Panjab University Chandigarh finds itself in the spotlight after it abruptly cancelled the Master Tara Singh Memorial Lecture scheduled for March 19 at its English auditorium. The last-minute decision, communicated only on Tuesday morning to invitees and speakers, has stirred considerable debate among scholars and political figures.
Originally planned in collaboration with the Guru Nanak Research Institute, Birmingham, the PU History Department, and the Punjabi Sahit Academy of Ludhiana, the memorial lecture was set to honor the legacy of Master Tara Singh—a figure credited with leading the Sikh community during the tumultuous days of partition in 1947. The cancellation has raised concerns over the recognition of historical sacrifices, with many questioning the rationale behind the decision.
The lecture was to be delivered by Salil Mishra, a controversial academic who was dismissed last December from BR Ambedkar University, New Delhi. Mishra, whose removal from the History Department had previously sparked protests from the All India Students’ Association (AISA) along with the case of Prof Asmita Kabra from the Human Ecology Department at the same institution, confirmed he was only informed of the cancellation on the day of the event.
In response to mounting queries, PU Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig stated that the postponement was due to overlapping student activities, including events such as Jhankar and Vimarash. “We have postponed the lecture on account of other scheduled student activities and will re-organise it as soon as possible,” Vig said. However, no new dates were announced, leaving many in the academic community and political circles dissatisfied.
Former Rajya Sabha MP and current chairman of the National Commission of Minorities, Tarlochan Singh, has openly criticised the university’s decision, labelling the reasons as “lame.” In a letter addressed to Vig, Singh questioned the timing and lack of explanation behind the cancellation. “It looks very odd that the University authorities have not recognised the historic and patriotic role of Master Tara Singh, who led the Sikh community at a pivotal moment in our history,” Singh wrote. He further emphasised the need for the university to reassess its decision and ensure that the seminar, which was meant to celebrate a significant chapter in Sikh and Indian history, is either rescheduled or reinstated promptly.
As scholars and political activists await further clarification, the abrupt cancellation of the Master Tara Singh Memorial Lecture continues to spark debate over academic freedom, historical recognition, and the pressures of administrative scheduling within higher education institutions.
