PU decision to cancel first Master Tara Singh Memorial Lecture raises brows

Eyebrows are being raised on Panjab University Chandigarh's sudden decision to cancel a previously planned Master Tara Singh Memorial Lecture.

The event, scheduled for Wednesday March 19 at the English auditorium of PU, stands postponed with the intimation regarding the March 19 cancellation going out to invitees and speakers only on Tuesday morning.

The invitation card for the lecture says it was being organised by Guru Nanak Research Institute, Birmingham, in collaboration with PU Chandigarh's History Department and Punjabi Sahit Academy, Ludhiana.

The memorial lecture was to be delivered by Salil Mishra, one of the two professors dismissed by BR Ambedkar University, New Delhi, last December with calls for his reinstatement being made ever since.

All India Students’ Association (AISA) had at the time condemned the dismissal of Mishra of the History Department and Prof Asmita Kabra of Human Ecology Department at Ambedkar University, Delhi, (AUD), accusing the administration of "political retaliation against progressive voices".

Speaking to The Tribune today, Salil Mishra said, "I received a phone call from PU this morning saying the March 19 event had been postponed. I was informed today itself."

PU V-C Renu Vig, when contacted, said the lecture had been "postponed on account of other student activities like Jhankar and Vimarash". Vig added that the department (of history) would organise the event as soon as possible.

No fresh dates for the lecture were, however, announced with former Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of National Commission of Minorities Tarlochan Singh terming the PU's ‘excuses’ as "lame".

Singh shot off a letter to Vig today asking why the event was cancelled at the last minute.

"I have come to know that a seminar on the life of Master Tara Singh which was scheduled to be held on 19th March in Panjab University has been cancelled without mentioning any reason. It looks very odd that the University authorities have not recognised the historic and patriotic role of Master Tara Singh who led the Sikh community to go for India rejecting the offer of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1947. This Punjab would have been part of Pakistan. If this sacrifice has not been made by the Sikh leadership," Singh wrote to Vig.

Noting that many scholars who were to attend the seminar were upset about its cancellation at such a short notice, Singh urged PU to re-examine the move and allow the History Department to conduct it or announce fresh dates.

As per the March 19 event invite, former Punjab CM Charanjit Channi was to be the chief guest at the lecture and Master Tara Singh's granddaughter Kiranjit Kaur special guest.

Former Sangrur MP Simranjit Singh Mann was invited as the guest of honour.