PATIALA SEPTEMBER 21: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon all the Vice Chancellors of the Universities and Principals of the colleges in the state to reserve at least 10% of seats exclusively for the economically poor and bright students with rural background to enable them to compete globally.
Addressing at a seminar on the book ‘Gurmat Sabhayachar’ authored by a renowned Sikh scholar and former President SGPC Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar here at Science Auditorium in Punjabi University, Mr. Badal said that the basic concept of Sikhism was to ensure equality in the society by removing the existing disparity between the rich and poor. He pointed out that the proposed 10% reservation of seats in the educational institutions would be a humble effort to achieve this objective in line with the great ideals of ‘Gurmat’. He appreciated the efforts of the management of private Engineering & Technical colleges for having already taken this decision from the current academic session. He said that he had already impressed upon the Management of the private Medical colleges to devise ways and means to implement the similar decision in their colleges too.
The Chief Minister also lauded the decision of Centre to allow the state government to run short-term courses in skill development programmes in the schools and colleges after the working hours of these institutions. He said a blue print for this programme to be implemented in true spirit was being prepared. He hoped that it would facilitate aptitude-oriented professional placement for the state’s youth in general and rural students in particular. This landmark decision would certainly improve both quality education and human resource development.
The Chief Minister asked the Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Dr. Jaspal Singh who was also present in the seminar to immediately finalize the modalities to implement this scheme so that the wide gulf between the standard of rural and urban education, could be narrowed down through initiating certain measures aimed at imparting quality education to these students at university level.
Commending the outstanding contribution of Prof. Badungar for bringing out his second book on different aspects of Sikhism related to ‘Gurmat Sabhayachar’ the Chief Minister said that Prof. Badungar had aptly made an endeavour to disseminate the message and philosophy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji across the globe to foster the sense of harmony, oneness, peace and compassion amongst the mankind within the contours of socio-cultural values. Mr. Badal urged Prof. Badungar to compile a book on the glorious past of Akali Dal after a thorough research. He said that this would be a very useful publication amongst the future generations and research scholars to acquaint them with the different facets of Akali movement and subsequently sacrifices made by the veteran Akali leaders.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Kirpal Singh Badungar said that he was deeply moved by the fragile value system now-a-days due to mad race for materialism as people had shun the path of righteousness and truth that had resulted frustration and discontentment in the society. He said that in this background he made a modest attempt to bring out this publication ‘Gurmat Sabhayachar’ so that it could apply balm on the sick psyche to save them from the mental agony thereby motivating them to follow the path of divinity to achieve a path of eternal peace and solace.
In his keynote address an eminent Sikh scholar and Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala Dr.Jaspal Singh said that Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was the pioneer for bringing cultural awakening in the society through his lives and works. He said that Guru Nanak Dev ji practically demonstrated his ideals and teachings to the people to dispel their misgivings about the society. He propagated the value based and high moral teachings in the common man’s idiom to dispel their misgivings about the society in order to get rid them of rituals and superstitions.
Presiding over the seminar eminent legal luminary and Advocate General Punjab Hardev Singh Mattewal felicitated Prof. Badungar for his unique contribution by penning this book on the cultural aspects of Gurmat and said that the real purpose of this seminar would only be served that if we all take a solemn pledge to translate the ideals preached by the great Gurus into actions.
In his address Chairman Sikh Studies and Dean GNDU Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon said that Prof. Badungar in his book has highlighted the social evils prevalent in the society in context with ‘Gurbani’. Prof. Badungar had rightly blended the present social issues be it drug addiction, female foeticide and degradation of social values in the backdrop of Gurbani in the language of the common man which could be easily comprehend by one and all.
Among the prominent persons who were present on the occasion were Chief Parliamentary Secretary Raj Khurana, General Secretary SAD Prem Singh Chandumajra, Shiromani Akali Dal leaders Surjit Singh Rakhra, Surjit Singh Kohli and Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpura, Commissioner SK Ahluwalia, Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli. Besides leaders and party workers of SAD and member SGPC.
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