GNDU to set up Central Asian studies centre

As Guru Nanak Dev University recently completed 56 years of its establishment, Vice-Chancellor Karamjeet Singh made several key announcements, discussing the future roadmap for the university’s academic development.

Among the key takeaways was the ‘re-launch’ of the department of philosophy. The VC said, keeping in mind the central role of

philosophy in social sciences, the new department would be set up with a defined course and research work under its scope.

Another important highlight was the establishment of the centre for Central Asian studies, aimed to give a new academic direction to historical, cultural and economic relations.

Singh said GNDU would now be looking towards international cooperation and negotiations on joint projects with embassies of several countries.

“Way back, in 1997–98, the university had received a proposal to set up a Central Asia house by former faculty Kuldeep Nayyar, who was ready to fund the centre. Its aim was to carry out research and possible collaborations in the economic and cultural fields with Central Asian countries. But the project never saw the light of the day. I want to revive the project and set up a centre where possible academic, cultural, research and economic collaborations can be done. I will invite ambassadors and experts from several countries for open deliberations,” Singh said.

“We are culturally and economically linked with Central Asia. Punjab’s cultural and historic links in Central Asia began with Guru Nanak Dev’s journey across the region; and, today, with technology and connectivity, we need to explore all possible ties with countries that India enjoys strong and productive relations with. It will take the university to a global scale,” he added.

Additionally, new courses in ‘Gurmat Sangeet’, especially the traditional ‘Ragi’ tradition, will be brought into contemporary academic framework.

The university will also soon begin a short-term course in Punjabi for non-Punjabi speakers — held online.

Singh said the course had been designed to strengthen the mother-tongue identity of the third generation diaspora.

In a move that he said would connect Sikh history and heritage with academic institutions, the Vice-Chancellor announced a plan to rename Administrative Block as ‘Bhai

Mardana Block’.

Discussions are also underway to name hostels after Sikh historical figures.

“The university was established on 24 November, 1969, with five departments — Punjabi, Hindi, Psychology, Mathematics and English. Today, 56 years later, it has 46 departments and more than 150 programmes; and educates about 25 thousand students every year. GNDU has awarded 17 lakh undergraduate, four lakh postgraduate and five thousand PhD degrees. These are not just statistics, but milestones of a great academic journey,” Singh said.