Guru Ravidass Chair of Sant Sahitya Studies, Panjab University organized a two day national seminar on the topic “Sri Guru Nanak Dev: Bani, Philosophy and Contemporary Society on 27-28.05.2019 to commemorate the 550th Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The seminar was focused on the Bani, Philosophy and its relevance in the contemporary society in terms of Bharti Gyan Prampra, Dharam Prampra and making of our socio-cultural and religious practices as per the darshan of guru tradition.
The seminar was attended by around 50 scholars from all parts of Punjab including Amritsar, Patiala, Faridkot, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Phagwara etc.
The major issues emerged in the various sessions were;
(1) How the universality of the message of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is to be disseminated to all communities of India as well as to all parts of globe.
(2) How the philosophy and teaching of Gurbani can be understand and projected as an excellent articulation of Bharti Gyan and Dharam Prampra in the perspective of understanding of India, standing for India and reshaping the India as an organised body of multicultural and multI-Panthic entities emerging from a single Sat of unitary nature.
(3) How all Indians in general and Sikhs in particular can conceive, make their mind and behave beyond their micro community and Panth specific interests and aspirations and can address to all communities of this land and to humanity as Guru’s teaching guides us.
(4) What kind of efforts can be made to reinstate the image of Guru Nanak Dev as “Hinduan da Guru Musalmana da Peer” (instead of only Sikh’s first Guru) and his message. as Na ko Hindu na Musalman Sakal Sang Ham Ko Ban Aie be spread to humanity.
In the beginning of the seminar, the Chair Professor of Ravi Das Chair, Professor Gurpal Singh, informed the delegates that the present seminar was organized after a long period of 19 years, but now research activities on the Chair are activated and around eight research students are enrolled to pursue their Ph.D. Programmes here.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Shanker Ji Jha, DUI, Panjab University discussed that Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first Sikh Guru should be commemorated with faith and knowledgeable articulations of Indian religious traditions both in academia as well as in social spaces.
Dr. Subhash Sharma, Director Hindustan Cooper Ltd. highlighted the various aspects of Guru Ji’s services to humanity without any self-interest.
In the key Note address Prof. Gurmit Singh, former professor and Dean Faculty of Languages Guru Nanak Dev University and in Presidential Address Prof. Karamjit Singh, Registrar, Panjab University explained the role of Guru ji’s Bani and philosophy in the making of secular and tolerant Indian society.
In the three business sessions of first day, the first session was presided over by Prof. Nandita and in their research papers Prof. VK Alankar and Dr. Shiwani Sharma portrayed the impact of philosophy and teachings of Guru Nanak dev on Sanskrit literature and Indian philosophy. The other speakers who give their views in various sessions were Prof. Gurmukh Singh, Prof. I.D. Gaur, Dr. Manjinder Singh, Dr Baljit Singh, Dr. Jasbir Singh, Dr.Avtar Singh and Dr Nirmal Singh.
On the second day of the seminar three academic sessions were organized in which Dr. Manjeet Kaur, Professor V.K. Alankar and Dr. Harpal Singh chaired the sessions respectively. The six papers were presented in which Dr. Paramjit Singh, Dr. Baljit Singh, Dr. Chamkaur Singh, Dr. Gurmail Singh presented their papers along with two research scholars namely Mr. Baljit Singh and Mr. Narinder Singh.
In the valedictory session, Professor Jaspal Kaur Kaang presided over the session and Professor I.D. Gaur delivered the valedictory address. Professor Mukesh K. Arora and prominent social worker Shri Kishore Kant addressed the audience as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively.
The seminar was attended by the serious scholars and mind blowing discussions were conducted in the all sessions. In the end of the seminar, the Chair Professor of the Chair, Professor Gurpal Singh gave vote of thanks to the guests and delegates.
Professor Gurpal Singh
Chair Professor
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