GNDU Vice-Chancellor proposes nodal varsity to promote regional knowledge
Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Prof Karamjeet Singh, was a key participant in the prestigious national workshop on Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU), held on May 1, at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. The two-day workshop, conducted under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Education, Dr Sukanta Majumdar, while Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the way ahead for higher education in India.
The Ministry of Education has entrusted vice-chancellors from 64 state universities and State Project Directors of RUSA 2.0 (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) across the country with the task of collaboratively developing draft policy papers on 12 critical thematic areas for strengthening higher education in India.
In this context, Guru Nanak Dev University has been designated as the lead coordinating institution for the thematic area, “Indian Knowledge System.” As the coordinator of this segment, Prof Karamjeet Singh represented a consortium of universities from five states, namely, Rani Channamma University, Belagavi (Karnataka); University of Calicut (Kerala); Annamalai University, Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu); and University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
The workshop witnessed the participation of leading academic figures, including Prof Jagdeesh Kumar, former Chairman of UGC; Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, NAAC and AICTE; and Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education, IIT Indore; Prof Ganti Murthy from IIT Indore along with other eminent dignitaries and education administrators from across the country.
In his thematic presentation, vice-chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh elaborated on the significance of the Indian Knowledge System in contemporary education. Highlighting Punjab’s rich intellectual legacy, from the Rigveda to Sri Guru Granth Sahi, he asserted, “India’s ancient wisdom is rooted in the pursuit of “Anand” (blissful living), as envisioned by Guru Sahiban, rather than transient happiness,” he said. Citing teachings from the Bhagvad Gita and Guru Granth Sahib, Prof Singh advocated integrating spiritual and cultural insights into modern curricula. He said the GNDU is already working towards integrating innovation, value-based and skill-based knowledge in terms of higher education.
He proposed the establishment of one nodal university in each state to serve as the epicentre for promoting regional knowledge traditions through a hub-and-spoke model. This, he emphasised, would help popularise and preserve India’s diverse traditional wisdom in a structured and scalable manner.
Amritsar