PU’s Lexicography Department revived

The Lexicography Department, a part of the School of Punjabi Studies of the Panjab University (PU), which had been lying defunct since 2005, has been finally revived.

At present two faculty members - Dr Uma Sethi and and Dr Akwinder Kaur - of the department are working on two projects, namely Natak Alochna Sabdawali Kosh -dictionary of drama, and Kav Alochan Sabdawali Kosh - dictionary of poetry.

With the completion of these two projects, the PU will be the first varsity in the region to have these respective dictionaries for the use of the students and teachers doing research in Punjabi literature.

Both these projects will take two years for completion. The dictionaries will have an explanation of all the terms used in poetry and drama.

According to official information, even before 2005, the department was only partially working due to shortage of staff and infrastructure. Moreover, when in 2005, the last faculty member retired, the department came to a standstill.

Despite the fact that in 2011, the Lexicography Department got a grant of Rs 1.5 lakh for the infrastructure, the department still needs two Associate Professors and Assistant Professors each for its smooth functioning.

It was the Punjab government that started a project for making a Punjabi dictionary. In 1984, the first dictionary was published by the Panjab University Textbook Board. Though this board had the name of PU, it was under the control of the Punjab government. With the passage of time, people in the board retired and the government too lost interest in it.

After this, the board was converted into the Lexicography Department and it became part of the Punjabi department.

Moreover, the department has also started working on two pending projects, consisting of compilation of Punjabi to English and English to Punjabi dictionaries.

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