Amritsar, April 1 (Bharat Sandesh News):- The Centre on Studies in Sri Guru Granth Sahib to be established with the cost of Rs. 47.05 crore, today become functional with the blessings of the Almighty and Ardas by Jathedar Akal Takhat, Singh Sahib, Giani Gurbachan Singh at the Guru Nanak Dev University Campus here.
Earlier, the function started with Sri Sukhmani Sahib Path and recitation of Shabad Kirtan by Bhai Jagtar Singh, Hazoori Ragi of Sri Harmandir Sahib. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A.S. Brar; Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, SGPC Member and Singh Sahib Bhai Ravel Singh also graced the occasion.
Registrar, Dr. Inderjit Singh welcomed Giani Gurbachan Singh and others. Dean, Academic Affairs, Dr. Rajinderjit Kaur Pawar; Dean, Students Welfare, Dr. M.P.S. Ishar, Director Research, Dr. A.K. Thukral; Dr. Balwant Singh Dhillon, OSD of the Centre; Professor Incharge (Finance and Development), Dr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon; Professor Incharge (Public Relations), Dr. Harish Chander Sharma, officers, faculty members and residents of campus were present on this occasion.
Giani Gurbachan Singh said that Bani enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib is providing guidance to humanity. He said, the exposition of Gurbani done be various scholars differ in some respect but an authentic explanation of Gurbani is required for the whole Sikh world. He hoped that the research done in this center would be beneficial for the whole humanity.
Prof. Brar while speaking on this occasion said that this Center would start functioning from today onwards, while its formal inauguration would be done shortly by Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh. When the Center becomes fully functional, he hoped, it would be a befitting tribute to the living memory and the vision of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
He said that Prof. Balwant Singh Dhillon from Guru Nanak Studies Department of the University today joined as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of this Centre. He said that this Centre would be fully funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) on the Long Term Basis.
While talking about the functioning of this Centre, he said that overall there would be one Director, six Professors, six visiting Professors, eighteen Project Fellows/JRFs in the Centre to carry on the academic work. Besides, there would be technical and supporting staff to manage the library and museum.
Prof. Brar said that the Centre would have 6 Divisions i.e. Division for Studies on Interfaith Understanding, Division for Scriptural Studies, Division for Studies on Musicology, Division for Hermeneutic & Linguistic Studies, Division for Social and Cultural Studies and Division for Scriptural Translations.
While talking about the objective of the Center, Vice-Chancellor said that Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the essential and fundamental derivation of Sikh religion and philosophy. He said it is a unique piece of medieval Indian literature which has strong bearings on the contemporary society and politics. He said its style is a unique blend of music and poetry which is most suitable for devotional singing. Therefore to conduct research on various facets of the Sikh Scripture, an interdisciplinary and integrated approach would be followed.
He said not only the recent trends in the fields of humanities and social sciences even insights from the fields of fundamental sciences would be incorporated. He said to conduct research and avoid duplicity; the Center would work in close rapport with the universities where research work on Sri Guru Granth Sahib is being done.
While detailing more, Vice-Chancellor said that the eminent scholars who have done commendable work on Sri Guru Granth Sahib would be appointed as visiting professors and research fellows on term based projects. He said the senior scholars who can not come to join the Centre would be offered off campus fellowships to complete the research projects assigned to them. Dr. Balwant Singh Dhillon said that the Center would provide a major platform for interfaith understanding to pave the way for communal harmony. For this purpose, it would be frequently holding Symposia, Seminars and Conferences at National and International level. He said the short term orientation courses would be held where in the research work conducted by the scholars, would also be made known to the participants and elaborate discussions would be held thereupon. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A.S. Brar also honored Giani Gurbachan Singh, Bhai Jagtar Singh and Bhai Ravel Singh with memento and shawl on behalf of the University.
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