PU to Restore History Syllabus; Allegations on Senate Elections

September

2026

The outgoing Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) Vice President Ashmeet Singh, from the Sikh-leaning students’ union Sath, alleged that the university had changed the Master of Arts (MA) History syllabus. Ashmeet said that, with the paper made optional, sections on Sikh Gurus and Sikh history have been significantly reduced, leaving out key biographies and events, and effectively ‘erasing’ Sikh history. Indian National Congress Member of Legislative Assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, backed Ashmeet’s view saying, ‘This amounts to dilution of the glorious history of Panjab and the great sacrifices made by our Guru’s for mankind and humanity.’ The apex Sikh management body, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said the changes are 'deeply unfortunate' for an institution with a longstanding association with Panjab’s history, language, culture, and heritage. He said Panjab’s history was not limited to a particular region but was an important part of India’s broader history. Referring to the lives and contributions of the Sikh Gurus, the inauguration of the Khalsa, Sikh struggles, the Sikh Empire, and other historical developments, Dhami said these subjects were important for understanding Panjab’s contribution to Indian history. According to Dhami, removing such subjects from postgraduate-level studies could distance students from their historical heritage and weaken their understanding of the region’s history. However, on 13 Sep, Panjab University's (PU) Department of History decided to restore the earlier Panjab and Sikh history papers in the two-year MA history program. The department said the revised curriculum was designed with the National Education Policy’s four-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) plus one-year MA (4+1) structure, under which the fourth-year BA was intended to be an advanced year of study. The fourth-year BA and first-year MA syllabus will now be separated, while students pursuing the conventional two-year MA will continue with the earlier syllabus. Meanwhile, amid the ongoing PU Senate elections, the Punjab Students Union (PSU) has leveled allegations of serious irregularities and potential vote rigging, claiming that there is nearly 900% rise in the number of votes from Samana, Patiala district. PSU state president Ranvir Singh Randhawa and Senate candidate Dr. Amandeep Singh Khiowali alleged that votes rose from 168 in 2020 to 1,692 in 2026 (earlier coverage).