Chandigarh February 17, 2022
Celebration of Guru Ravidas Jayanti
On the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, Department of Education in collaboration with Guru Ravidas Chair of Sant Sahitya Studies, Panjab University Chandigarh organized a webinar on the topic contribution of Guru Ravidas to Indian Society.
The guests including Hob’ble Vice Chancellor, Professor Raj Kumar, Padam Shri Professor H.S. Bedi, Chancellor, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala, Resources Persons, Faculty Members, Research Scholars and Students were welcomed by Dr. Kirandeep Singh, Chairperson Department of Education.
Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, who was also the Guest of Honour discussed the significance of the philosophy of Guru Ravidas in contemporary times. Then he along with the Chairperson, Department of Education welcomed the esteemed speaker Padam Shri Prof. Harminder Singh Bedi. Prof. Bedi drew a comprehensive life sketch of Guru Ravidas and provided an insightful talk about his writings. He provided anecdotes from his life and further discussed how his writings happened to have a great impact on the Punjabi culture and literature.
Dr. Manjinder from School of Punjabi Studies, GNDU, Amritsar, the next panelist while discussing the contributions of Guru Ravidas mentioned that he propounded the philosophy of ‘Sanjhivalta'(cooperation). He mentioned that Guru Ji invoked the concept of ‘begumpura’: a place of no sorrow (be-gum). He said his writings depict a society where there is “cosmological unity in anthropological diversity”.
Dr. Gurpal Singh, Chair Professor, Guru Ravidas Chair of Sant Sahitya Studies mentioned that teachings of Guru Ravidas universalized the idea of social justice. His work propagated the space for the ignored voices and the marginalised. The last speaker Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Department of Punjabi, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra extended the thoughts of the previous speakers, quoted the hymns of Guru Ravidas with their meanings. He said “knowledge should be for wisdom and power should be for humankind”. He left the audience with a thought that one must listen to the voice of Guru Ravidas and help save the society from deepening fault lines of differences and narrowness of thought.
In the end, Dr. Gurpal Singh extended the formal vote of thanks to the Guest of Honour, speakers and the audience of Faculty members, Research Scholars and Students.
