Centre of Indian Languages of Jawaharlal Nehru
University organized and hosted a two day Interdisciplinary International
Seminar on Guru Ravidassji at JNU On February 23-24, 20015.
Though I am not an
authority on the subject yet the organizers, particularly the Convener of the
Conference Dr. Rajesh Paswan, was kind enough to invite me as an observer. As
such, I attended the opening plenary session and also participated in the first
technical session of the Seminar on February 23. Both the functions were very
well organized and attended. I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate
Dr. Rajesh Paswan and his colleagues at the Centre of Indian Languages particularly
Dr. Ram Chander for the excellent arrangements and hospitality. |
| With Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh International |
The opening plenary was inaugurated by Shri
Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh International who was one of the co-sponsors of the
Seminar. The theme of his speech was the Motivational Message of Guru Ravidass
and the Sulabh Movement. He said that to
fight the problem of caste system and establishment of healthy and harmonious
social order, there was no better remedy than the path shown by the great
visionary Guru Ravidass. The session was chaired by Dr. Vaishna Narang, Dean of
Languages, Literature and Cultural Studies Centre of the JNU. Some of the
renowned intellectuals and academics namely Prof T.V. Kattimani, Vice
Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Dr. Chander Bhan
Prasad, Prof. Vivek Kumar, Prof. Chauthiram Yadav, Shri Sunil Sardar spoke with
convincing and impressive voices and underlined the importance and relevance of
Guru Ravidassji’s message and philosophy to meet the challenges of the 21st
century. I was very much impressed by
the scholarly presentations of Prof Vivek Kumar of JNU and Prof. Chauthiram
Yadav of BHU.
 |
| With Rajesh Bagha, Chairman Punjab SC Commission |
The first technical session of the Seminar on
the afternoon of February 23 was chaired by Shri Rajesh Bagha, Chairman of
Punjab SC Commission and conducted by a young intellectual Dr. Manoj Kumar. The
theme of the session was Guru Ravidass: Diverse Dimensions. It was a very well
attended session by the cross sections of students and teaching community. The
speakers namely Shri Sriram Arsh, Prof K.P. Singh of USA, Dr. Sneh Thakur of
Canada, Dr. Rahul Dipankar of USA, Prof. Chandra Sadayat, Shri F.C. Mall spoke
on different facets of Guru Ravidass and his philosophy from academic and
intellectual perspectives. I spoke as a layman and a humble follower of the great
Guru on the theme: The Concept of
Begumpura with particular reference to the lofty idea of an ideal state or
welfare state in the contemporary times. Prof. Chandra Sadayat of NCERT said
that it was gratifying that, of late, the compositions of Guru Ravidass were
included in the school syllabus. Shri Sriram Arsh in his scholarly speech said
that Guru Ravidass was not only a pioneer of the Bhakti Movement but also a
great revolutionary to transform the society.
Dr. Ram Chander of JNU gave the Vote of Thanks and summed up the
proceedings of the session with utmost competence and flare.
The
Seminar was a befitting tribute to Guru Ravidassji in the month of his Prakash
Utsav on February 3, 2015.
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