Guru Kashi University establishes Sufi and Folk Music Heritage Chair to promote research, preservation, and global collaboration in Punjab’s musical traditions
1 May 2025, New Delhi
In a landmark move to safeguard and promote the rich musical heritage of Punjab, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, has officially announced the establishment of the Sufi and Folk Music Heritage Chair under the Faculty of Visual and Performing Arts. Renowned Sufi and folk singer Padma Shri Hans Raj Hans has been appointed Chairman of this newly instituted academic platform.
The formal announcement was made during a press conference held today at the Chandigarh Press Club. The Chair is envisioned as a centre for excellence that will integrate traditional knowledge with academic rigour, focusing on the research, documentation, pedagogy, and promotion of Punjab’s Sufi and folk music traditions.
Accompanying Mr. Hans in this initiative, Prof. Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, Dean of the Faculty of Visual and Performing Arts, has been named Executive Director, and Dr. Aman Sufi will serve as the Project Coordinator.
Addressing the media, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, Vice Chancellor of Guru Kashi University, stated:
“This Chair is a forward-looking initiative to connect our cultural roots with future generations. Through scholarly engagement and artistic collaboration, we aim to preserve the invaluable musical traditions that define Punjab’s spiritual and social identity.”
To guide the Chair’s multifaceted activities, an Advisory Board of eminent personalities has also been constituted. The Board includes:
- Chief Patron: Sardar Gurlabh Singh Sidhu, Chancellor, Guru Kashi University
- Puran Shah Koti, celebrated Sufi spiritual guide and mentor to Hans Raj Hans
- Sardar Charanjit Singh Batth, USA
- Dr. Dalbir Singh Kathuria, Canada
- Preet Inder Dhillon, UK
- Prof. D.N. Jauhar, former Vice Chancellor, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra
- Prof. Dr. Jaspal Kaur Kaang, former Chairperson, Guru Nanak Sikh Studies, Panjab University
- Prof. Dr. Hukum Chand, former Dean, Faculty of Music, MDU Rohtak
- Prof. Dr. Neelam Paul, former Chairperson, Department of Music, Panjab University
Expressing his heartfelt gratitude, Padma Shri Hans Raj Hans remarked:
“My life has been devoted to the verses of Sufi saints and the folk rhythms of Punjab. Through this Chair, I hope to institutionalize that devotion—so that future generations can learn, experience, and carry forward this sacred musical inheritance.”
Prof. Dr. Gurpreet Kaur outlined the Chair’s upcoming activities, which include national and international workshops, documentation of oral traditions, collaborative projects with global universities, and annual cultural festivals to engage scholars, students, and the public.
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Mrs. Usha Singh, Lady Vice Chancellor of Guru Kashi University, also attended the occasion and congratulated Mr. Hans Raj Hans and applauded the university’s commitment to cultural preservation.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, Er. Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu (General Secretary, Balaji Education Trust), Dr. Dalbir Singh Kathuria, Prof. D.N. Jauhar, and Prof. Dr. Neelam Paul. Several advisory board members, including Dr. Paul, joined virtually and lauded the university’s visionary step.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Er. Sukhwinder Singh Sidhu acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the university’s leadership, faculty, and invited guests in bringing this significant cultural milestone to fruition.
The event concluded with a networking lunch, offering an opportunity for media representatives and guests to interact and discuss future possibilities under the newly founded Chair.
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