World News: Indian Woman Scholar Teaching Punjabi at Beijing University’s Foreign Language Courses
Babushahi Bureau
Beijing (China), September 21, 2026: — In a milestone for international language programs, Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) had officially incorporated Punjabi into its curriculum, making it the 102nd foreign language taught at the premier Chinese institution.
BFSU, widely referred to as the "cradle for diplomats" due to its extensive alumni network of diplomats and foreign affairs professionals, appointed Professor Dr. Zameerpal Kaur Sandhu Bajwa to lead the newly introduced department.
Dr. Zameerpal Kaur previously served as a founding faculty member and Dean of the School of Language, Literature, and Culture at the Central University of Punjab in Bathinda, India.
The curriculum covers fundamental Punjabi language instruction (including the Gurmukhi script), regional history, literature, and folklore.
In addition to teaching courses for Chinese undergraduate students, foreign service personnel, and researchers specializing in South Asian studies, Professor Kaur will help train Chinese faculty members to sustain the academic program in the future.
The addition aligns with BFSU's expansion of South Asian regional studies, which already include Indian languages such as Hindi, Tamil, and Urdu. Academic officials noted that the structured initiative aims to promote long-term cultural exchange, comparative literary research, and regional diplomacy.
Academic Qualifications
- Post-Doctoral Fellow, University Grants Commission of India, New Delhi.
- Ph.D. in Faculty of Languages, Punjabi University, Patiala.
- M.A. Anthropological Linguistics and Punjabi Language, Punjabi University, Patiala.
- M.A. Punjabi, Panjab University, Chandigarh.
- M.A. Sanskrit, Punjabi University, Patiala.
- NET qualified, University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
- SLET qualified, University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
- PGDCA, Punjabi University, Patiala.
- Certificate Course in Urdu, Punjabi University, Patiala.
- Diploma in Urdu Language, National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, New Delhi.
- Certificate Course in Persian, Punjabi University, Patiala.
- Diploma in Persian, Punjabi University, Patiala.
- Sanskrit Speaking Course, Sanskritbharti, Varanasi.
- Three Years Diploma in Electrical Engineering, State Board of Technical Education, Punjab
- One Year Apprenticeship Training, Punjab State Electricity Board.
Experience
Language Proficiency
Languages: Punjabi (Native Language), Hindi, English, Urdu, Sanskrit (Working knowlede),Persian (Working knowledge)
Scripts: Gurumukhi, Shahmukhi, Devanagari, Roman
Research Interests
Comparative Literature, Interdisciplinary Studies, Literary Theories, Indian Sanskrit Poetics, Ecocriticism: Ecology and Environment in Literature, Animal Studies, Religious Environmentalism, Punjabi Poetry, Punjabi Culture and Folklore, Indian Linguistics Tradition, Punjabi Linguistics, Anthropological and Socio-linguistics.
International/National Academic Engagements/Awards and Recognition
- Visiting Scholar, ISAS, University of California, Berkeley, USA, Spring Semester, 2017.
- Visiting Scholar, ENCAP, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, October, 2024.
- Subject Matter Expert in various projects at University of Maryland, USA.
- SME, IB, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
- Member, NET Syllabus Review Workshop for Comparative Literature, University Grants Commission, New Delhi, June 14-15,2018.
- Reviewer, Athens Journal of Philology, Athens, Greece.
- Coordinator, AICTE, New Delhi translation of text books of technical education from English to Punjabi language,2024.
- Shiv Kumar Batalvi Award by Shiv Kumar Batalvi Organisation, London, UK, 2023.
- Member, Board of Studies, MG Antarrashtrya Hindi Vishawvidyalya, Wardha, Maharashtra, 2025-27.
- Member, Doctoral Committee, Department of English and Foreign Language, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, 2024-2027.
- Member, UMC Committee, MRSPTU, Bathinda, December, 2024-May,2025.
- Subject Matter Expert, MeritTrac Services Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore w.e.f. June,2017.
Courses Taught
|
Ph. D Courses Offered
|
Comparative Literature Ecocriticism
Indian Poetics
Punjabi Folklore
Ecocriticism
|
|
M. Phil.
|
Theory of Comparative Literature Translation: Theory and Practice
Area Studies
World Literary Classics
Research Methodology
|
|
M.A.
|
Tulnatamik Sahit , Viharik Samikhya Sufi, Kissa ate Bir Kaav,
Lokdhara ate Punjabi Lokdhara, Sabhyachar ate Punjabi Sabhyachar,
Adhunik Punjabi Kaav |
Teaching Experience after Ph. D.: 19 years and 2 months
|
Position
|
Organisation
|
Duration
|
Roles
|
|
Professor in Comparative Literature
Department of Punjabi
|
Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
|
December, 2018 till date
|
Teaching and research guidance to Ph. D. and Masters Courses
|
|
Associate Professor in Comparative Literature
Department of Languages and Comparative Literature
|
Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
|
December 14, 2016
December, 2018
|
Teaching and research guidance to Ph. D. M. Phil. and Masters Courses
|
|
Associate Professor in Comparative Literature,
Centre for Comparative Literature
|
Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
|
December 28,
2015 to
December 13,
2016
|
Teaching and research guidance to Ph. D. M. Phil. and Masters Courses
|
|
Assistant Professor in Comparative Literature,
Centre for Comparative Literature
(Founder faculty of the
university and Centre)
|
Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
|
October 21, 2009
to December 28,
2015
|
Teaching and research guidance to Ph. D. M. Phil. and Masters Courses
|
|
Lecturer
|
A. S. College for Women,
Khanna
|
July 16, 2003 to
March 20, 2004
|
Teaching to graduate Classes
|
Research Grants/ Projects: INR17,71,100/-
|
Capacity
|
Funding Agency
|
Project Title
|
Duration
|
Grant
|
|
Principal Investigator
|
UGC funded Major Research Project
|
Ecocriticism and Modern Punjabi Poetry
|
Two Years- 2013-2015
|
INR 7,96,100/-
|
|
Co- Principal
|
ICSSR funded
|
Tracing Evolutionary Heritage of
|
Two Years-
|
INR
|
|
Investigator
|
Major Research Project
|
Indian Languages Using Computational Phylogenetics
|
2015-2017
|
700000/-
|
|
Principal Investigator
|
Punjabi University, Patiala
|
Pir Mohammad: Jivan Te Rachna
|
One Year
|
INR 25000/-
|
|
Principal Investigator
|
Punjabi University, Patiala
|
Kuntaka under World Literary Thinkers Series
|
One Year
|
INR 25000/-
|
|
Co- Principal
Investigator
|
Punjabi University,
Patiala
|
History of Sanskrit
Literature (in Punjabi)
|
One Year
|
INR
25000/-
|
|
Evening School Project
|
Rashtrya Sanskrit
Sansthan, New Delhi.
