Fatehgarh Sahib: Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University (SGGSWU) yesterday marked the commencement of a three-day international conference dedicated to International Mother Language Day. The event, titled “Punjab and Sikhism: Concerns of Homeland and Diaspora,” is organized by the University’s Department of Punjabi in collaboration with the Sikh Education Council (UK).
The conference aims to provide a critical academic platform to explore the complex relationship between Punjab and the Sikh diaspora (parwās), focusing on the socio-political and cultural dimensions of identity and homeland (āwās).
Inaugural Session and Keynote Address
The proceedings were inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Prit Pal Singh, who presided over the first day’s sessions. In his presidential address, Dr. Singh spoke candidly about the challenges facing Punjabi students living abroad. He urged the youth to reconsider the necessity of migration and encouraged them to explore professional opportunities within India as a means to mitigate the hardships often encountered in the diaspora.
Prof. (Dr.) Sukhwinder Singh Billing, Dean of Academic Affairs, delivered the keynote address. He elaborated on how migration patterns have fundamentally altered the educational landscape and lauded the conference organizers for choosing a theme that is both timely and vital to the preservation of Sikh identity.
Earlier, Dr. Sikandar Singh, Dean of Languages and Head of the Punjabi Department, welcomed the international and national delegates, outlining the academic objectives of the three-day gathering.
Scholarly Discourse: Day One Highlights
The first day featured two intensive academic sessions where scholars presented diverse research on the demographic and cultural shifts affecting the Punjabi community:
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Demographic & Social Shifts: Dr. Navreet Kaur (Panjab University) presented research on the consequences of out-migration, noting significant transformations in the social and political fabric of Punjab.
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Agrarian Crisis & Identity: Prof. Satnam Singh Deol (GNDU, Amritsar) linked contemporary agricultural challenges to the broader concept of Sikh selfhood.
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Historical & Political Perspectives: Dr. Kanwaljit Singh (Khadoor Sahib) analyzed 1984 as a pivotal turning point in homeland-diaspora dynamics, while Dr. Jasvir Singh (Denmark) discussed the impact of modern political shifts on the Sikh diaspora.
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Linguistic Evolution: S. Raman Deep Singh (Vancouver) explored the migration and evolution of the Punjabi lexicon.
The first session concluded with a vote of thanks from Registrar Dr. Tejbir Singh, while the second session saw contributions from seven scholars, including Dr. Nav Shagan Deep Kaur, Dr. Binder Singh, and Dr. Sandeep Kaur Sekhon.
Institutional Support
The conference saw a robust turnout from university leadership and students. Notable attendees included department heads Dr. Hardeep Singh (Religious Studies), Dr. Harneet Billing (Education), and Dr. Ramandeep Kaur (Political Science), alongside District Language Officer S. Ranjit Singh.
The conference is scheduled to continue through February 20, 2025, with further panels expected to address the literary and economic impact of the Punjabi diaspora.
