Chandigarh, March 18 — Panjab University (PU) Chandigarh has canceled the inaugural Master Tara Singh Memorial Lecture, drawing criticism from former Rajya Sabha MP and National Commission for Minorities chairman Tarlochan Singh.
In a letter to PU Vice Chancellor Renu Vig on Tuesday, Singh questioned the sudden cancellation of the March 19 event without any stated reason. “It seems very odd that the university has failed to recognize the historic and patriotic role of Master Tara Singh, who led the Sikh community in choosing India over Pakistan during Partition. Had the Sikh leadership not made this sacrifice, Punjab would have been part of Pakistan,” he wrote.
Singh noted that several scholars invited to the seminar were upset by the last-minute cancellation.
He urged the university to reconsider its decision and allow the History Department to announce fresh dates.
Prof Salil Mishra of Ambedkar University, who was set to preside over the lecture, said he received a call from PU officials on Tuesday morning informing him of the postponement. “No fresh dates were provided,” he said.
