In the first episode of Let’s Talk About Sikhi, Dass Atma Singh speaks with Dr. Surinder Singh Kohli about his remarkable journey from medicine to Gurbani seva. Born and raised in Amritsar, Dr. Kohli grew up with limited exposure to Sikhi and, for many years, did not understand Gurbani or even read Gurmukhi.
His journey began to change after marriage, when he became part of a Sikh family where Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was part of daily life. Years later, after moving to California and joining a Sukhmani Sahib group, he was encouraged to begin reading Gurbani himself. What started as a desire to understand what he was hearing eventually became a lifelong commitment to studying, translating, and sharing Gurbani.
From Learning to Seva
Dr. Kohli recalls feeling embarrassed that his wife could read Gurmukhi while he could not. Determined to learn, he spent a month studying and soon became comfortable reading Gurbani. With the guidance of Sardar Rajinder Singh Ji Marwaha, he began exploring the deeper meanings behind the words.
This learning eventually led him to a major seva project: helping make Gurbani more accessible to English-speaking audiences. After recognizing problems with existing English translations, Dr. Kohli turned to the works of Sikh scholars including Professor Sahib Singh Ji. He developed a detailed process of translating and reviewing Gurbani explanations line by line.
The project took nearly a decade and became a true labour of love, with each translation carefully reviewed to preserve the meaning and Sikh concepts within the original explanations.
Gurbani Is Meant to Be Lived
For Dr. Kohli, Gurbani is not simply something to read or listen to. It is a guide for living.
He encourages people to listen, read, understand, accept, and ultimately live according to Gurbani. He often compares it to studying a course: simply owning the books is not enough. The real purpose is to learn the teachings and apply them in daily life.
His focus is on living according to Hukam and developing divine virtues such as humility, truthfulness, compassion, and contentment. As these qualities grow, he explains, the five vices become weaker.
It Is Never Too Late
Today, Dr. Kohli continues to share his understanding of Gurbani with others through weekly sessions at his Gurdwara. His greatest satisfaction comes not from simply teaching others, but from encouraging people to explore Gurbani themselves and bring its teachings into their lives.
His message is simple: it is never too late to begin. With sincere effort and a prayer for guidance, anyone can take the first step toward understanding Gurbani and discovering the peace that comes from living by its teachings.
Watch the full interview with Dr. Surinder Singh Kohli in the first episode of Let’s Talk About Sikhi.