Scholars for unity in diversity

AMRITSAR, MARCH 19: The distinguished scholars from Canada and India who gathered here for an inter-disciplinary seminar on Nation and n...

AMRITSAR, MARCH 19: The distinguished scholars from Canada and India who gathered here for an inter-disciplinary seminar on Nation and nationality 8211; contemporary concerns in India and Canada8217; were of the view that the diversities would always be there and the symbols of nation and nationality would go on changing.

Participating in the seminar, these scholars asserted that no sloganeering could achieve unity. It came from the stirring of the heart as in the case of literature. Hence leaders, politicians and historians must learn the noble lesson from the literary world to achieve real unity, they highlighted.

The two-day seminar has been organised by the English Department of the Guru Nanak Dev University and sponsored by the Indian Association of Canadian studies.

Prof Mushirul Hasan, former vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, in his inaugural address, said that the theme of the seminar was of contemporary interest and concerns, especially in the context of the partition of India as the last triumph of the British and trauma of violence and hate.

In his keynote address, Prof. James Morrison from the University of Halifax, Canada said that in modern culture, there was no place for local culture. He said mere commonality of ethnic culture does not make a nation. He mentioned that the three icons of unity in Canada were the armed forces, the rapid road-rail communications and modern electronic communications.

Dr. Johanne Forest, Second Secretary at the Canadian High Commission, New Delhi, emphasised that the Canadian studies programmes in India played an important role in promoting bilateral relations between the two countries. Prof. Chandra Mohan, president of the Indian Association of Canadian Studies, in his introductory address informed that there were now 15 centres for Canadian studies and 4 area study centres in India. In all, 85 courses in Canadian studies in 40 Indian universities are being taught in the country. He also announced that one more centre may be opened soon in the Punjab region. Pro Vice-Chancellor Inder Pal Singh presided over the inaugural session.