Badal lays foundation stone of Guru Granth Sahib university

Fatehgarh Sahib, Sep 1 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today declared that the upcoming Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University would be a unique institution of higher learning for disseminating philosophy and ideology of the Sikh holy scripture and for bringing awareness about the universal message of love, peace and oneness.

After dedicating the Minar-E-Ikonkar to the nation and laying foundation stone of the university campus here, Mr Badal said this university would not only undertake the research on different aspects of Sri Guru Granth Sahib but would also carry out comparative study of other religions to enable the students, researchers and theologians to have better understanding of all religions.

He said it was imperative for preachers and missionaries to have a thorough knowledge of all religions so that they could spread the message of universal brotherhood, peace and amity.

The Chief Minister lauded the role of Shriomani Gurdwara Parbanbhak Committee (SGPC) for conceptualisation of the project and it would certainly prove to be a lighthouse for propagating the ethics and values. He said the project was conceived way back on September 1, 2004 on the 400th year of the installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The establishment of this this world class centre of learning would fulfill the dreams and aspirations of former SGPC chief, the late Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra,'' he said.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that the SAD-BJP government enacted a special legislation to pave the way for the creation of this university.

The SGPC had already transferred 84 acres of land to the trust for execution of this project and a renowned architect from Bangalore had prepared and submitted a site plan for the university.

The first phase of the project was likely to be completed by September one next year and thereafter the academic session would commence.

SAD president Sukbir Badal and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar also spoke on the occasion. Jathedar Makkar said the Rs 450 crore project would be a state-of-the-art premier institution of the country.

UNI HS SK GC1924