillon left for his timeless journey, as we call it in the Sikh tradition, on September 24, 2014. The cause was injuries resulting from an accidental fall followed by medical complications over a period of several weeks. Although I had known Ganga Singh from his student days in… Read More He Served The Sikh Nation With Passion & Dedication: Ganga Singh Dhillon
Harbans Lal, Ph.D., D. Litt. (Hon) My last visit to Pakistan was in February 2006, when I led a delegation of Sikh scholars on a pilgrimage tour of our holy shrines. I also co-organized a conference there as Executive Vice President of the Sri Nanakana Sahib Foundation. The late Sardar Ganga Singh Dhillon was the… Read More Nanak’s Legacy of Interfaith Engagement: Lahore International Conference
DALLAS. The Interfaith Council of the World Center for Thanks-Giving, representing 26 faiths and religious traditions met on June 13, 2014 at the Gurduara Sikh Temple of North Texas. The IFC meeting was followed by the Sikh traditional meal, Langar, and brief presentations on Sikhism. One highlight of the meeting was the honoring of Peter… Read More North Texas Faith Leaders learn about Sikh Values
By Dr. Harbans Lal A while ago, I had an enlightening experience while visiting the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine. I visit Amritsar often and visit the Temple complex every time. The experience is always rejuvenating. No wonder the city is known as the abode of bliss and blessings. The Golden Temple, conventionally known… Read More God’s Gift to Humanity
A few years ago I was invited to a speaking engagement in Egypt. During my visit, my hosts took me to the great museums in Cairo and other cities – and I was amazed to find portraits of Sikh warriors exhibited there. I also visited a World War II cemetery in Egypt where over… Read More The Gift of Nishaan Magazine: Sikh Warriors in the Great War
By Dr. Harbans Lal This is a true story of a young Sikh shopkeeper who lived by the Sikhi values of honesty in trade in spite of opportunities to be otherwise. I may not remember his exact name, but I think he was known as Mohr Singh. I knew him before the partition of India… Read More Mohr-di-Hati: A True Sikh Enterprise
By Dr Bhai Harbans Lal Dr. Jaswant Singh Neki had been my close colleague for almost a decade during the formative years before I migrated to the US in 1956. I continued to remain in close touch with him and visited him in India whenever I could. In spite of long the intervals, I never… Read More My Memories and Anecdotes of Jaswant Singh Neki (1925-2015)
Seeking Wisdom 