The lotus is the National flower of India and symbolizes divinity, purity, wealth, knowledge, prosperity, purity and generosity.
Welcome to the Guru Nanak Heritage Institute for Punjabi Studies web site at San Jose State University, California. Ji Aiyaa Noon!
Our vision is to share the rich Punjabi language, heritage and culture with students to empower them with knowledge that will enrich their educational experiences and careers in today’s global economy.
While celebrating the opulent cultural heritage of Punjab we recognize the changes and transformations that continue to occur in the Punjabi culture. The influences of outside cultures on the Punjabi diaspora have served to alter the Punjabi culture. The Punjabi diaspora has embraced the cultures of the adopted homelands to create a vibrant Punjabi culture that intertwines the best of all cultures. In recognition of this, we would like to provide a glimpse of Punjabi culture as it was in India and simultaneously show how the culture has transformed to its regional adaptations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and across the globe.
As an extension of the Punjabi Language courses, our hope is that this web site will serve as a starting point for those interested in learning about the Punjabi language, culture, history and people. From here, we would encourage you to explore the related links and resources to widen the scope of your understanding. Opinions of various authors are presented in the sources referenced and it is clear that there are other perspectives. We welcome you to share your comments and constructive criticism as to how we may improve this web site to further showcase Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat.
Links to other web sites are provided for the user’s experience. As these web sites are independently maintained, San Jose State University is not responsible for any information, facts or opinions contained on any of these web sites.
van Hooff, Dominique
Department Chair, French Advisor, Professor of French Literature
Clark Hall 421D
408-924-4608
dominique.vanhooff@sjsu.edu
Professor Atamjit Singh
Punjabi Lecturer
Clark Hall 410E
(408) 924-4622
atam84@hotmail.com
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