General

Dr. Ranbir Singh Sandhu was an active, well-respected Sikh and a valued authority on the Sikh Faith. He was a founding member of SCIR (the Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations), SERF (Sikh Educational and Religious Foundation), and SERT (Sikh Educational and Religious Trust). He also worked with other Sikhs to establish several national organizations, and supported and assisted many others in their causes.

In his role as Secretary General of the World Sikh Organization – America Region (WSO-AR), he traveled to all gurdwaras in the US and spoke with the sangats (congregations). He was often asked to translate and explain the meaning of various Sabads, which helped younger, English-literate Sikhs access the message in Baani; he encouraged and assisted small sangats that were unsure about respectful procedures at marriages and/or deaths.

He was also known for his advocacy for Interfaith understanding. He presented at the Parliament of the World’s Religions (PoWR). He was the president of the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio from 1997 to 1998. In 2003, he contributed the chapter, The Sikh Faith, in the book Religion in Ohio, Profiles of Faith Communities, in commemoration of the state’s bicentennial. His most-read book is Struggle for Justice, Speeches and Conversations of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale.

Dr. Sandhu transitioned last night and joined Vaheguru on September 23, 2026. He was 98.