Dr. Kanwarjit Singh Kang (Art Historian) conferred with Punjab Gaurav Sanmaan by Punjab Arts Council
Dr. Kanwarjit Singh Kang (Art Historian)
was conferred with Punjab Gaurav Sanmaan
instituted by the Punjab Arts Council
Honour conferred by
Sr. Charanjit Singh Channi
Minister Culture and Tourism
Government of Punjab
on 2nd February 2020
at Punjab Kala Bhawan
Sector 16 B, Chandigarh, India
From right to left: Diwan Manna, artist and President, Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, Dr. Kanwarjit Singh Kang being conferred with Punjab Gaurav Sanmaan, Sr. Jatinder Singh Randhawa, behind Dr. Kang (son of Dr. M S Randhawa), Charanjit Singh Channi, Minister Culture and Tourism, Punjab, Surjit Patar, Punjabi Poet and Chairperson, Punjab Arts Council, Dr. Kewal Dhaliwal, Theater person and President, Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi
ਡਾ. ਕੰਵਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੰਗ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਗੌਰਵ ਸਨਮਾਨ ਭੇਂਟ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕਲਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਸ਼ਦ ਆਪ ਸਨਮਾਨਤ ਮਹਿਸੂਸ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।
BORN on April 12, 1942 at Village Takhran, District Ludhiana, Dr Kanwarjit Singh Kang’s life is dedicated to art and its many dimensions, primarily the history of art in the state of Punjab.
Dr.Kang’s interest in art began at an early age, which led him to pursue his academic training in the field of art. Having acquired a Five-year Diploma in commercial Art, Master’s degree in English, History of Art and Ancient Indian History and Culture, he went on to pursue his doctoral degree in the History of Arts, his major area of study being mural paintings in 19th century Punjab. Dr. Kang choose to take his love and passion for art by sharing its many nuances with the younger generation and chose to teach art for 34 years to graduate and post-graduate students of the Government Colleges and retired as the Principal of the Govt. Ranbir College, Sangrur in the year 2000.
Besides teaching, Dr.Kang has authored thirteen books on the subjects of art and handicrafts including a book on the folk tales of India.
He has devoted many years to the in-depth understanding of the murals in Punjab and has published two books on the subject.
As a scholar, Dr.Kang has explored new paths and has to his credit more than a dozen research papers. He was Director of the research project on FOLK ARTS OF NORTH WEST INDIA financed by National Academy of Art, Govt, of India.
Dr.Kang has dedicated several years of his life to survey every town and village in Punjab and study wall paintings, documenting his work in both text and photographs. A regular contributor to newspapers and journals, both in English and Punjabi Dr.Kang had been on the editorial board of Roop Lekha – The Research Journal of All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi and served as Guest Editor of the prestigious Marg issue titled, ‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh as patron of the Arts’ in 1981. Dr. Kang, who has also done a certificate course in German and a Diploma on United Nations and International Understanding, owns a rare collection of nearly five thousand photographs and colour slides recording various art objects of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, including wall paintings, miniatures, sculptures, wood carvings, folk arts and crafts and objects of archaeological importance.
Dr.Kang has received many research grants for his work in the field of art history in Punjab. The recipient of several accolades and awards, he was given the W.G. Archer award in 1985 by the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi headed by Dr. M S Randhawa, for his study based on the exploration and research on wall paintings. Dr.Kang was also honoured for his contribution to bring the art of North-West India, particularly Sikh Art, into limelight and the Government of Punjab recently honoured him at Sultanpur Lodhi for his work on the art and culture of Punjab.
Punjab Arts Council feels honoured in conferring the Punjab Gaurav Sanmaan upon Dr. Kanwarjit Singh Kang.