AMRITSAR: Former IAS Kahan Singh Pannu, who attended the first academic session of the seminar organized by Khalsa University in collaboration with the host college on the fourth day of the 5-day ‘10th Literary Festival and Book Fair’ starting from November 15 at Khalsa College, shared extensive information about the political systems of different states, countries and the world during a discussion on the topic of ‘Political-Administrative Behavior of Punjab’.
He said that there is a huge difference in the economy and social behavior of other developed countries compared to India.
Speaking on this occasion about Indian democracy, Mr. Pannu said that its practical form is different from the theory, in which the common man does not have any constructive role at the political level. He has been used as a tool. He said that no kind of progress is possible without education. In developed countries, the level of education is achieved in practical form, whereas Indian education has not been able to reach this level even till now. He described the subject ‘Political-Administrative Behaviour of Punjab’ as the purpose of living life and this subject only makes us aware of the problems in life. After this, the students asked Mr. Pannu various questions on the related subject, which he answered very satisfactorily.
Earlier, the Dean Academic Affairs of the University Dr. Surinder Kaur welcomed the guests Mr. Pannu, Vice Chancellor of Khalsa University Dr. Mehal Singh, Registrar Dr. Khushvinder Kumar and College Principal Dr. Atam Singh Randhawa with welcoming words. After this, Dr. Mehal Singh welcomed Mr. Pannu and described him as a man of uncompromising personality. He said that he is a person who takes the right decision on the spot regarding the phenomenon. He said that today’s era is the era of knowledge. Knowledge advances only through dialogue. Explaining the need and importance of dialogue, he presented the main aspects of the seminar’s specialty. On this occasion, he made the audience aware of the various aspects of Mr. Pannu’s personality and his contribution.
On this occasion, Dr. Surinder Kaur, describing today as a great day, shared information about Mr. Pannu’s services in various capacities with the audience. She said that Mr. Pannu has served as the Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Board and the Agriculture Secretary. His scope of knowledge is quite wide.
After this, in the second session of the seminar, Dr. Parminder Singh, Head of the Punjabi Department, introduced the guests. The theme of the first session was ‘Language and Literature in the Modern Age: Challenges and Prospects’. Among the scholars who came from various universities and colleges, Professor and Former Head, School of Punjabi Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr. Harbhajan Singh Bhatian, Professor and Head, School of Punjabi Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr. Manjinder Singh, Dr. Kanwaljit Singh from Guru Angad Dev College, Khadoor Sahib and Dr. Amarjit Singh from Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Patiala read their valuable and informative research papers in the session.
In the second session of the seminar organized by the Department of Language, Punjab, a serious discussion was held on the topic ‘Language and Literature in the Modern Age: Challenges and Prospects’. This session was presided over by Professor and Former Head, School of Punjabi Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr. Harbhajan Singh Bhatian.
On this occasion, Dr. Manjinder Singh, Head, Department of Punjabi, School of Punjabi Studies, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, said that language is the basis of our existence. Language is the basis of making a human being human. The existence of language depends on the existence of man. He said that language does not face any threat from AI. AI cannot function without language. He said that in today's time, there is no need to be worried about language, but there is a need to be concerned about a particular language. The big challenge for the Punjabi language is that it has a negative knowledge tradition. Punjabi language is the language of Sufis, poets and gurus. It is necessary to recognize the worldview of the language. Although the characters, language and surroundings of the writer's work may be in the regional language, the subject should be universal.
Sharing his views on the relevant subject, Dr. Kanwaljit Singh, Head of Guru Angad Dev College Khadoor Sahib, said that in the modern era, epidemics like Corona have dampened the interest in reading and teaching. At the academic level, people's literary interest should be aware from the beginning to face such challenges. The development of the technological age has greatly affected the life of students. Students are getting separated from literary interest and are running after external glamour. This phenomenon has become a big challenge for literature today.
Professor of Punjabi Department of Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Patiala, Dr. Amarjit Singh said that in the present era, the challenge of language has become a global challenge. The relationship of literature is that of paper and pen. Literature and creativity are expressed by the movement of pen on paper. Awareness of language is the only solution to its survival. After this event, Dr. Baljit Singh Dhillon's book Yakh Raat Di Maart, Ashok Kumar O.P. Manocha's translated book Cyber Encounter were released.
In the afternoon, in the panel discussion, renowned thinker Nakshdeep Panjkoha presented his views on the burning issues of Punjab and the challenges and issues of migration. Ravinder Sehra, Prin. Sarwan Singh presented his views on the burning issues of Punjab.