Scholars, community leaders come together to celebrate Bhai Vir Singh’s birth anniv

Even more than a century after he wrote “Sundari” and “Rana Surat Singh”, Bhai Vir Singh’s work continues to anchor discussions on Punjabi language, Sikh history and social reform. Scholars, students and community members gathered in New Delhi on Friday to mark the renowned poet’s 153rd birth anniversary.

Bhai Vir Singh was a pioneering figure of modern Punjabi literature and a central voice of the Sikh renaissance in the early 20th century. A poet, novelist, editor and theologian, he helped build institutions that promoted Sikh history and Punjabi literary culture.

On Friday, the commemoration at the Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan opened with Bhog Sehaj Paath and kirtan, followed by recitations of his poems. The programme brought together institutions from across Delhi, Amritsar and Himachal Pradesh.

Dr Karanjeet Singh Komal, Assistant Professor at SGND Khalsa College, Delhi University, said Bhai Vir Singh’s writings carried recurring reminders about the limits of intellect without discipline or faith. Drawing from Gurbani, he said, “Bhai Vir Singh consistently showed how knowledge, when detached from humility, becomes empty.”

Prof Karamjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, delved into Bhai Vir Singh’s impact across genres, ranging from narrative poetry and novels to commentaries on Sikh history. He highlighted how “Sundari” shaped conversations on women’s agency and how “Rana Surat Singh” brought spiritual reflection into Punjabi prose. He appreciated Bhai Vir Singh’s role in early 20th-century efforts to strengthen Punjabi language and script, referring to official debates documented in newspapers from the time.

Prof Karamjeet recalled his conversations with former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and emphasised the link between knowledge and ethics, noting that Bhai Vir Singh’s work often connected personal discipline with public responsibility.

The Sadan honoured Bhai Vir Singh gold medalists in Punjabi from Delhi University and Guru Nanak Dev University, along with the Dr Manmohan Singh Memorial gold medalist in Economics from Panjab University.

Prof Mohinder Singh, Director General of the National Institute of Punjab Studies, underscored the need to place Punjabi at the centre of everyday life. He said the language can’t be treated as optional or secondary.

Gursharan Kaur, wife of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, released a special issue of Khalsa Samachar and paid tributes to conclude the programme, which ended with prayers and langar (community feast).