PU sets up Baba Guru Nanak research chair

VC says founder of Sikhism promoted tolerance in his actions and teachings

LAHORE:  

The Baba Guru Nanak research chair was inaugurated at the Punjab University. The aim of the initiative was to carry out research on his teachings

An inaugural ceremony was held at the committee room of the vice chancellor's office on Tuesday.

Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar inaugurated the chair.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Akhtar said that Baba Guru Nanak promoted the message of tolerance through his actions and teachings. "He had made great efforts for the establishment of a peaceful society. The purpose of setting up the Baba Guru Nanak research chair was to promote the message of peace that he preached."

The vice chancellor said it would help strengthen relations between Muslims and Sikhs.

Editor-In-Chief of the Punjabi Language Literature and Culture Journal Sardar Ajaib Singh Chattha thanked Dr Akhtar for establishing the Baba Guru Nanak research chair. He stated that collaborative efforts were much needed to resolve issues in society. "We could establish peace by following the teachings of Baba Guru Nanak and the sufis."

There is a need to agree on common factors in all religions which promote brotherhood and establish peace in the world, said Punjab Minister for Higher Education Raja Yasir Humayun.

He was addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi and Hazrat Sultan Bahu at Al Raazi Hall on Tuesday.

The conference was jointly organised by Punjab University's Department of Persian, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and The Muslim Institute.

The minister said all religions taught a lesson of humanity and sufis presented this message in an excellent manner. He said there were similarities in the teachings of Maulana Rumi and Sultan Bahu who taught people to eliminate ego and spread love.
He said that if we understood their message, our social evils and personal imperfections would be removed. Therefore, he said, there was a need to comprehend their message in a true manner and act upon it.

The minister said that we could become the best human beings by following their teachings. He congratulated Dr Akhtar for establishing the Baba Guru Nanak chair.

In his address, Prof Niaz Ahmad said that Islam and all other religions promoted peace and high moral values.  He quoted Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) as saying that the best Muslim was one with high ethical values. “We must ignore others' mistakes and start forgiving.”

He said PU was playing its role to promote linkages with other countries. Iranian Counsel General Muhammad Raza Nazri said the teachings of Maulana Rumi deeply influenced all cultures of the world. He said Maulana Rumi’s philosophy was higher than that of any other thinker in the subcontinent. He added that his teachings ruled the hearts of people across the globe.
The minister said Allama Iqbal was also inspired by the thoughts of Maulana Rumi.