Current Events
A Punjabi University in Nankana Sahib?
by PARVESH KUMAR SHARMA
A New-York based Punjabi-American, Arshad Rehman, is doing his bit to make Punjabi flourish by helping set up a university for the purpose.
However, his effort is different in a major way.
He has agreed to donate 100 acres to Pak-India Friendship Society (PIFS), so that the university can be established in Nankana Sahib, which falls in the part of Punjab now in Pakistan.
Nankana Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Nanak.
Aarif Chaudhary, who was in Patiala on Saturday to attend the fourth Shaheed Nanak Singh Memorial Lecture in Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, confirmed that the project is in the works and might get under way in a few months if they got clearances from the departments concerned.
"There are many universities in Pakistan which teach Punjabi. But I believe if we open a special Punjabi University in Nankana Sahib, the land of Guru Nanak, the language would flourish with the blessings of the Guru,'' said Chaudhary.
He said that, like him, there were many others who believed Punjabi was an inseparable part of their lives and wanted to develop this language in Pakistan.
"There are hundreds of thousands across the globe who want to study Punjabi. But lack of infrastructure is hampering the growth of our mother tongue," said another Punjabi from the diaspora, Rami Sngh Ranger.
[Courtesy: Times of India. Edited for sikhchic.com]
January 17, 2012
Conversation about this article
1: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ), January 17, 2012, 11:16 AM.
When this new Punjabi University comes into being in Nankana Sahib, may I suggest a plaque with the words of Dr. Mohammed Iqbal to adorn the University: Quote: Dr. Mohammad Iqbal, scholar. Maulana Iqbal, one of the most famous poets of Punjab, was full of devotion, love and respect for Guru Nanak. He writes at one place that the advent of Guru Nanak was of the same importance as that of Prophet Ibrahim who came into this world 5000 years ago. He writes that Guru Nanak was such a divine power that with his love he used to enchant people of various religions, nations and castes. People couldn't resist him. And the outcome of this was that they used to follow his teachings. He was such a majestic personality. To be honest and truthful was Guru Nanak's advice. He used to preach to his followers to be truthful. Sayyad Habib Shah, who has studied different religions, was a very good friend of Mohammad Iqbal. Habib became deeply influenced by Guru Nanak's bani, Japji Sahib. He decided to translate this bani for the betterment of humanity. When his friend Iqbal came to know about his plan, he immediately sent a telegram to Habib, cautioning him to be just and righteous while translating the sacred bani. He writes in his telegram, "Habib, ask God to give you strength to be honest and just while translating Guru Nanak's Japji Sahib in Urdu. Be neutral while translating it because this has been penned by the great creator, Guru Nanak. And the way Guru Nanak has served Islam is remarkable and unrivalled."
2: Roop Dhillon (United Kingdom), January 17, 2012, 3:02 PM.
In this case, if it happens, amen.