AI Generated Summary
- Singh attended a dinner hosted by Hakeem Jeffries, Leader of the Democratic Party in the US House of Representatives, where he presented an overview of GNDU’s academic and research activities and its efforts to expand engagement with institutions and communities overseas.
- The Vice-Chancellor said the university hoped to use the anniversary to connect Amritsar’s historical inheritance with a future-oriented approach centred on scholarship, dialogue, service and the Sikh principle of Sarbat da Bhala, or welfare of all.
- Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has begun building international support for its ambitious Amritsar-450 initiative, reaching out to prominent political figures and members of the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora in the United States ahead of the city’s 450th anniversary in 2027.
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has begun building international support for its ambitious Amritsar-450 initiative, reaching out to prominent political figures and members of the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora in the United States ahead of the city’s 450th anniversary in 2027.
The university plans to use the milestone to showcase Amritsar’s historical, spiritual and cultural legacy while creating a platform for academic collaboration and dialogue on the city’s future.
As part of the international outreach, Jaspreet Singh, brand ambassador of the GNDU Alumni Association and a US-based attorney, interacted with former US President Barack Obama and several senior American political leaders.
Singh attended a dinner hosted by Hakeem Jeffries, Leader of the Democratic Party in the US House of Representatives, where he presented an overview of GNDU’s academic and research activities and its efforts to expand engagement with institutions and communities overseas.
He also outlined the university’s plans for Amritsar-450, under which a series of academic, cultural and international programmes are proposed to commemorate 450 years since the founding of the city.
The initiative is expected to involve scholars, educational institutions, community representatives and members of the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora. Besides celebrating Amritsar’s heritage, the programme aims to encourage discussions on how the historic city can develop in the years ahead while retaining its distinctive cultural and spiritual character.
During his visit, Singh also interacted with Obama and Congressman Josh Gottheimer. The conversations extended beyond the university initiative to issues concerning the Sikh community in the US, including immigration-related matters and challenges faced by truckers.
GNDU Vice-Chancellor Karamjeet Singh welcomed the outreach and said international participation, particularly from the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora, would be integral to the Amritsar-450 programme.
He said Amritsar’s significance extended well beyond the geographical boundaries of Punjab because of the city’s spiritual and civilisational legacy.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university hoped to use the anniversary to connect Amritsar’s historical inheritance with a future-oriented approach centred on scholarship, dialogue, service and the Sikh principle of Sarbat da Bhala, or welfare of all.
With its outreach in the US, GNDU is seeking to turn the 2027 anniversary into an international engagement programme rather than limiting the commemoration to events within Punjab. The university hopes the initiative will create stronger links between Amritsar, academic institutions abroad and Punjabi communities across the world.
