For Punjab, 2004 is year of `Education & Health'
(CHANDIGARH,(hindu.com)-February 20, 2004)

The Punjab Government today declared 2004 as the year of "Education & Health for all'' to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the second Sikh master, Guru Angad Dev. The decision was taken at the second meeting of State Advisory Committee on celebrations of historic events this year.

According to an official release, while presiding over the meeting the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, exhorted scholars, historians and luminaries related to the Sikh faith for support and co-operation in a massive campaign against drug addiction, which was growing at an alarming rate in the State. He stressed that it was time that the Guru's teachings were followed to redeem the humanity from such social evils.

Capt. Amarinder Singh also appealed the Sikhs settled abroad to adopt their native villages and provide technical, infrastructural and financial support to improve the standards of education and sports in the rural areas. He also asked the NRI Sikhs to adopt a child for education to assist them pursue higher education. The Chief Minister assured the members that paucity of funds would not be allowed to hamper the commemoration of the historic event. He also announced to form a publicity committee to propagate the teachings and philosophy of Guru Angad Dev.

Taking part in the deliberations, the Vice- Chancellor of the Punjabi University, Patiala, S.S. Boparai, suggested that the Union Government be persuaded to establish Sri Guru Granth Sahib Bhawan & Research Centre at New Delhi. Similarly, it may also be petitioned to establish Sri Guru Granth Sahib chair in different universities across the country on the occasion of 400th anniversary of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib in the Harimandir Sahib, which later became the Golden Temple at Amritsar. He also suggested that the martyrdom of all the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh be made part school and college syllabi. The tercentenary of their martyrdom also falls this year.# Manjit Singh Lit, an NRI offered Rs.2 lakh for the commemoration of these celebrations and assured full support and co-operation on the behalf of Sikh NRIs settled in Canada. Rajinder Singh Bajwa who is the founder President of Guru Nanak Dev Foundation in Washington emphasised the need to spread the gospels of Guru Angad Dev to highlight his precious legacy of universal brotherhood, concept of community kitchen, founder of pathshalas (schools) and pioneering of Gurmukhi script.