New Delhi (NVI): The government on Thursday approved setting up of first of its kind Inter-Faith Centre at Guru Nanak Dev University in Punjab and announced to establish “Guru Nanak Dev Chairs” in varsities in UK and Canada to mark 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism.
According to reports, the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development has sanctioned the release of Rs. 175 crore, of which Rs. 125 crore has been earmarked as non-recurring and Rs. 50 crore as recurring funds under phase-I and the remaining funds would be released after examining the progress of expenditure according to the detailed project report.
Speaking at a book launch event here at SGTB Khalsa College, HRD Minister Ramesh Pohkriyal announced that an “Inter-faith Center will be set up at Guru Nanak Dev University in Punjab at a cost of Rs 493 crore”.
To mark 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank and the Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal launched three books on Guru Nanak Dev.
Congratulating National Book Trust, Pokhriyal said, “Bringing out the books which are relevant in these times on this occasion as the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev are apt in today’s world of complexities and the youth world over needs to follow his philosophy of humanity, equality and ‘One God’.”
In addition, he also informed that the government has announced Guru Nanak Dev Chairs in Universities in United Kingdom as well as in Canada, adding that, “Many programmes, seminars, discussions, discourses and book release functions are being coordinated across the world by Indian missions abroad.”
Speaking on the occasion, Badal expressed her happiness knowing that National Book Trust had already published Guru Nanak Bani in five Indian languages and also planning to publish it in 15 Indian languages so that the teachings of Guru Nanak Devji reach millions of Indians across the nation, and everyone benefits from his message of ‘One God’ and peace amongst the fellow beings.
The National Book Trust under HRD Ministry published three Punjabi titles that are Guru Nanak Bani, Nanak Bani, and Sakhian Guru Nanak Dev to spread the message of Guru Nanak Dev. UNESCO will publish Guru Nanak Dev’s writings in major world languages.
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