Chandigarh
18 April 2018
DIVYA AZAD
The Department of History of Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, Chandigarh organized one day National Seminar on Master Tara Singh in Indian History: Colonialism, Nationalism and Politics of Sikh Identity sponsored by Sikh Educational Society on April 18, 2018. The theme of the seminar was to analyze Master Tara Singh in the cultural framework of Punjab and contextualize him in the background of the nationalistic aspiration for a free India. The Inaugural session started with a Welcome Address by Dr Jatinder Kaur, Principal, Guru Gobind Singh College for Women. Col. (Retd.) J S Bala, Secretary, Sikh Educational Society, welcomed the esteemed guests and further illuminated the multidimensional persona of Master Tara Singh. Guest of Honor, Prof. Jaspal Singh, Former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University highlighted Master Tara Singh’s role in Indian politics and emphasized that he was a person in politics but behaved beyond politics and worked towards “sarbat da bhalla”.
Jathedar Gobind Singh Longowal, President SGPC Amritsar, Chief Guest of the event released the bookMaster Tara Singh in Indian History: Colonialism, Nationalism and Politics of Sikh Identity authored by Prof. J S Grewal, Former Vice Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. In this august gathering, another book authored by Dr Balkar Singh, Professor of Eminence AKAL TAKHT SAHIB: JOT TE JUGAT was released. The Key Note for the seminar was delivered by Prof. Raghuvendra Tanwar, Emeritus Professor in History, Kurukshetra University applauded Prof. Grewal’s meticulous work in creating an unmatched narrative on Master Tara Singh. He mentioned that the success of Master Tara Singh in emerging as a powerful leader of the Panth could only be made possible by his unrelenting pursuits of Sikh interests. Prof. Tanwar motivated other scholars, present at the event, to extensively work on the great man. Talking on his Book, Prof. J S Grewal shared anecdotes and his creative process of writing. While narrating excerpts from his historiography, he mentioned that a new phase in the study on Master Tara Singh has commenced and today’s seminar is a foundation stone for the same.
S. Gurdev Singh I.A.S (Retd.), President Sikh Educational Society, extended the vote of thanks by inspiring the audience to not only read Master Tara Singh’s words, who is a pole star of Sikh Panth, but also implement them in their lives so that they can lead a life on his principles and work ceaselessly towards the betterment of the community.
In the plenary session on Critical Appreciation of Master Tara Singh’s Contribution, Prof. Indu Banga, Emeritus Professor of History, Panjab University, was in the Chair. The invited lectures were delivered by Prof. Prithipal Singh Kapur, Former VC, GNDU Amritsar, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, Member SGPC Amritsar, Dr. Dharamjit, Former Principal Sikh National College, Banga, S. Harvinder Singh Khalsa, former President Punjab Lalit Kala Academy, Chandigarh and Dr. Harpreet Singh Hundal, Asst. Prof. Sikh National College, Kadian.
Col. (Retd.) J S Bala, Secretary, Sikh Educational Society presented the vote of thanks.
