PU’s Punjabi Reference Library likely to open by July

Chandigarh: Panjab University is likely to open a Punjabi Reference Library on the fourth floor of Guru Tegh Bahadur Bhawan by July, with an initial collection of 5,000 books focused on Punjabi-language resources across disciplines. Each title will be available in two copies for reference-only use, with no issuance facility. The library is being designed as a permanent academic space for students and researchers working in Punjabi.
The project was announced during PU's alumni meet in Dec 2023, during which Rajya Sabha MP and PU alumnus Vikramjit Singh Sahney pledged ₹1 crore. Of this, Rs 24– Rs 25 lakh was released earlier, and Rs 20 lakh more was given in Feb for the purchase of books. With an average price of Rs 200 per book, the current funds will allow procurement of about 10,000 copies, or 5,000 distinct titles. The remaining amount will be disbursed in phases.
Vice-chancellor Prof Renu Vig said, "This is a step towards strengthening Punjabi as a language of research and higher education. It will support scholars across fields and also help build a stronger base for Sikh studies. We are grateful to MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney for his generous support."
A committee of faculty and staff is overseeing the selection and procurement of books. It includes Jivesh Bansal (deputy librarian), Prof Sarabjit Singh (Punjabi department), and Prof Uma Sethi (Punjabi lexicography). Books are being sourced from multiple institutions, including Punjabi University, Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
Gurpal Singh Sandhu, head of the department of Guru Nanak Sikh studies, said, "This isn't just about setting up another library. It's about creating a serious academic space where Punjabi is used for research in every field — not just literature or religion, but science, law, medicine, economics. We want students to sit, read and think in Punjabi. That's the core idea."
In the long term, Panjab University plans to widen the library's scope and rename it the Punjab Reference Library — expanding the collection to include broader material related to the culture, history, and knowledge systems of Punjab.
To be housed along with Sikh manuscript section
The library will be housed in half of the fourth floor, and the space is being fitted with reading rooms, computers, and subject-wise sections. While distinct from it, the Punjabi Reference Library will be located next to an area on the same floor where rare Sikh manuscripts are preserved. The university plans to gradually integrate digital access and expand the number of titles in future phases.