Khalsa College, UK varsity to promote Sikhism

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 13

The historic Khalsa College and University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, have joined hands to promote research in history of the Sikhism and Punjabi language. The two institution of higher learning will share their experiences and expertise in the respective fields to collaborate for empirical studies and promotion of the cohesive culture of Punjab.

This was decided during the preliminary discussion held on Wednesday between the functionaries of the Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) and the Vice Chancellor of University of Wolverhampton, Prof Geoff Layer, who met KCGC honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina and joint secretary Gunbir Singh at the college.

Khalsa University Vice-Chancellor Dr Gurmohan Singh Walia, Director of Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies, University of Wolverhampton, Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar and Prof Amanpreet Singh Gill from Delhi University were also present during the meeting. Prof Layer said he was overwhelmed to visit the newly inaugurated Sikh History Research Centre at the college and they wanted collaboration as their university too had set up Centre for Sikh and Punjabi Studies, which is a first of its kind in the UK.

“We wish to link with Indian Institutions to collaborate on a number of programmes we could undertake jointly,” said Prof Layer, adding that the Centre for Sikh and Punjabi Studies has a number of public events planned, as well as a major International Sikh Studies Conference in September 2019 to mark the 550th Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev.

He said the overarching vision of the Centre for Sikh and Punjabi Studies is to position itself as an internationally recognised hub which acts as a centre of excellence for matters relating to Sikh and Panjabi Community in the UK.

Chhina said Khalsa College also had a similar vision and thus they would support any mission that envisaged the promotion of Punjabi culture and history. Gunbir Singh said there were possibilities of cultural understanding and community cohesion and the two institutions could join hands in future for carrying out such pursuits.

Prof Geoff Layer also met SGPC president Bhai Gobind Singh Longowal and chief secretary Dr Roop Singh. He briefed them about the Sikh centre at the university and its purpose to develop and further the cause of Punjabi language.