CHANDIGARH – October 15, 2012: Panjab University, Chandigarh is celebrating the 130th
year of its existence on the 20th of October 2012.  This year is unique in that the
Partition of 1947 now lies at the hinge of our history, bisecting it at 65 years pre and
post Independence.
    A series of events have been organized to commemorate the occasion, beginning with the
Foundation Day Lecture on ‘Interpretation of Early Indian History’ to be delivered by
the eminent historian and PU alumna, Professor Romila Thapar.  
Currently Professor Emerita, Ancient Indian History, at Jawahar Lal Nehru University,
Delhi, Dr. Thapar has been a visiting professor at Cornell University, the University of
Pennsylvania, and the College de France in Paris. She was elected General President of
the Indian History Congress in 1983 and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in
1999. She also holds the distinction of being an Honorary Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall,
Oxford, and at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
Numerous universities all over the world have awarded her honorary doctorates. Professor
Thapar has been invited to receive the Padma Bhushan twice in a career spanning over
half a century and is also the co-winner of the prestigious Kluge Prize for the study of
Humanity.
Through her authorship of over two dozen books, edited anthologies and scores of
research papers, Professor Thapar continues to be acknowledged in world fora for her
focus on the evolving interplay between social forces throughout the history of human
civilization. In the subcontinent, her advocacy of an all-inclusive Indian identity -
one that rises above the sub-identities of religion, caste and tribe – has its own fan
following.
    The Lecture will be followed by a Panel Discussion on the Panjab University Vision
2020 Document at 3:00 pm. The discussion will be moderated by Prof. R.P. Bambah, eminent
mathematician and former Vice Chancellor, Panjab University, following which comments
would also be invited from the audience.
    A one-hour Cultural Program will round off the Foundation Day celebrations.
Press Note No.494
       MMK/PS