Prithipal Singh Kapur


Prithipal Singh Kapur, a well known Sikh Historian, scholar and Pro-Vice Chancellor of Guru Nanak
Dev University, Amritsar, was born on 7th November, 1932 at Gujranwala (now in Pakistan). After
completing his studies, he started his teaching career in Khalsa College Amritsar in 1956. He taught history
in various Govt. and Private Colleges and also remained associated with various Academic bodies, senates
and syndicates of different universities and also a member of the Standing Committees for monitoring
of Minority Education, appointed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India. He
was Director, Punjab State University Text Book Board, Chandigarh, from 1977-1981. He became ProVice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University in 1985 and held this post for three years.

He was also
Editor-in-Chief, Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Punjabi University Patiala from 1998-2001. He has written a
large number of books and articles on Sikh history. Some of his famous books include Guru Nanak in
Paintings (Paintings by Lahora Singh, Foreward by Khushwant Singh and Text by Prithipal Singh Kapur,
1969, Lyallpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar), Guru Nanak at Sultanpur Lodhi (in collaboration with Gurdip
Singh), 1969, Guru Nanak Quincentenary Committee, Pb., The Khalsa (in collaboration with Dr. Dharam
Singh), Punjabi University, Patiala, 2000, and Master Tara Singh and His Reminiscences (2015). He has also
edited a number of historical works which include Life and Exploits of Banda Singh Bahadur (by Sohan
Singh, 1905) with introduction, Punjabi University, Patiala, 2000, Maharani Jind Kaur (M.L. Ahluwalia)
edited & revised, 2001, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Sita Ram Kohli) edited with introduction (Translation
from Urdu to English), G.N.D.U., Amritsar, 2002. He was recently in news when his name was announced
for Sant Longowal Vishav Puraskar. S. Kapur was an associate of the Sikh martyr Sant Harchand Singh
Longowal who was assassinated after Rajiv Longowal accord. Even during emergency when Sant Longowal
had launched an agitation, S. Kapur was with him even during that critical period for the Sikhs. Even earlier
to this announcement, he had been honoured by various organizations and at various platforms. He is
undoubtedly one of the best Sikh historians of the present times.