In a moment of profound recognition for his literary and scholarly contributions, Dr. Jasbir Singh Sarna was honored with the Maharaja Hari Singh Award 2024-25 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at a distinguished ceremony in Jammu.
Speaking to the media after receiving the award, Dr. Sarna humbly dedicated the honor to his beloved mother tongue, Punjabi. He remarked, “This recognition is not just a personal achievement but a tribute to the language that has given me my voice and identity.”
Born in the village of Tanda, Samba (Jammu), Dr. Sarna hails from a family deeply rooted in Kashmir’s rich cultural and intellectual legacy. His father, Giani Sant Singh Bhatpuri, was a noted scholar, while his mother, Sushil Kaur, instilled in him a deep reverence for knowledge and creativity. With ancestral ties to Bhatpura, Baramulla (Kashmir), he has remained a devoted custodian of his heritage.
A distinguished scholar, poet, and historian, Dr. Sarna’s academic brilliance shone during his time at Khalsa College, Amritsar, where he earned four gold medals for his literary achievements. His editorial prowess led him to establish the magazine Shamshir-Dast and contribute as the editor of Darbar magazine’s religious section. His engagement with international literary circles includes his role in Sikhs: Past and Present (Canada), and his current positions as editorial member of The Sikh Review (Kolkata) and associate editor of Jhelum Da Pani, a publication dedicated to Kashmiri culture and literature.
Dr. Sarna’s literary excellence has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha Award (1998), Jammu & Kashmir Academy Award (1995-96), Secular India Harmony Award (New Delhi, 2000), Mohan Singh Mohan Award (Kashmir, 2012), Bhai Nand Lal Goa Award (2014), Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Award (Anandpur Sahib, 2021), First Sikh History Conference Award (Takht Damdama Sahib, Bathinda), and the Baba Bulleh Shah Award (Kasur, Pakistan, 2024). His global recognition includes serving as a Consulting Editor for the Contemporary Who’s Who of the American Biographical Institute (1999) and being a fellow of the United Writers Association (FUWAI).
With an oeuvre of around 65 published works, Dr. Sarna has made seminal contributions to poetry, folklore, environmental studies, history, and religious literature. His dictionaries on the Guru Granth Sahib serve as invaluable linguistic resources, while his celebrated books, The Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir and The Sikh Shrines in Jammu and Kashmir, continue to be acclaimed worldwide.
Having retired as an officer from the Agriculture Department of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Sarna remains dedicated to preserving cultural heritage and advancing literary discourse. His life’s work stands as a testament to the enduring power of words, shaping history, fostering cultural pride, and inspiring future generations.
