Eminent Writer and Jnanpith Award winner Prof. Gurdial Singh today said that Kalidasa
was the greater playwright then William Shakespeare. Similarly no western literatureur
is bigger than Ved Vyas. We have not given due importance to our languages.
Noted Punjabi Writer, Novelist Prof. Gurdial Singh was addressing the prestigious
Foundation Day Lecture during the National Seminar on the “Making of Modern Punjab:
Education, Science and Social Change in Punjab”, at Panjab University (PU) today.
Padma Shri Awardee Prof Gurdial Singh encapsulated various issues ranging from the
progress of human history, importance of the native language to disseminate scientific
thinking in the present scenario. He traced the history of Punjabi language and said
that colonialism had disrupted the significance of Punjabi language as well as the
education system through manipulative academic policies. He exemplified how Indian
authors like Kalidas were often undervalued by academia under the influence of Western
literary tradition. He highlighted upon the role of literature, human emotions and
morality for human existence.
Prof. Gurdial congratulated the PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Arun K Grover enlightening the
people about the great contribution of Ruchi Ram Sahni and other scientists from Punjab.
He said that though Prof. Ruchi Ram Sahni was a committed Arya Samaj believer but he
participated in the Kar Sewa at Golden Temple. He said that Prof. Sahni not only
promoted science in Punjab but also brought changes in the peoples thought process so
that they could think like scientists.
Prof. Gurdial Singh also spoke on the contribution of Guru Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh and
Emperor Ranjeet Singh.
President of South Asian University and former VC of JNU Prof. G.K Chadha presided over
the Foundation Day Lecture while PU VC Prof. Arun K Grover, Prof. Pratibha Nagpal, Prof.
BS Ghuman, Dr. Archana R. Singh also spoke on the occasion.
Press Release No.729
VP/SK
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