Chandigarh: Patiala police on Friday lodged an FIR against Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jagdeep Singh and four senior officials in connection with the alleged sacrilegious disposal of erroneous editions of Gurshabad Ratnakar Mahankosh, the first Punjabi encyclopaedia compiled by Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha over a century ago. Strong protests were seen on the campus after the discovery that hundreds of copies of the recalled volumes had been buried in pits, which student groups and Sikh organizations termed a violation of Sikh maryada.
The case has been registered under Section 298 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to the destruction, damage, or defiling of a sacred object and carries a punishment of up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. Those named in the FIR include Registrar Davinder Singh, Dean of Academics Jaswinder Singh Brar, Head of the Publication Bureau HPS Kalra, and Director of Environment, Forests, and Wildlife, Himender Bharti.
Copies Buried on Campus
The controversy erupted earlier this week when students alleged that the university had secretly buried large numbers of error-ridden volumes on campus. Members of student bodies said the books contained shabads from the Guru Granth Sahib and verses from the Dasam Granth, making their disposal without proper religious ceremony an act of disrespect. They demanded that the university follow Sikh traditions of cremation for damaged or unusable religious texts instead of treating the volumes as waste material.
Facing protests, the university moved to retrieve the copies. On Friday, an ardas was performed on the campus before the books were taken to Goindwal Sahib in Tarn Taran for their final rites at Gurdwara Angeetha Sahib. Officials said the cremation would be conducted there in line with Sikh practices.
University Action
Soon after the police case was registered, the Punjabi University administration suspended Kalra and Bharti with immediate effect for lapses in handling the disposal process. In a statement, the university said it had acted to fix responsibility and to ensure that the sentiments of the Sikh community were respected.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jagdeep Singh, however, defended the decision to bury the volumes initially, saying it was based on government directions related to environmental safety. He added that the university had never intended to disrespect the religious sentiments attached to the Mahankosh and was committed to following Sikh maryada for the final rites.
Sikh Bodies React
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Sikh clergy and religious organizations. Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj censured the university for showing “gross insensitivity” in disposing of the revered text. He said the Mahankosh is not an ordinary publication but a monumental work that draws extensively from Sikh scriptures and is therefore treated with deep reverence.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) members also condemned the burial of the books. SGPC officials said the university should have consulted them before disposing of the volumes and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
History of Errors and Recall
The controversy over the Mahankosh is not new. Punjabi University had reprinted the encyclopedia in Punjabi, Hindi, and English in recent years. However, scholars and Sikh bodies pointed out thousands of factual and translational errors—some estimates put the number at over 30,000.
In July 2017, after sustained criticism, the Punjab government ordered the university to stop sales and withdraw the faulty editions. An expert committee was set up to examine the lapses and recommend corrective measures. The panel suggested that the copies be recalled and destroyed, while fresh editions should only be published after rigorous vetting by subject experts.
