Historian Harbhajan Singh Selbarah to be honoured by Haryana Sahitya and Sanskriti Akademi on Sept 17
Babushahi Bureau
Panchkula (Haryana), September 16, 2026: Renowned historian and writer Harbhajan Singh Selbarah will be honoured by the Haryana Sahitya and Sanskriti Akademi at a state-level ceremony in Panchkula on Thursday in recognition of his contribution to Punjabi historiography and his extensive work documenting the history of villages, communities and historical personalities of the Malwa region.
The Haryana Sahitya and Sanskriti Akademi, an autonomous organisation established by the Haryana Government, is organising a special programme dedicated to Selbarah’s writings. Scholars Dr Jaswant Singh and Dr Jagpal Singh will present papers on his work, with discussions focusing particularly on his contribution to documenting the history and social life of the Malwa and Puadh regions.
Born on December 14, 1952, in village Selbarah, Harbhajan Singh Selbarah later settled in Rampura Phul. He completed his schooling up to Class 10 in his native village before pursuing a BA from TPD Malwa College, Rampura Phul, between 1969 and 1973. During his college years, he remained active in literary activities, with his poetry and short stories appearing in Punjabi magazines including Nagmani and Preetlari.
He later completed his B.Ed from the Government B.Ed College, Faridkot. Selbarah worked with the Electricity Board from 1975 to 1978 before joining government service as a social education teacher. He taught at various schools for around 32 years.
Although he had been writing poetry and fiction since his student years, Selbarah began pursuing historical research systematically in 2006. In 2010, he came under the guidance of noted Malwa historian Jagjit Singh Gurne Kalan and continued his historical studies and writing for several years.
His historical writings have been published in Punjabi newspapers including Punjabi Tribune, Rozana Spokesman and Ajit since 2014. His published works include books on the Jaito Morcha, village Selbarah, the Bhatti community, Baba Mul Chand, historian Bhai Punjab Singh Behloka, Baba Kalu Nath and Sidhu elder Sidh Tilkara Ji, besides writings on the history of villages in Bathinda district and other historical subjects.
A significant aspect of Selbarah’s work is his focus on local and community history. His research draws not only on published historical material but also on revenue records, genealogical records, manuscripts, inscriptions, oral accounts, interviews with village elders, legends and local traditions.
His approach has brought greater attention to the experiences of ordinary people, including farmers, workers and women, alongside accounts of prominent historical figures and political events. His writings also document the customs, social practices, folk traditions and everyday life of communities in the Malwa region.
According to Punjabi Sahitya Sabha (Regd.), Rampura Phul patron Comrade Nachhattar Singh Phool, Selbarah’s work has helped preserve detailed accounts of villages and communities in Bathinda and adjoining parts of Malwa that might otherwise remain undocumented.
Three more books by Selbarah are currently under publication, while several other research projects are in progress, including works on village Sidhana, the Chahal and Dhaliwal clans, Baba Jogi Pir Ji, Jathedar Anok Singh and Maharaja Ripudaman Singh of Nabha.
The state-level recognition is expected to bring attention to Selbarah’s long-standing efforts to document the social and cultural history of Punjab’s Malwa region through village-level research and oral history.