A two-day national seminar on the theme “Forgotten Legends: Punjab’s Unsung Heroes in the Freedom Struggle” was inaugurated today at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla. The event was presided over by Prof. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri, former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh and Vice President of the Haryana Sahitya and Sanskrit Academy, who also delivered the keynote address.
In his speech, Prof. Agnihotri emphasized that remembering the unsung heroes of the freedom movement is not solely the responsibility of historians but also serves as an important source of inspiration and awareness for future generations. He highlighted the significant role of Punjab’s revolutionary, religious, and agrarian movements in India’s struggle for independence.
Distinguished guests included Prof. S. Raghavan, Fellow at IIAS; Dr. Nitin Vyas from the Department of Tourism, Himachal Pradesh University; and Gaurav Attri, North Zone Organizing Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Prof. Raghavan spoke on the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of Punjab’s revolutionary consciousness, while Dr. Vyas stressed the importance of such seminars in promoting historical justice and cultural reconstruction. Attri encouraged the youth to draw inspiration from the stories of these unsung heroes and contribute to nation-building.
The programme began with a ceremonial lamp lighting. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Rajeev Kumar Mishra, Librarian and Academic Resource Incharge, IIAS. Dr. Priyanka Vaidya, seminar convener and Associate Professor in the Department of English, Himachal Pradesh University, introduced the seminar theme. The vote of thanks was given by Dr. Neeraj Kumar Singh, Deputy Librarian, A.C. Joshi Library, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and co-convener of the seminar. The session was moderated by Dr. Akhilesh Pathak, Sales and Public Relations Officer, IIAS Shimla.
The seminar has been organized in collaboration with ShoDH (Students for Holistic Development of Humanity), a student and research group exploring the multifaceted contributions of Punjab’s unsung freedom fighters. In the upcoming sessions, scholars and academicians from across India will present research papers highlighting these historical contributions.
