Symposium on Advances in Biological Anthropology

Chandigarh, March 22, 2019: A one day Symposium on Advances in Biological Anthropology to honour Prof.Rajan Gaur, an Eminent Palaeoanthropologist was inaugurated by Prof.Shankarji Jha, Dean of University Instructions, Panjab University, Chandigarh here today.
He spoke about the concept of human evolution as per Vedas.
Dr.Kewal Krishan, Chairperson and Co-ordinator of the Symposium elaborated about the objectives of the same.
On the occasion, Abstract book of the Symposium was released by the dignitaries. A collation of the research work of Prof. Rajan Gaur was also released in two Volumes.
Prof.Rajan Gaur expressed his thanks to the Chairperson for arranging the Symposium in his honour and talked about his experiences in the Department. He spoke about the continuation of the legacy of fossil primates and human evolution studies which was earned worldwide fame for the Department of Anthropology. He said, he owed his success to his teachers, colleagues and students.
Dr. (Mrs.) Indu Talwar, a former Professor and Guest of Honour presided over the function. She congratulated Prof. Rajan Gaur for his achievements and appreciated the Chairperson for bestowing honour on his teachers.
Prof. S.L. Malik, Former Professor & Head, University of Delhi and Emeritus Fellow of U.G.C. spoke on “Acclimatization to High Altitude Environment: A Success Story of Human Species” and concluded that different high attitude populations respond differently depending upon the degree, kind and amount of stresses.

Prof. S.P. Singh, former Head of Department of Human Genetics delivered invited Lecture on “Some Human Biological Issues of Adolescence” and talked about what triggers physical growth during adolescence from initiation of puberty till its completion.

Prof. M.P. Sachdeva, Department of Anthropology, Delhi University delivered talk on “My Genes or My Lifestyle? A Life Course from “Thrifty Genotype” to “Thrifty Epigenotype” He discussed various hypotheses in the light of recent findings involving human diseases.

17 Posters were presented in the next session which was chaired by Prof. S.L. Malik and Prof. Anil Bhalla. Dr. Harvinder Kaur, PGIMER, Chandigarh won the first prize for best Poster presentation.

Prof. R.K. Singla, Dean Research, PU in his Valedictory address lauded the efforts of the Department in organizing this Symposium and congratulated Prof. Rajan Gaur for his achievements. He discussed the importance of biological anthropology and advised the scholars to put in hard labour and not expect immediate results. He advised the students to go through the grind of various problems and turbulations before tasting success.
Earlier, a short film on Prof. Rajan Gaur was screened highlighting different dimensions of his research and achievements.