Preface
The seminar is an annual feature of the Institute of Sikh Studies. Besides this, the members of the Institute have been meeting occasionally to give opinion on various controversial issues. For instance, when Sardar Pal Singh Purewal visited the Institute, we organised a lecture on Nanakshahi calendar and subsequently held a debate on the subject. This year, subjects for the seminar were the Importance of the Teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the Present Era and Punjab Waters — SYL Canal. The seminar was held on 9th and 10th November, 2002 in the lawns of Gurdwara, Kanthala, opposite the Tribune Chowk, Chandigarh.
Guru Granth is the eternal Guru of the Sikhs. It is a light house shedding light on various aspects of life, spiritual, religious, political, social etc. Spiritually, it inculcates Name of God, politically it teaches not to submit to tyranny, socially it teaches equality, religiously it preaches unity of mankind.
Justice Kulwant Singh Tiwana (retd.) a very distinguished Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, above all a Gursikh, presided over deliberations of the first session. The president of the second session was Dr Hardev Singh Virk. He has been my colleague in Punjabi University, Patiala and recently retired as professor of Physics from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. His favourite theme is to link Gurbani with science. He is a well-travelled person and has written a number of books and articles.
The theme for second day seminar was Punjab Waters - SYL Canal. According to Indus Treaty 1960, the rivers Ravi, Beas and Satluj were given to East Punjab. By riparian law they belong to Punjab, India. The Central Government wants their waters to be shared with Haryana and Rajasthan. Sardar S S Boparai, Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, was in chair in the first session. He had been Secretary Irrigation Department, has long experience is known for his upright decisions. The chairman of the second session was Dr S S Johl, former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala. He is Vice-Chairman of the Punjab Planning Board and is known for his progressive views.
Every year we have been publishing the papers of the seminar. This year we had two subjects viz Importance of the Teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the Present Era and Punjab Waters — SYL Canal. Therefore, the research papers have been divided into two parts — one dealing with the Teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the Present Era and the other Punjab Waters — SYL Canal. The papers dealing with Punjab Waters — SYL canal have been edited with the help of Sardar Gurdev Singh IAS (retd.) who has deep insight in this problem. We are grateful to him.
I am grateful to Sardar Gurdev Singh, President, Institute of Sikh Studies for his valuable co-operation and for writing the foreword. I am thankful to my esteemed colleagues of the Editorial Board for their willing co-operation especially Maj Gen Dr Jaswant Singh AVSM, who has shared my responsibilities in editing, proof-reading and setting of the book. My thanks are due to Prof Prabhjot Kaur who looked after the Punjabi Section. I express my gratitude to all paper writers who wrote papers for the seminar especially to Dr Jodh Singh who delivered the keynote address. Last but not least my thanks to the office staff for their willing cooperation.
Dr Kirpal Singh
Editor
November 21, 2002
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