Noted Sikh scholar Prof Sabar passes away

Eminent Sikh scholar Prof Jasbir Singh Sabar, who retired as head of Sikh studies from the Department of Guru Nanak Studies at Guru Nanak Dev University, passed away this morning. His mortal remains were consigned to flames at the cremation ground near Gurdwara Shaheedan Sahib.

A President’s awardee, Prof Sabar retired in 2000 from the Guru Nanak Dev University. His father Sher Singh was a freedom fighter and Sabar was born in 1942 in Pakistan’s Punjab province. After the partition, his family migrated to India and settled in Amritsar. A prolific writer, he is credited with having penned 36 books in his eventful career. A renowned Sikh scholar, he was credited with introducing middle age Punjabi literature, Gurmat literature, Gurbani, Sikh history, Sikh culture and Gurmat music in a contemporary perspective.

In 1988, the Sahitya Akademi award was conferred on him by then President Shankar Dayal Sharma. Starting his career as a Punjabi journalist, he rose to become the editor of Punjabi daily Qaumi Dard. He was also in charge of the SGPC’s Sikh History Research Board and founder-director of the correspondence course in Sikh Studies from 2007 to 2012. He authored and edited more than three dozen books. He remained a member of GNDU’s senate, syndicate, academic council and Board of Studies.