SGPC Chief Dhami objects to reported removal of Punjab, Sikh history papers from Panjab University syllabus
Babushahi Bureau
Amritsar (Punjab), September 13, 2026: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has objected to the reported removal of four papers related to Punjab and Sikh history from the MA History syllabus of Panjab University, Chandigarh, and urged the university authorities to reconsider the reported change.
Dhami said that if the reported change had been made, it would be “deeply unfortunate” for an institution with a longstanding association with Punjab’s history, language, culture and heritage.
He said Punjab’s history was not limited to a particular region but was an important part of the broader history of India. Referring to the lives and contributions of the Sikh Gurus, the creation of the Khalsa, Sikh struggles, the Sikh Empire and other historical developments, Dhami said these subjects were important for understanding Punjab’s contribution to Indian history.
According to Dhami, removing such subjects from postgraduate-level studies could distance students from their historical heritage and weaken their understanding of the region’s history.
He said universities had a responsibility not only to introduce new areas of study but also to preserve and pass on historical knowledge to future generations through facts and academic research.
Dhami also pointed to Panjab University’s historical connection with Punjab’s history, language, culture and heritage, saying the institution should ensure that these subjects receive appropriate representation in its curriculum.
The SGPC president urged the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University and the concerned academic authorities to review the reported decision and restore the papers related to Punjab and Sikh history to the MA History syllabus, as he said they had been included earlier.
He said the university should avoid any step that could create an impression that the academic importance of Punjab’s historical heritage and Sikh history was being re