Dr. Paramjit Kaur Sidhu Assumes Charge as Academic In-charge of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies Department

Chandigarh, September 1, 2026: Dr. Paramjit Kaur Sidhu, Chairperson, School of Punjabi Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, formally assumed charge today as the Academic In-charge of the Department of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies.
On the occasion, Prof. Gurpal Singh Sandhu, former Academic In-charge of the department, along with faculty members and several distinguished scholars, was present to welcome Dr. Sidhu. Faculty members and students from various departments also extended their warm greetings to her by presenting bouquets.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Paramjit Kaur Sidhu expressed her gratitude to the university administration for entrusting her with this important responsibility and assured that she would discharge her duties with utmost dedication, commitment, and sincerity. Emphasizing the need for an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, she said that the academic study of Sikhism and other religious traditions can foster meaningful dialogue, mutual understanding, and respect in a pluralistic society. She further observed that Sikh philosophy and its rich intellectual tradition offer significant insights into equality, human dignity, social responsibility, pluralism, and peaceful coexistence, which merit greater scholarly engagement in the contemporary world.
Following the assumption of charge, Dr. Sidhu also visited the department library and the facility housing its collection of valuable religious manuscripts.
Prof. Gurpal Singh Sandhu, former Academic In-charge of the department, briefly highlighted the significance of the Guru Nanak Sikh Studies Department as one of the prominent centres of religious studies in North India. He noted that the department has contributed significantly to the academic study of Sikhism while also providing opportunities for the study of other religions of the world. He extended his best wishes to Dr. Sidhu for her new responsibility.
Dr. Deveshwar, speaking on the occasion, observed that Indian religions share a distinctive and meaningful consonance with Sikhism. He emphasized that understanding these interrelationships is of considerable importance for scholars and researchers engaged in the academic study of religion.
The occasion was attended by several distinguished members of the academic community, including Prof. Deepak Manmohan, Prof. Sarabjit Singh, Prof. Yograj, Prof. Uma Sethi, Prof. Gurpreet Kaur, Dr. Akwinder Kaur, Dr. Bhupinder Kaur, Dr. Sukhwinder Singh, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, and Dr. Parmvir Singh, besides numerous other faculty members, scholars, and students.