CHANDIGARH, Oct 11: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today interacted with some eminent Sikh scholars to discuss ways to propagate the cosmopolitan message of the great Gurus in the context of challenges faced by the modern society such as the drug menace, female foeticide, violence and threats to peace and communal harmony in the country.
The occasion was provided by a function held here for the release of a book based on distinctive research and highlighting the pan-India landscape against which the Sikh Gurus set their mission.
The book, “Historical Sikh Shrines of Jammu and Kashmir”, which is the latest offering from an unusual academic and literary collaboration between a Sikh historian, Commodore Dalbir Singh Sodhi of Indian Navy and Kashmiri publisher Shiekh Ajaz of Gulshan Books, Srinagar, features some of the most stunning visuals of places visited by Guru Nanak Dev, Guru Hargobind and Guru Har Rai.
The book captures in breath-taking detail aesthetic camera-work and oil paintings by the author’s daughter Mehak. Some of these places lay in the remotest and almost inaccessible parts of the then Kashmir. The book also deals with the early life of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.
The Chief Minister made use of the occasion to discuss issues facing the Sikh community in J&K. Giani Swarn Singh Khalsa, who represents the SGPC and is in-charge of the Sikh Mission in J&K apprised the Chief Minister of some long pending issues with the State Government there.
Eminent Sikh Scholar, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan brought up the problems relating to the spread of Sikh culture and minority Sikh educational institutions in that State.
The Chief Minister instructed his Principal Secretary S K Sandhu, also present on the occasion, to prepare a detailed note on the issues facing Punjabis in J&K. Mr Badal said that that he would take the matter up with his J&K counterpart Omar Abdullah for an early and expeditious redressal of these issues. (AGENCIES)
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