Former Union minister Preneet Kaur said that Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed himself and his family for the welfare of the humanity and he also laid down the foundation of a new society, Khalsa Panth, without discrimination of any caste and creed. She was here at Senate Hall of Punjabi University Patiala to attend a symposium, “Guru Gobind Singh: A Protector of Peace and Freedom”, as chief guest along with Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, minister of Forests & Wildlife, Printing & Stationary and Welfare of SC & BC Punjab.
The Cabinet Minister has also announced a special grant of Rs 7 crore to set up Guru Gobind Singh Advanced Studies Centre in Punjabi University Patiala to promote the research activities on the life of Guru Gobind Singh. The centre is being formed to mark the 350th birth anniversary of tenth Guru of Sikhs.
Preneet Kaur said that Punjab government was organizing a series of programs across Punjab to celebrate the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh and a state-level function will also be organized at Sri Anandpur Sahib on December 24. She added that former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will be the chief guest of the state-level function.
While throwing light upon the life of Guru Gobind Singh, Mrs. Preneet Kaur said that the Sikh Gurus fought each and every battle for the propagation of peace and harmony in the society and to end up the atrocities of the then rulers. She added that Guru Gobind Singh has also inspired his father, Guru Teg Bahadur, to lay down sacrifice for the protection of Kashmiri Pandits.
While talking about the bleak fiscal condition of Punjabi University, Preneet Kaur said that the financial condition of the institution has worsen during the tenure of previous Akali-BJP government and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder has again put all his focus on the revival of whole Punjab and educational institutions were on his priority list.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot also lauded the sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh and said that the Guru has sacrificed his father, his mother, all his four sons and himself without any personal interests and it was the rarest example of sacrifice in World’s history.
Both the chief guests also lauded the role of Bihar Government for organizing praiseworthy arrangements to celebrate 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh at his birth place Patna. Preneet Kaur and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot also released the ‘Teeka’ (illustration) of Guru Granth Sahib in Devanagari script edited by eminent Sikh Scholar Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi.
An exhibition has also been organized by the Punjab government in the Guru Gobind Singh Bhawan of the University which included books, posters and slogans based on the life of tenth Guru of Sikhs.
Punjabi University Vice Chancellor Dr. BS Ghuman, Director Bhai Veer Singh Sahitya Sadan Delhi Dr. Mahinder Singh , Religious Studies HOD Dr. Gurmeet Singh Sidhu and Professor Inderjit Singh were also among others who were present on the occasion.
