‘Fostering intellectual dialogue between two Punjabs’: PU mulls inviting University of Punjab, Lahore for annual fest
Panjab University forms committee to decide on proposal by students’ council.
3 min read
The current proposal states that University of Punjab, Lahore should be invited to participate in the annual fest Jhankaar which should serve as a “platform for fostering cross-border harmony, cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue between the two Punjabs”. (Express File Photo)Panjab University, Chandigarh, has decided to consider the proposal of its students’ council to invite the University of Punjab, Lahore for the annual cultural fest, and has constituted a committee to discuss the matter. The meeting of the committee will be held on January 20.
After India was partitioned in 1947, the University of Punjab, originally established in 1882 in Lahore of undivided Punjab, was also bifurcated. While the original university continued to function in Lahore in west Punjab (Pakistan), the PU Chandigarh was formed for Punjab that exists in India.
The PU Campus Students Council led by its president Anurag Dalal had submitted a proposal to the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Renu Vig suggesting that the University of Punjab should be invited for the former varsity’s annual cultural fest Jhankaar-2025.
Considering the proposal, the varsity has constituted an eight-member committee headed by Amit Chauhan, dean, students welfare, which will meet on January 20 to mull over the issue.
The veteran professors and former academicians associated with the university said that they do not remember any previous instances when University of Punjab Lahore representatives might have participated in any such fest at PU Chandigarh, though invitations for some events might have been sent in the past also.
Speaking to The Indian Express, prof Dr Arun Kumar Grover, former V-C, Panjab University, Chandigarh, who served two consecutive terms from 2012 to 2018, said that he had invited the V-Cs of University of Punjab, Lahore and Government College University Lahore (GCUL) in 2013 for a programme to commemorate 150 years of higher education in undivided Punjab, but it never succeeded. “I had also written to the then prime minister of the country and chief minister Punjab to facilitate visas but never received any response,” he added.
The current proposal states that University of Punjab, Lahore should be invited to participate in the annual fest Jhankaar which should serve as a “platform for fostering cross-border harmony, cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue between the two Punjabs”.
The proposal further includes: performances showcasing rich culture of both Punjabs, celebrating shared heritage, a scholarly dialogue on rich history of Punjab University, its contribution to education in both nations, discussion on benefits of trade through Wagah border, a reflective dialogue on how partition impacted both sides, joint cultural night, exploring linguistic heritage, and fostering friendships between students of both countries.
Karanbir Singh Randhawa, former joint secretary , PUCSC, said that the V-C was “positive” about the Lahore varsity this time.
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