Academy holds seminar on life, legacy of Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Dignitaries during a seminar on life and legacy of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Jammu on Tuesday. -Excelsior /Rakesh
Dignitaries during a seminar on life and legacy of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Jammu on Tuesday. -Excelsior /Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages organized a thought-provoking one-day seminar on the life and legacy of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in commemoration of his 555th birth anniversary here today which was graced by prominent dignitaries, scholars, and artists.
The seminar was inaugurated by Suresh Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary, Department of Culture, Jammu & Kashmir who was the chief guest on the occasion.
In his inaugural address, Gupta emphasized the profound impact of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s teachings, which transcend time and place, promoting values of unity, equality, and humanity. He also highlighted the significant role of Guru Nanak’s philosophy in fostering peace and communal harmony in the region.
Harvinder Kour, Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, addressed the gathering. She spoke about the relevance of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s message in today’s world, where his teachings on equality, selflessness, and service to humanity resonate more than ever.
The inaugural session was presided over by Prof. Rajkumar, a well known scholar, while Manjit Singh, Chairman of the Sikhs All Foundation, was the guest of honour. The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Arvinder Singh Amn, who elaborated on the theme, “Guru Nanak: Life and Legacy.”
Dr. Javaid Rahi, Chief Editor of Gojri, extended a warm welcome to the distinguished guests and scholars, while Popinder Singh Paras, Editor of Sheeraza Punjabi, also participated in the seminar. The programme commenced with a devotional Gurbani Bhajan Aarti, presented by students from Government Degree College (GDC), Jammu.
The seminar was structured into multiple sessions. The second paper session was chaired by Khalid Hussain, a renowned Punjabi short story writer, with Harjit Singh Uppal and Jang Singh Verman sharing the stage.
Eminent Punjabi writer Ajit Singh Mastana and scholar Dr. Harsimran Singh also presented their papers in the session.
The poetry session, which followed, featured a vibrant array of performances from students and poets, including Dr. Jitender Udhampuri and Dr. Baljit Singh Raina, who were present in the presidium.
The concluding session was marked by a final round of poetic performances, where young students from different colleges shared their compositions on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak.
The proceedings of the seminar were conducted by Popinder Singh Paras.