Indian Express Interview

When Serena Gujaral met me, I saw a young person, soft-spoken, polished and socially adept. An idealist, she is studying humanities and wants to step into journalism, and that too print, at a time when the profession is under assault. As the interview unfolded, the preparation showed. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience to be quizzed by someone who had done her homework and could ask good questions without sounding abrasive. Today we all saw that she also knows how to weave a good story. Here is what she wrote, which was published in today’s Chandigarh Edition of the Indian Express.

The Indian Express Chandigarh story on Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru and its author

WRITING ON SIKH HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY HAS LONG BEEN CENTRAL TO ROOPINDER SINGH’S WORK

A journey through the world’s gurdwaras

Serena Gujral

Chandigarh, July 1

ROOPINDER SINGH, journalist, author and former Senior Associate Editor of The Tribune, has added another significant work to Sikh literature with Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru, his ninth book. Published by the Philippines-based Gentry Press, the richly produced hardbound volume documents 51 gurdwaras across five continents, exploring not only their architecture but also the history, heritage and spirit they embody.

Rather than serving as a catalogue of places of worship, the book presents gurdwaras as living institutions shaped by faith, migration and community. Each chapter examines how these sacred spaces have evolved while remaining rooted in the Sikh ideals of prayer, seva and langar.

Writing on Sikh history and philosophy has long been central to Singh’s work. His earlier books explored Guru Nanak’s teachings, Sikh heritage and philosophy, making this latest project a natural extension of his lifelong engagement with the subject. Growing up in a family of scholars also influenced his interests. His father, the noted writer Giani Gurdit Singh, and his mother, Inderjit Kaur, the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Panjabi University, nurtured his deep connection with the Punjabi language, culture and Sikh heritage.

Selecting just 51 gurdwaras from the nearly 30,000 worldwide was perhaps the book’s greatest challenge. Historical significance was the starting point, but Singh also looked at how individual gurdwaras reflected the evolution of Sikh institutions and the communities that built them.

Alongside iconic shrines such as Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, the book includes relatively modern examples like the Sector 19 gurdwara in Chandigarh, whose architecture represents a contemporary interpretation of Sikh design. Overseas gurdwaras tell equally compelling stories. The Khalsa Diwan Gurdwara in Hong Kong recalls links with the Ghadar movement and the Komagata Maru episode, while Makindu Sahib in Kenya and Abbotsford Gurdwara in Canada trace the journeys of Sikh migrants who helped build railways in East Africa and established new lives in North America. Together, these shrines reveal how the Sikh faith travelled with its followers across continents.

During the interview: Serena Gujral and Roopinder Singh

Although visiting all 51 sites was impossible, Singh travelled extensively across India and abroad, often accompanied by his wife, Jaspreet, and sometimes their son. Conversations with members of the sangat and local caretakers added depth to years of archival research, offering insights that no written source could provide. Those encounters reinforced his admiration for the resilience of Sikh communities and their ability to preserve their identity in vastly different cultural settings.

The project took five years to complete and evolved considerably during that period. Initially conceived as a straightforward documentation of gurdwaras, it gradually became a visually rich work combining history, travel writing and art.

Singh worked closely with publisher Rajiv Daswani on both the editorial and visual aspects of the book, ensuring that the photographs, illustrations and design complemented the narrative rather than merely decorating it. Among its distinctive features are watercolour paintings by Filipino architect and artist Allan Jay Quesada.

Unfamiliar with Sikhism when the project began, Quesada immersed himself in the subject, travelling to several gurdwaras with Singh to understand their architecture, traditions and atmosphere. His paintings capture not only the buildings but also the sense of devotion that surrounds them.

Singh says the book was written with both Sikhs and an international readership in mind. Concepts that practising Sikhs may take for granted are explained for readers unfamiliar with the faith, making the volume accessible beyond the community. The book has already received an encouraging response in North America and at the Frankfurt Book Fair, and translations, including a Punjabi edition, are under discussion.

Reflecting on his research in Pakistan, Singh points to the emotional significance of documenting historic gurdwaras that remain beyond the reach of many Sikh pilgrims. While several major shrines have been restored and attract visitors, many others await greater attention. He hopes that initiatives such as the Kartarpur Corridor will encourage wider access to Sikh heritage across borders.

For Singh, every gurdwara, regardless of its size or location, is united by the same spiritual principles of prayer, kirtan, seva and langar. Buildings may differ in style and history, but they remain centres where communities gather, serve and preserve the teachings of the Gurus.

Five years in the making, Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru is both a work of scholarship and a celebration of a living tradition. More than a study of architecture or history, it is a reminder that gurdwaras are not monuments frozen in time but vibrant spaces where faith, memory and community continue to flourish across the world.

The author is an intern at the Indian Express, Chandigarh

The news item was published on July 2, 2026.