Simran Jeet Singh was a senior in high school in San Antonio, Texas, when 9/11 occurred. He recalls watching coverage of the attack with his classmates, and when the news showed an image of the suspected terrorist mastermind, his heart sank. “It was a man who was wearing a turban, who had a beard, who had brown skin just like me. And I knew in that moment that life would not be the same. And it wasn’t,” Simran recalled during an interview at Harvard Divinity School following the 2022 publication of his bestselling book, “The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life.”
Despite the prejudice he faced, Simran refused to give in to negativity and hate. Instead, he delved deep into the #Sikh teachings he grew up with and embraced the lessons to seek the good in every person and situation and to find positive ways to direct his energy. These Sikh tenets of love and service are at the heart of his book, which is part memoir, part spiritual journey.
In addition to writing, Simran teaches Interreligious Histories at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and serves as senior advisor for The Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program.
Dr. Simran Jeet Singh will speak on a panel entitled 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 during the Festival of Faiths (Nov. 12-15, 2025, in Louisville, KY). Learn more, see the full lineup, and get your all-access pass: https://festivaloffaiths.org/