Panjab University 'cancels' Master Tara Singh Memorial Lecture, raises eyebrows

Eyebrows are being raised over a communication from Panjab University Chandigarh, which has canceled the previously planned inaugural Master Tara Singh Memorial Lecture.

Former Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of the National Commission of Minorities, Tarlochan Singh, on Tuesday sent a letter to PU Vice Chancellor Renu Vig asking why the lecture was canceled.

"I have come to know that a seminar on the life of Master Tara Singh, which was scheduled to be held on March 19th at Punjab University, has been canceled without mentioning any reason. It seems very odd that the University Authorities have not recognised the historic and patriotic role of Master Tara Singh, who led the Sikh Community to choose India, rejecting the offer of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1947. This Punjab would have been part of Pakistan. If this sacrifice had not been made by the Sikh leadership," Singh said in a letter to Vig on Tuesday.

Noting that many scholars who were to attend this seminar are upset about the cancellation of the seminar at such short notice, Singh urged PU to re-examine the cancellation and allow the History Department at the university to announce fresh dates for the seminar. Meanwhile, when contacted by The Tribune, Vig said the event had been postponed due to other student activities like Jhankar and Vimarash.

The varsity is, however, yet to announce fresh dates. The Tribune saw emails from invitees to the memorial lecture who said the same had been canceled.

Prof Salil Mishra of Ambedkar University who was to preside over the lecture and seminar event told The Tribune that he received a Tuesday morning call from the PU officials saying the Wednesday seminar had been postponed. No fresh dates were given yet.