Release of Dr.Dalvir S.Pannu's book “Sikh Heritage: Beyond the Borders”

Chandigarh, November 26, 2019: The Department of Gandhian and Peace Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh on the occasion of 550 Prakash Utsav of Guru Nanak ji organized the Book Release Function cum lecture of Dr.Dalvir S.Pannu of his book on “Sikh Heritage: Beyond the Borders”. The Chairperson of the Department Dr. Manish Sharma introduced the invited guest sitting on the dais and also spoke about the book. Prof.Ronki Ram, Dean Faculty of Arts, informed the audience that such a scholarly work will help in rebuilding the bonding between the two nations as both Pakistan and India belongs to the same religious bend of mind sets. Dr.Harmesh Kumar, a world renowned Psychologist, based in California also spoke about the book that how it is difficult to bring old sad stories of partition with the present society when we use religion as tool of self-motives. Dr. Dalvir Singh Pannu while talking about his book, informed the audience that he was inspired to research and write Sikh Heritage: Beyond the Borders by his long-standing passion for unearthing the narratives of Sikh historical and religious places displaced during the India–Pakistan partition of 1947. Today, these monuments stand out as the symbols of peaceful and harmonious past lives of people sharing a heritage whose affinities go beyond physical borders and territories. Dr. Pannu dedicates his book to Guru Nanak on his 550th birth anniversary, being celebrated around the globe in November 2019. The father of Sikhism, Guru Nanak was a great humanitarian, a brilliant scholar, and a devout missionary who spent his life discoursing on and pursuing the conception of one true God. He holds universal reverence for breaking the barriers of class, caste, and communities. Sikh Heritage dedicates one chapter each to the 84 sites that it documents, transporting readers to the past by narrating the detailed history of each marvel which the author and his team photographed throughout Pakistan. This book is the culmination of decade-long field work of finding and exploring the heritage sites, alongside analyzing multiple Janamsakhis (hagiography accounts). The author’s process of doing extensive analysis and cross-referencing with other sources enables readers to comprehend Sikh history, by posing inquiries, applying critical thinking, and investigating hundreds of sources. He includes a multitude of primary sources and Gurmukhi inscriptions, translated into English, to increase heritage-lovers’ understanding of these sites and to help preserve their beauty and histories through his writing. Along with practicing full-time dentistry, the author has a fervor for the Sikh heritage in Pakistan. Believing that each one has a story to tell, he is gratified to have unearthed their stories for this book. The lectures were attended by a large number of people from various departments. Mr. Barinderjeet Shergill, M.A 1st Semester Student, gave a vote of thanks to the key speaker and other faculty members of the various departments of the University, invited guests, Research Scholars and students of the University.