The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
Ralph Singh
Spokesperson, Gobind Sadan USA
Following the post 9-11 arson attack on their place of worship by four local teens, members of Gobind Sadan, a Sikh spiritual community, recognized a teachable moment. They responded with a message of forgiveness from their leader Baba Virsa Singh, and then issued a call to rebuild the broader community based on love and understanding.
Ralph Singh likes to be known as an ordinary person who continues to have extraordinary life experiences: from the powerful vision that drew him from New York to the feet of one of the world's greatest spiritual leaders, Baba Virsa Singh, in India at the age of 22, to his involvement in the community building efforts surrounding the post 9-11 arson attack on his spiritual community Gobind Sadan, USA north of Syracuse, NY. Over the last 33 years Ralph has devoted his time to forging community and working to find ways to define civil society. He has worked in education developing and teaching a course called "Exploring Spirituality", helped design and name the "Schools of Character" project for the Central NY Education Consortium; in the community he has coordinated programs aimed at breaking down barriers between the disabled and able-bodied communities, served as Chair of the City County Human Rights Commission, and, together with his wife Joginder, transformed "soup-kitchens" into "community meals" to break down class barriers and helped to develop community based farmers' markets.
Following the 1984 attack on the Golden Temple, he organized a consortium of International Rights Groups to draw attention to the plight of the Sikh community in India. Through the United Nations Association (UNA), Ralph helped establish the CNY MUN at SU and served on the National Council of UNA-USA under Elliot Richardson's leadership.He developed and coordinated drug awareness programs for local schools.
He currently serves as Secretary of the North American Interfaith Network, on the advisory board of the Maxwell School's Program on Analysis and Resolution of Conflict, and continues to serve as translator for His Holiness Baba Virsa Singh for international gatherings and as his representative at major conferences including the Millennium Peace Summit. He has lectured and written on the importance of values and spirituality in modern society, and has represented the teachings of the Sikh Gurus to national and international audiences from the Smithsonian Institution to local interfaith dialogues. He is a graduate of The Gunnery, received his degree in Japanese Area Studies from the University of Rochester, and maintains a lifelong study/practice of prayer and meditation and spiritual traditions.
Links:
www.gobindsadan.org
www.gobindsadan.org/gsusa/northof49/press/
www.Northof49.net