Punjab Post Daily Online Newspaper & Print Media
Amritsar, November 22 (Punjab Post Bureau)- A two-day 31st Seminar on “Guru Nanak Bani : Foundational source of Applied Ethics” was inaugurated here today in the Auditorium of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan of Guru Nanak Dev University. The seminar is being organized by Guru Nanak Studies Department of the University.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ajaib Singh Brar inaugurated the seminar. Prof. Jagbir Singh, former Head, Punjabi Department, Delhi University, Delhi presided over while Prof. Rajinder Kaur Rohi, former Head, Department of Religious Studies, Punjabi University Patiala delivered the keynote address on this occasion. Prof. Navdeep Singh Tung, Dean Academic Affairs welcomed the chief guest and other guests. Dr. Manvinder Singh, Director of the Seminar presented vote of thanks.
In his inaugural address Prof. Brar talked about the impact of religion on science and motivated students to regard Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s bani as highest source of inspiration. He said that we need to to do scientific research on the Bani of Guru ji. He said that Science and Relgion, both are for the benefit of humanity but one sided understanding and misuse could led to misunderstanding.
The presidential address was given by Prof. Jagbir Singh in which he said that Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s Bani in the contemporary world can give solutions to all the major universal problems and be a source of such applied ethics that would give the society a positive direction. He said that Gurbani is not law and hard code of conduct but the Gurbani is source of divine knowledge and revealed by Guru ji through divine music and divine poetry. He said that during colonial period western thought hegemony was imposed in society in a calculated and systematic way. But now we need to revive our rich knowledge heritage to overcome. We need to follow the teachings of saints and Gurus for the welfare of society.
Prof. Rajinder Kaur Rohi in her key note address brought up the issue of morality taking a back foot. She said the Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji’s Bani can actually teach spiritual morality to the world. She said that Guru ji did Udasi to speard the message of universal brotherhood. She said that the teachings of Guru ji is still relevant as in those times, so our youth should follow to excel their lives. Prof. Navdeep Singh Tung, Head of Department & Dean Academic Affairs welcomed all the guests and shared with them some proceeding of the department. He said that the department has received Rs. 24 lakh of the UGC-SAP II grant of Rs 60 lakh. This money is being used for more research and other academic developments in the department. Dr. Manvinder Singh, director of seminar thanked all the scholars and guests for coming and participating in the seminar. A book entitled Gurbilas Patsahi Dasvin Krit Bhai Sukha Singh edited by Dr. Manvinder Singh was released by Prof. Brar and others. Prof. Brar also honored chief guest and other guests with memento.
He said that a total of 45 research papers will be presented in the seminar. To head the different sessions of seminar Prof. Jodh Singh, Prof. Harpal Sing Pannu, Prof. Sarabjinder Singh, Dr. Jaspal Kaur Kaang were presented. In the first and second sessions the papers were presented by prof. Gurmeet Singh Sidhu, Prof.Shashi Bala, Dr. Jasbir Singh Sabar, Dr. Gurnam Singh Sanghera, Dr. Mohubat Singh, Dr. Gurjot Kaur, Dr. Veena Arora, Dr. Pawan Kumar, Dr. Kirandeep Kaur. Also there were different scholars from Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab University Chandigarh, Guru Granth Sahib World University Fatehgarh Sahib and also from renowned institutions such as Shaheed Sikh Missionary College, Amritsar, Nishan-e-Sikhi Khadoor Sahib and SGPC honored the seminar with their participation.
