Dinesh Agarwal
Shimla: A two-day national seminar on the theme “Forgotten Legends: Punjab’s Unsung Heroes in the Freedom Struggle” commenced today at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla. The inaugural session was graced by Prof. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri, Former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh and Vice President of the Sahitya and Sanskrit Academy, Haryana, who delivered the keynote address as the Chief Guest.
In his address, Prof. Agnihotri emphasized that remembering the countless unsung heroes of the freedom struggle is not merely the responsibility of historians, but also serves as a vital source of inspiration and awareness for future generations. He particularly highlighted the diverse streams of Punjab’s freedom movements—revolutionary, religious, and agrarian—and their significant role in the national struggle.
Distinguished guests included Prof. S. Ragnath, Fellow at IIAS; Dr. Nitin Vyas from the Department of Tourism, Himachal Pradesh University; and Shri Gaurav Attri, North Zone Organising Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), who also shared their views. Prof. Raghavan reflected on the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of Punjab’s revolutionary consciousness during the independence movement. Dr. Nitin Vyas stressed the importance of such academic deliberations not only as a matter of historical justice but also as part of cultural reconstruction. Shri Gaurav Attri encouraged the youth to draw inspiration from the narratives of unsung heroes, asserting that awareness of their sacrifices can guide the younger generation in nation-building.
The programme began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. The Welcome Address was delivered by Dr. Rajeev Kumar Mishra, Librarian and Incharge (Academic Resource), IIAS, Shimla. Dr. Priyanka Vaidya, Convener of the seminar, Former Fellow of IIAS, and Associate Professor in the Department of English (CDOE), Himachal Pradesh University, introduced the seminar theme. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Dr. Neeraj Kumar Singh, Deputy Librarian, A.C. Joshi Library, Panjab University, Chandigarh and Co-Convenor of the seminar. The session was moderated by Dr. Akhilesh Pathak, Sales and Public Relations Officer, IIAS Shimla.
This seminar has been organized in academic collaboration with ShoDH (Students for Holistic Development of Humanity), a think tank that seeks to explore the multidimensional contributions of unsung freedom fighters from Punjab. In the sessions ahead, research papers will be presented by scholars and academicians from across various universities in India.