Dr. Surinder Singh’s Family Donates his Library to Panjab Digital Library

Chandigarh: Eminent numismatist Late Dr. Surinder Singh’s family has donated his library to Panjab Digital Library (PDL) on his third death anniversary. Retired Defence official and 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, Kolkata for his remarkable contribution to the numismatic scholarship. He had a long association with PDL. Today, on his death anniversary, PDL is ecstatic to announce that the library that once belonged to Dr. Surinder Singh will very soon be opened to public at Virasat-e-Khalsa, Anandpur Sahib, where operations of a newspapers library have already been started.

Dr. Surinder Singh [File Photo]

Dr. Singh’s education in Indian history and his well-researched work on Sikh coinage will add value to the PDL’s database. PDL is thankful to Mrs. Opinder Surinder Singh and Buland Iqbal Singh, Dr. 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, “Family’s decision has made public many important books on numismatics, Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh history.” Linking this acquisition with the organization’s endeavours to flourish serious research among the Panjabi community 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 (PDL) is a global non-profit organization focused on locating, digitizing, preserving, collecting and providing accessibility to the accumulated wisdom of the Panjab region of India without distinction to script, language, religion, nationality, or any other physical condition. PDL is dedicated to saving historical archives, addressing heritage loss, and connecting people globally by providing free online access. With more than fifteen million pages in archive, PDL is the largest free online resource of Panjab heritage and is facilitating ways for any person to connect with the ‘land of five rivers’ and unfold its linguistic and cultural vastness.