Tributes paid to renowned economist Professor Autar Singh Dhesi on his Bhog ceremony-Prof BS Ghuman
Prof BS Ghuman/ May 4,2024
Bhog Ceremony and Antim Ardas of Professor Autar Singh Dhesi -a renowned economist who passed away on April 24, 2024 was held on May 3, 2024 at Baba Shaheed Gurudwara, village Dhesian Kahna, District Jalandhar. A large Sangat attended the Bhog and Antim Ardas ceremony. Professor AS Dhesi was a blending of two education systems. He got his undergraduate education in India and post-graduation education from United Kingdom where he got a post graduate diploma in Development Administration and two masters degrees in Economics and finally in 1974 Ph. D degree in Economics from Birmingham University. Being an active scholar, Professor Dhesi was elected as member of Faculty Board, Faculty Development Committee and Senate of the University. He also taught at Coventry University. During his time in the UK, Professor Dhesi was also deeply involved in community affairs. Passion to serve his beloved country India and Punjab State brought him back to India in 1975 leaving behind green pastures. On his return he joined Guru Nanak Dev University as Reader (Associate Professor) in Economics. Professor Dhesi’s illustrious career spanned decades of dedicated service and remarkable achievements in India including Professor; Head, Punjab School of Economics; Dean, Economics and Business Faculty at GNDU; consultant to World Bank, Washington DC; Member of Punjab State Planning Board; settin up Punjab Development Society (PDS) in 1997 with a mandate to promote scientific, economic, social and cultural development of North-west India with special focus on Punjab. Professor Dhesi was a very popular teacher, strict disciplinarian and hard task master and researcher par excellence.
Retirement from active service in 1996 did not dampen Professor Dhesi’s commitment to serve the society. Professor Autar Singh Dhesi was appointed as the University Grants Commission Visiting Professor of Economics from October 1998 – October 2000 at Punjabi University. Recognising his seminal contribution, he was awarded the Honoris Causa Degree by the University of Surrey in 2011. He was also an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at the Coventry Business School, Coventry University, England. He was also appointed as member of Senate of Punjabi University. He published extensively in professional journals, even after superannuation.
Professor AS Dhesi’s younger brother Sardar Balraj Singh Dhesi, Professor BS Ghuman, Former Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala; Professor HS Sidhu, Former Chairman, Punjab School Education Board ; Professor Gurmail Singh, Vice Chancellor, Akal University , Dam Dama Sahib; Professor Ronki Ram, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Professor Chair, PU; Professor Sukhdev Singh Sohal , Former Professor of History, GNDU and Ms. Kanwal Grewal Dhanhoya, lecturer of Economics, SGGS, College , Chandigarh paid homage to Professor AS Dhesi and also shared their experiences of their interaction with him .
Tributes paid to renowned economist Professor Autar Singh Dhesi on Bhog ceremony-Prof BS Ghuman. The overarching conclusions were that Professor Dhesi was moving encyclopaedia of economic and social knowledge , very refined human being and was very keen to see Punjab back to its economic supremacy in India; bridging the gap between rural and urban areas ; and Punjabi youth on the right track of getting high quality education and decent jobs.
Note: The writer is a renowned academician and former vice chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala.
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