|
Teaching of Sanskrit
|
One Year
|
INR 200000/-
|
|
Full Conference
|
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
|
for participation in the workshop
|
17-20,8,2017
|
CAN$ 1800
|
|
Travel Grant
|
|
|
|
|
|
US Travel Grant
|
ASLE -FSLE
|
to present paper in the conference at University of California at Davis
|
June, 2019
|
USD 1000
|
|
Principal Investigator
|
Punjabi University, Patiala
|
Pannini : Life and Works
|
One Year, Sep, 2024-25
|
INR
|
|
Meeting Visit Coverage
|
IB, Cardiff, United Kingdom
|
Airfare, stay and honorarium remuneration for the meeting visit
|
October, 2024
|
USD 1800
|
Administrative Responsibilities
- Controller of Examinations, Central University of Punjab, June 7, 2021 to Jan 4, 2022.
- Dean, School of Languages, Literature and Culture, Central University of Punjab, June 6, 2020 to June 5, 2023.
- Head, Department of Punjabi, Central University of Punjab, July 16, 2019 February 9, 2023.
- Director, Interdisciplinary Centre for Languages and Literary Studies, (21.05.2021 to 19.06.2023)
- Officiating Head, Department of Performing & Fine Arts, April 18,2019 to July 22, 2022.
- Authorized Officer, Non-formal Sanskrit Education Centre.
- Member, Executive Council (2nd Term), Central University of Punjab, December 24, 2020 to June 2, 2023.
- Member, Academic Council (2nd Term), Central University of Punjab, May 28, 2020 to June 2, 2023.
- Member, Executive Council (1st Term), Central University of Punjab, November, 2014 to December,2015.
- Member, Academic Council (1st Term), Central University of Punjab, November, 2014 to December,2015.
- Chairperson, Board of Studies (2nd Term), Department of Punjabi, February 10, 2020 to February 9, 2023.
- Chairperson, School Board (2nd Term), School of Languages, Literatures and Culture, June 6, 2020 to June 5, 2023.
- Coordinator, Centre for Comparative Literature from December, 2015 to December 13,2016.
- Chairperson, School Board (1st Term), School of Languages, Literatures and Culture, December, 2015 to December 13,2016.
- Chairperson, Board of Studies (1st Term), Centre for Comparative Literature, Central University of Punjab from December, 2015 to December,2016
- Officiating Incharge of the Centre, Centre for Comparative Literature.
- Incharge, Youth Affairs, Central University of Punjab, for Association of Indian Universities, 2009-2011
- Coordinator, Cultural Activities, Central University of Punjab since 2009
- Warden, Girls Hostel, August, 2014 to May,2016
- Founder member of the Faculty, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda
- Coordinator, Six Literary Programmes on Life, Works and Contribution of Punjabi Writers and Scholars Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, Shiv Kumar, Balwant Gargi, Gursharan Singh, Prof. Pritam Singh and Avtar Singh Paash organised at Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, from October 2009 to October,2015.
- Member, Board of Studies, Department of Hindi for two years
Research Area
Comparative Literature and Interdisciplinary Studies
Literary Theories: Indian Sanskrit Poetics
Ecocriticism: Ecology and Environment in Literature, Animal Studies, Religious Environmentalism
Punjabi Poetry, Culture and Folklore, Punjabi Folklore
Punjabi Linguistics: Anthropological and Socio-linguistics.
Professional Recognition/Awards/Scholarships
- Visiting Scholar, ISAS, University of California, Berkeley, USA, Spring Semester, 2017.
- Visiting Scholar, School of English, Communication and philosophy, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, October 2024.
- Subject Matter Expert in various projects at University of Maryland, USA.
- SME, IB, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
- Member, NET Syllabus Review Workshop for Comparative Literature, University Grants Commission of India, New Delhi, June 14-15,2018.
- Reviewer, Athens Journal of Philology, Athens, Greece.
- Coordinator, AICTE, New Delhi translation of text books of technical education from English to Punjabi language,2024.
- Shiv Kumar Batalvi Award by Shiv Kumar Batalvi Organisation, London, UK, 2023.
- Member, Board of Studies, Mahatama Gandhi Antarrashtrya Hindi Vishawvidyalya, Wardha, Maharashtra, 2025-27.
- Member, Doctoral Committee, Department of English and Foreign Language, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, 2024-2027.
- Member, UMC Committee, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda, December, 2024-May,2025.
- Subject Matter Expert, MeritTrac Services Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore w.e.f. June,2017.
- Appreciation Award for longest Services Rendered to the University by Central University of Punjab.