By SK.Vyas:
Chandigarh November 28, 2019: ‘Coming to Alma Mater is like a pilgrimage’, said
Sunil Arora, Chief Election Commissioner of India(CEC) and also
An alumnus of Panjab University while addressing at the Annual Global
Alumni Meet hosted by Panjab University Alumni Association(PUAA), here
today at PU. While sharing the transition of Panjab University from
Lahore to the present location at Chandigarh, he shared his personal
and professional links to the different institutes of PU.
He urged the youth to be disrupters by becoming innovators
and initiating start-ups which is the need of the nation. He urged all
to individually and collectively be part of the change to take the
country to greater heights.
While appreciating PU in organizing this Alumni Meet and
also simultaneously commemorating 3 events namely 550 years of the
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, 150 Years of Mahatma Gandhi and 100 years of PU
Honours School said that all these events fill the gap between the
vision and its practice. The leanings from each of these metamorphosed
into movements led by these individuals who talked of things that were
much ahead of times. In their own way, each of them transcended time
and left an impact that is felt even today. He highlighted that the PU
has had the good fortune of having been nurtured by teachers and
administrators who were nothing short of Legends.
He further added that by virtue of its history,
achievements, the character of its institutions and the thread that
binds it to the past, PU has both a national stature as well as
international acclaim. Over the years, the University has emerged as
an institution that is at the frontier of innovative teaching
practices, academic research, and interdisciplinary approach.
Mia Yen, Consul General of Canada in Chandigarh discussed
India Canada relations and emphasized the significant contribution of
Indian students to the economy of Canada. She also shared her views on
women empowerment, gender equality and dynamic bilateral relations.
She shared that in the last one year, there is an increase in trade
between the two countries by 60%.
Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University,
Chandigarh in his welcome address said that this event is being
organized to create a strong bond with the Alumni. This will also help
to revive all Alumni Chapters spread all over India and the ones
established overseas. He said that he is looking forward to people
gathered here to reconnect and relive their moments and be the
Ambassadors of PU.
Eight PU achievers Sunil Arora, Harit Nagpal, Ambassador
Prof. Paramjit Sahai, Prof. Balram Gupta, Dr. Jaspreet S. Dhau, Dr.
Arun Arora, Keshni Anand Arora, Harish Chander Sharma and Dr.
Gambhir were honoured during the event.
Prof. Deepti Gupta, Dean Alumni Relations and Secretary of
PUAA informed about various events being planned for the 2 days event
for the Alumni. This reunion ignited the memories of past days among
all the alumni members, she added.
Sunil Arora, CEC visited Boys Hostel No. 1, PU where
he stayed for a few months with his brother for the preparation of
administrative services. He said that visit to his hostel filled him
with nostalgia which has taken him back to his student life. He
inaugurated Wall of Alumni in the Common Room of BH-1 which had
pictures of ex-residents who achieved a distinguished position in their
lifelike Lt. Captain Vikram Batra (Martyr), Naunihal Singh (Inspector
General of Police, Punjab), Lt. Vikas Kundu (Indian Army), Pawan Kumar
(Crime Branch, Chandigarh Police), Malwinder Kang (B.J.P Spokesperson,
Punjab State), Dr. Manoj Kumar Teotia (CRRID, Chandigarh), Kuljeet
Singh Nagra (M.L.A. from Fatehgarh Assembly, Punjab), Anmol Rattan
Sidhu ( Addl. Solicitor General of India). Prof. Emanual Nahar, Dean
Student Welfare(DSW) and Prof. Neena Capalash, DSW(W), Dr. Rajeev
Kumar, Warden, Boys Hostel No. 1 and all other Wardens of Boys and
Girls Hostels were present on the occasion.
A first-ever Hostel Magazine of Boys Hostel No. 3,
connecting residents and the Hostel Alumni, was launched during the
event. It carries memorable moments of the residents and the alumni
visiting the hostels time to time during the year. This was published
under the supervision of Dr. Sanjeev Gautam as editor-in-chief and Sh.
Saransh Fazilka as Editor.
There was a ‘Fire Side Chat on Brand Building for Higher
Education Institutes’ by Dr. Sandeep Goyal, an advertising Veteran and
Harit Nagpal, CEO, Tata Sky.
The day 1 of the event concluded with a Light, Sound and
Sight show on Guru Nanak Devji and the lighting of lanterns and lamps
marking 100 years of the Panjab University Honours School.
A large number of PU Alumni, PU Fellows, Former VCs,
Dignitaries from the City, Chairpersons, PU Officials, Faculty and
students were present on the occasion.
Arora made a courtesy visit at the residence of
R.S.Bawa, former Principal of Government College, Hoshiarpur who was
teacher of his elder brother and brother in law.