Kids Corner

People

Numismatist Surinder Singh’s Legacy Lives On In The Panjab Digital Library And The Virasat-e-Khalsa Heritage Museum

NEWS REPORT

 

 

 



 


Eminent numismatist late Dr. Surinder Singh's family has donated his library to the Panjab Digital Library (PDL) on his third death anniversary.

One of the best known names in the field of Sikh coinage, Dr. Surinder Singh "unearthed evidences that corrected many misreadings" about the Sikh coinage.

After retirement, he earned his doctorate on Sikh coinage from Rabindra Bharti University, Calcutta, Bengal, India, for his remarkable contribution to the numismatic scholarship.

He had a long association with the Panjab Digital Library project. The extensive library that once belonged to him will very soon be opened to the public at the Virasat-e-Khalsa Heritage Museum, Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, where operations of a newspaper library have already been started.

Dr. Surinder Singh's education in Sikh, Punjab, and Indian history and his well-researched work on Sikh coinage will add value to the PDL's database.

PDL is thankful to Sardarni Opinder Surinder Singh and Buland Iqbal Singh, Dr. Surinder Singh's wife and son, respectively, for donating the library.

Buland Iqbal Singh said, "My father had a long association with PDL which included mutual exchange of knowledge. PDL is the most deserving heir to his collections. By donating these books to PDL, we can expect that the distribution of knowledge will continue to happen as it was happening during his lifetime."

While reminiscing PDL's relationship with Dr. Surinder Singh, Davinder Pal Singh, Executive Director, PDL said, "The family's decision has made public many important books on numismatics, Banda Singh Bahadar and other aspects of Sikh history."

Linking this acquisition with the organization's endeavours to flourish serious research at Virasat-e-Khalsa, he added, "These books will invite attention of serious scholars as well as young minds around the globe pursuing research in the field of South Asian and Sikh history. Virasat-e-Khalsa, as an institution, deals in the history, culture and heritage of the Sikhs. These books will further supplement the research experience of the scholars."

PDL appeals to individuals to donate their not-in-use books, so that the invaluable treasures of heritage could be shared with the people who can use the plethora of information in their research.

Launched in 2003, Panjab Digital Library is a global non-profit organization focused on locating, digitizing, preserving, collecting and providing accessibility to the accumulated wisdom of Punjab without distinction to script, language, religion, nationality, etc.

PDL is dedicated to saving historical archives, addressing heritage loss, and connecting people globally by providing free online access. With more than 15 million pages already in archive, PDL is the largest free online resource of Sikh and Punjab heritage and is facilitating ways for any person to connect with the 'land of five rivers' and unfold its linguistic and cultural vastness.

For more information on Panjab Digital Library (PDL), please CLICK here.


June 30, 2016

 

Conversation about this article

1: Bhai Harbans Lal (Dallas, Texas, USA), July 10, 2016, 1:15 AM.

I have known Dr Surinder Singh since his birth as both of us were born in Haripur Hazara in Punjab (now in Pakistan), the town named after Sikh General Hari Singh Nalwa by Maharaja Ranjit Singh himself. Both of us went to school together. After the partition of Punjab, and during his college days, he continued to serve as an active member of the All India Sikh Students’ Federation. He was very kind to me and presented personally an autographed copy of his book on Sikh coins during one of my visits to India. He also gave me replicas of a couple of coins of the times of Banda Singh Bahadar. His commitment to preserving Sikh history and Sikh teachings through the coins issued during Sikh history was praiseworthy. I miss him.

Comment on "Numismatist Surinder Singh’s Legacy Lives On In The Panjab Digital Library And The Virasat-e-Khalsa Heritage Museum"









To help us distinguish between comments submitted by individuals and those automatically entered by software robots, please complete the following.

Please note: your email address will not be shown on the site, this is for contact and follow-up purposes only. All information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Sikhchic reserves the right to edit or remove content at any time.