The Hindu : New Delhi News : Bhagat Singh Chair at JNU proposed

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Friday, Dec 22, 2006
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Bhagat Singh Chair at JNU proposed

Staff Reporter

Plan forwarded by Prof. Chaman Lal of the Centre for Indian Languages

NEW DELHI: A powerful figure in the freedom struggle and arguably one of the youngest and most charismatic revolutionaries, Bhagat Singh is all set to become "stronger". To give him a fitting tribute during his birth centenary year in 2007, a group of intellectuals have proposed to set up a Bhagat Singh Chair at Jawaharlal Nehru University here.

The proposed Chair would focus on "the anti-colonial, anti-feudal revolutionary movements in India during 1757-1947".

The proposal, spearheaded by Prof. Chaman Lal of the Centre for Indian Languages in JNU, seems to have found support from different quarters. Apart from leading historians Bipan Chandra and Mridula Mukherjee who have strongly endorsed the proposal, the Left leaders have also come out to lend their support.

"It is a very worthwhile proposal to set up a Chair in a Central University like JNU. As far as I know, there is no other such Chair. It would be a good idea to set it up especially in the birth centenary year of Bhagat Singh,'' said Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat.

But despite the enthusiastic response to the proposal, there is still the question of funds. With finance still a stumbling block in this dream to showcase the intellectual aspect of Bhagat Singh, it is being hoped that the committee responsible for the upcoming centenary celebrations in 2007 established by the Centre will be able to make it come true.

"There is not a single chair or a university named after Bhagat Singh. All the other national leaders have educational institutions named after them. We are hoping that this committee, which is looking at the birth centenary celebrations of Bhagat Singh and the 60th year of Independence among others, will be able to provide us the funds. A member of the programme implementation committee has agreed to raise this in the meeting this Thursday,'' says Prof. Lal, who has also edited the freedom fighter's documents.

Taking his legacy forward to reach out to the youth, it is also suggested that the Chair be made functional in the School of Social Sciences with a "multi-disciplinary" approach. It has also been suggested that the Chair concentrate on research and offer more fellowships as and when it generates more funds. With grand plans for the Chair, Prof. Lal believes that the Punjabi community abroad can also be tapped to generate funds for a library.

"Bhagat Singh has always remained alive in the minds of people. He was well read and had a fine mind. The Chair will give us an opportunity to spread awareness about this side of him and do more,'' says Nehru Memorial Museum and Library director Mridula Mukherjee.

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