The recitation of “Akhand Paath” began to mark sanctification 
ceremony at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Bhawan under construction on the Panjab University 
campus here today as a prelude to the Bhawan’s inauguration on November 24, the 
martyrdom day of the great Guru.  The Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof. R.C. 
Sobti and senior faculty and staff members paid obeisance and listened to the “Akhand 
Paath” today. The bhog of Akhand Paath will take place on Wednesday afternoon.  The 
Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal will inaugurate the Bhawan around 
afternoon.          
The construction of Guru Tegh Bahadur Bhawan is yet another step of the Vice-
Chancellor Prof. R.C. Sobti taken for the promotion of Punjabi language, literature 
and culture at a larger scale, and to strengthen traditional value system, literary 
tradition and the message preached by Gurbani.  The development of this Bhawan will 
serve as a centre to be used by various institutions and all available human resources 
for the promotion of Punjabi language, literature ad culture.
        With the construction of the Bhawan complex, the departments of Punjabi, 
Punjabi Lexicography, Bhai Vir Singh Chair, Sheikh Baba Farid Chair, Guru Ravi Das 
Chair and the department of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies will be housed within the Bhawan 
building complex.  .  The Vice-Chancellor Prof. R.C. Sobti also has another dream 
project of setting up another chair namely, Guru Granth Sahib Chair shortly. 
        The Guru Tegh Bahadur Bhawan, located at a prime site along one of the major 
arteries (roads) will have state-of-the-art infrastructure including a conference 
hall, reference library, museum, audio-visual and computer labs besides provision for 
independent office accommodation for faculty and staff.  The well ventilated and 
skylit bhawan will have four floors with three staircases and two lifts.  Planned and 
designed by the University architects team headed by Er Harpreet Singh, the Bhawan 
will have the multipurpose conference hall situated at the ground floor specifically 
keeping in mind the convenience of it to be used by senior litterateurs, who 
experience difficulty in climbing stairs at times.    
Press Note No.609
AK/PS