Hari Ram Gupta Memorial Lecture at PU

Chandigarh, February 17, 2026: Department of History, Panjab University, today organised the “Hari Ram Gupta Memorial Lecture” in the Seminar Room, Department of History, Panjab University. The event began with a welcome note by Dr Jasbir Singh, followed by the floral and formal welcome of the guests by Dr Jasbir Singh, Chairperson, Department of History.
Dr Ashish Kumar and Prof. Priyatosh Sharma introduced the theme of the lecture and presented a brief profile of Professor Hari Ram Gupta (1902–1992), a prominent historian and founder of the Department of History at Panjab University. Prof. Gupta won several prestigious national and international awards for his academic achievements. Dr Jasbir Singh, Chairperson, Department of History, then introduced the guests, including Professor Anshu Malhotra from the Kundan Kaur Kapany Chair in Sikh and Punjab Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. She earlier served as Professor at the University of Delhi.
The lecture was delivered by Prof. Anshu Malhotra on the theme “Tales from My Mother: Gender Performance and Sociability in Some Punjabi Domestic Stories”. She highlighted various aspects of gender discourse through storytelling in earlier times, passed down from generation to generation. She also connected the idea of the archival turn and oral history with lessons emerging from stories narrated by parents and grandparents, reflecting socio-cultural changes and perspectives in society.
The presidential remarks were given by Prof. Madhurima Verma, Dean of Arts and Social Sciences, Panjab University. She thanked the organisers for the invitation and conveyed sincere gratitude to Professor Hari Ram Gupta. Prof. Madhurima Verma appreciated the interdisciplinary approach, rigorous research, and thought-provoking nature of the lecture.
The guests were honoured with mementoes as a token of appreciation and gratitude. Dr Ashish Kumar delivered the formal vote of thanks. Prof. Veena Sachdeva, Prof. Sheena Pall, Prof. Bhupinder Singh Brar, Prof. Ronki Ram, Prof. Pampa Mukherjee, Prof. Anju Suri, Prof. Paru Bal Sidhu and other faculty members from various departments witnessed the event. Approximately 100 teachers and students from different departments of the University attended the lecture.