Gate No. 1 of agri-varsity draws flak

Manav Mander

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 21

The authorities of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU are often criticised due to opening of the gate No. 1. During its construction, university employees and local architects had raised objections over its structural design.

Now, it has drawn flak as the name of the university “Punjab Agricultural University” is written only in English and the one in Punjabi has been given a miss.

Although at gate No. 2 bears the name of university in both English and Punjabi, it is not prominently visible. Punjab Agricultural University is written in English in huge alphabets only on the gate No. 1.

A university employee said, “PAU is the identity of Punjab. The authorities have failed to write name of the university in Punjabi, which is our mother tongue and the state language. University’s name should have been written in Punjabi too.”

The PAU retirees Welfare Association general secretary, Satish Sood, said, “Being the state language of Punjab, Punjabi is used in government offices as well. Keeping this fact in view, the name of the university should have been written in Punjabi.”

He said, “Punjabi is used along with English even on signboards in Punjab. As it is the name of a prestigious university it should not have been given a miss in Punjabi here.”

A former PAU employee said, “PAU is agricultural university. Kisan melas are also held on its campus regularly. Farmers will feel more connected to the university if its name is written in Punjabi along with English.”

He said, “Some farmers are unable to read English. Reading “Punjab Khetibaari University” in their mother tongue will give them a feeling of an instant connection.”

Earlier, the structural design of the gate No. 1 was disapproved by students and PAU employees as it was narrow and failed to bring out grandeur of the university.

Architects opined that the two narrow gates portrayed varsity in a bad light. One single, wide gateway for entry and exit would have been apt and impressive instead of two narrow passages, they added.

Dean, College of Agriculture, Jaskaran Singh Brar, said, “As lot of people want the name of university in the state language so, it will be written in Punjabi also. The architect has been asked to do the needful in this regard.”