National seminar on Maharana Pratap at Punjabi University
Patiala-Maharana Pratap Chair, Department of History, Punjabi University Patiala has organized One day National Seminar on ‘Revisiting the Life, Times and Legacy of Maharana Pratap: Mughal Rule and Regional Powers’ to commemorate the Birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap.
Rana K.P. Singh, Speaker, Punjab Legislative Assembly delivered the Inaugural address and he emphasized on the contribution of Maharana Pratap in the History of India while discussing the main aspects related to Maharana- his ideology towards society and his military strategy. Professor GSL Devra, Former Vice Chancellor, Vardhman Mahavir Open University, Kota, Rajasthan presented the Keynote address on ‘A Critical Note on the sources of History of Maharana Pratap’. He urged that there is still a scope and a need for rigorous introspection of more and more Rajasthani and other sources to relocate the position of Maharana in the History of India. The Guest of Honor was Lt Gen.(Retd.) Bhopinder Singh PVSM, AVSM and Former Lt. Governor Andaman and Nicobar Islands & Puducherry. Emphasising on the legacy of Maharana Pratap he stated that the great ruler is an ideal for future generation because of his bravery, courage and steadfastness of purpose.
V.P Badnore, Governor, Punjab and Administrator of U.T. Chandigarh was Chief Guest of the seminar and presided over the inaugural session. He laid stress on the socio-cultural impact of Rajasthan on Punjab and vice-versa. Tracing the impact of the invasions on India from North-Western Frontier Province he focused that how the people of India especially Punjab and Rajasthan played an influential role in protecting their religion, culture and sovereignty from those foreign invasions. About the establishment of the Maharana Pratap Chair he said it is a novel experiment of establishing a Chair for research on ruler of Mewar, Rajasthan in Punjab and hoped that detailed research on varied aspects related to Punjab and Rajasthan with special reference to Maharana would be pursued by the Chair.
Professor B.S. Ghuman, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University Patiala welcomed the guests. He raised important issues related to the contribution of Maharana Pratap and his relevance for the present especially in terms of security of women folk which is a burning issue today. Professor Jaspal Kaur Dhanju, Dean Research and Professor Incharge, Maharana Pratap Chair, Department of History, Punjabi University Patiala introduced theme of the seminar and also informed about the objectives of the Chair.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Professor G.S. Batra, Dean Academic Affairs, Punjabi University, Patiala. Scholars from the Universities of Delhi, Jammu, Jaipur and Punjab are participating in the seminar.
