PU to offer Maharaja Ranjit Singh Chair to Lt Gen KJ Singh

Aarti Kapur

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 27

Panjab University (PU) will offer the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Chair at the Department of Defence and National Security Studies to Lt Gen Kamal Jit Singh (AVSM), General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command. PU Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover said a proposal in this regard would be placed before the Syndicate for approval during a meeting on July 31.

“Lt Gen Singh will retire on July 31 after which an invitation will be sent to him for approval. He will also visit the campus on August 17 to deliver a talk on national security challenges and response,” the VC said.

Chairman of the department Jaskaran Singh said the chair had been lying vacant since its inception. In fact, the chair was transferred to the Department of History a few years ago but nobody was appointed to it.

A special committee constituted under the chairmanship of the former Panjab University VC and senior senator RP Bambah had recommended that the chair should again be transferred to the Department of Defence and National Security Studies and a retired senior military officer should be appointed to it.

Meanwhile, deliberations are on to fill the Bharti Telecom Chair, one of the prominent chairs at the university. As per  norms, only a senior engineer can be appointed to the chair.

A proposal will also be tabled about the facilities to be offered to the dignitaries heading the varsity chairs under the foundation for higher education and research fund.   

Eminent persons to be appointed to 10 chairs

The PU authorities have decided that eminent personalities will be appointed to 10 university chairs and the rest of the 15 will be offered to the senior most professors on the university campus.

Status of prominent chairs

• Dr Manmohan Singh Chair: Prof YK Alagh, Chancellor, Central University of Gujarat, and former Union Minister for Power, Planning, Science and Technology
• Mahatma Gandhi Chair: Ela R Bhatt, founder, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Ahmedabad.
• Tagore Chair: Gulzar, poet, lyricist and film director
• Jawaharlal Nehru Chair: Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister and noted economist
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh Chair: Lt Gen Kamal Jit Singh (AVSM), General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command (name proposed).
• Rajiv Gandhi Chair: Vacant
• Sri Aurobindo Chair: Vacant
• BR Ambedkar Chair: Vacant
• Bharti Telecom Chair: Vacant
• Lal Bahadur Shastri Chair: vacant