Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has appointed Dr Jaswinder Singh, a former professor of Punjabi and Dean of Academic Affairs at Punjabi University, Patiala, as a 'Professor of Eminence' for a five-year term. The decision was made during a syndicate meeting on June 23, and the registrar formally notified Dr Singh via letter on June 25.
Background and Recognition
Dr Jaswinder Singh retired after 38 years of service, having held several key positions across state universities. He is widely recognized as a cultural scientist, literary thinker, and popular fiction writer in the Punjabi literary world. His authoritative reference works such as 'Punjabi Sabhiachar: Pachhan-Chinh' and 'Navi Punjabi Kavita: Pachhan-Chinh' have cemented his place in literary criticism and research. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2015 for his novel 'Maat Lok' and has also received the Shiromani Punjabi Lekhak Award from the Languages Department, Punjab.
Other Appointees
Alongside Dr Singh, GNDU has also nominated eminent Punjabi scholars Dr Manmohan Singh and Dr Ravi Ravinder as 'Professors of Eminence'. This initiative aims to bring distinguished academics to contribute to the university's academic environment.
Literary Contributions
Dr Singh's celebrated short story collections 'Khooh Khate' and 'Ghar Da Jee', along with novels 'Maat Lok' and 'Surkh Saaz', have set new benchmarks in Punjabi fiction. During his service, he supervised 44 PhD students and inspired them to stay connected with their mother tongue. He has delivered keynote speeches and presented research papers at conferences in the US, Canada, England, and Pakistan.
Reflecting on his career, Dr Singh said, “I initially wrote a story, which was well received, and I never looked back. Now I prioritize writing novels as this work is of special interest to me.”
Family and Colleagues React
His wife, Dr Dhanwant Kaur, expressed joy, stating, “This honour is a great achievement after many years of hard work.” Dr Manjinder Singh, Head of the Punjabi Department at GNDU, said, “It is a matter of honour for the university. Students will get an opportunity to learn a lot from such scholars.” He added that Dr Singh is a rare scholar who excels as a story writer, novelist, and cultural scientist.
