This is a recording of Punjabi vocalist Badrulnisa Begum performing Sona Deshan Vichon Desh Punjab. The song, digitised by the Endangered Archives Programme, was recorded in India sometime between 1935 and 1955. It celebrates various aspects of the Punjab, with references to a distinct Punjabi regional identity and culture. It also highlights the area’s beautiful landscape and references five rivers that flow through the Punjab, namely the Jhelum, Sutlej, Ravi, Beas and Chenab. 

This recording was digitised as part of the Endangered Archives Programme.

About the Endangered Archives Programme

Since 2004 the Endangered Archives Programme has facilitated the digitisation of many archives from around the world that were in danger of neglect, serious physical deterioration or even outright destruction. With generous backing from the charitable fund Arcadia, the Programme has digitised over ten million images and 35,000 soundtracks from 90 countries worldwide. This continually expanding online collection of rare prints, manuscripts and audio recordings is available through local archival partners and discoverable through the British Library catalogue.