The Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia is pleased to invite you to our annual Harjit Kaur Sidhu Memorial Program in 2025. Join us in celebrating over 30 years of Punjabi language and culture at UBC on April 23!
The program was established in loving memory of Harjit Kaur Sidhu (née Gill), devoted wife, mother, and strong advocate for education, Punjabi culture and language, and women’s issues. Our goal is to call attention to important new scholarship on Punjabi language and culture and bring it to our students and the broader Vancouver area audience; encourage and recognize achievements in Punjabi language cultural production; and honor students for their work in learning and using the Punjabi language.
This event is free & open to the public.
Speaker
There have been many famous lyricists in the world of Punjabi songwriting. Jasbir Gunachauria is one of the shining stars of this genre. Jasbir Gunachauria has written around 600 songs that highlight different aspects of Punjabi society and culture. He has also published six books related to his songs, in an effort to bring his journey of songwriting to a wider readership.
About Harjit Kaur Sidhu (née Gill)
Harjit Kaur Sidhu (née Gill) was born in Amritsar in 1937. She grew up in what is now Pakistan and resettled with her parents, brothers and sisters in Ludhiana after partition. She received both an MA and MEd. She went on to lecture at Sidwa College in 1966 and 1967. She immigrated to Canada with her husband, Balvindar Singh Sidhu, in 1968. The couple lived in the Yukon for 32 years, during which time Mrs. Sidhu’s passion became early childhood education. After the birth of her sons Ravindar (1971) and Rajvindar (1972), she worked as a teacher in multiple early childhood settings: preschool, prekindergarten programs and in kindergarten.
In 2001, Harjit and Balvindar moved to Vancouver where their youngest son was a practicing dentist and where, later, their oldest son started a career at UBC as a surgeon in the Faculty of Medicine. During her time in Vancouver, Harjit rediscovered her passion for Punjabi language and culture. She was a strong advocate for Punjabi culture, and for women in Punjabi society.
After two and a half year courageous battle with cancer, she passed away in her home on July 23, 2007. She is survived by her husband, two sons and their wives, two grandsons and one granddaughter.
