National seminar on occasion of 550th Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at PU

Chandigarh, November 6, 2019: School of Punjabi Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, in association with Punjab Arts Council, Chandigarh organized a commemorative one-day National Seminar on the occasion of 550th Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji on the topic Guru Nanak Bani Chintan : Pratirodh da Sabhiachaar ate Darshnik Samvaad, here today. Dr.Jagbir Singh, Delhi University, Delhi in his address said that while Sh Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the first Guru of Sikhs but because of his teachings, ideologies and philosophies he should be called as JagatGuru and Vishavguru). Mr.Parminder Sodhi, a Punjabi Poet living in Japan shared the Bani of Sh Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Prof. Shankarji Jha, Dean of University Instructions, PU asserted the relevance of Guru Nanak’s Philosophy and Teachings in modern era. Prof. Karamjeet Singh, Registrar, Panjab University, Chandigarh described the various dimensions of truth while contemplating Guru Nanak Bani. Dr. Surjit Patar presided over the session and concluded the thoughts of speakers in his own poetic manner. Dr. Yog Raj Angrish, Chairperson of the Department expressed his gratitude towards orators and listeners at the end of comprehensive session. The Department released Guru Nanak Special issue of the Research Journal PARKH which consists of 25 research articles on various aspects of the text by Guru Nanak. Dr. Manjinder Singh from GNDU, Amritsar presented the papers on his studies on the verses of Guru Nanak on anthropological and cosmological levels. He said that Guru Nanak never opposed either an individual or a group but challenged the false consciousness. Guru Nanak is in favour of horizontal diversity but disapproves vertical hierarchy. In the whole Guru Nanak Bani, what we found is the phenomena of correction not rejection. Guru Nanak even do not believes in duality of theist or atheist. Dr. Manmohan talked about the occurrence of counter discourse with special reference to ‘Sidh Gosat’ Bani. Dr. Shivani Sharma from Department of Philosophy, PU presented a paper entitled ‘Shabad as Guru’. The paper focused on types of expressions used in scriptures. Dr. Ominder Singh Johal from Jalandhar described the forms and ways in which the dialogue happened. Dr. Jaspal Kaur Kaang gave her observations on the papers presented. Dr. Lakhwinder Johal, Secretary, Punjab Arts Council, Chandigarh raised a notion about lyrical persona of Guru Nanak. Dr. Dharam Singh from GNDU, Amritsar, Dr. Sayed Hassan Abbas from Poonch, J &K and Mr. Des Raj Kali presented their papers in the second session which was Chaired by Dr. Gurpal Singh Sandhu, Dean faculty of Languages, PU. Dr. Surjit Singh Bhatti and Dr. Surjit Singh from Punjabi University, Patiala shared their insights about the poetic, objective and subjective highness of Guru Nanak.