Discussion, not lectures, on former PM’s mind

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 5

A former Prime Minister and noted economist, Dr Manmohan Singh, wants to have a “conversation session” with students and faculty members of Panjab University rather than an hour-long address to them.

He has asked representatives of the university to finalise his scheduled visit to the campus after the commencement of the next academic session (2016-17).

Upinder Sawhney of the economics department, PU, met Dr Manmohan Singh on April 21 to know the suitable time for him to visit the campus. He now heads Jawaharlal Nehru Chair at Panjab University.

PU Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover said Dr Manmohan Singh wanted that during his visit, a student or a faculty member should give a presentation after which he would hold a discussion with the participants on the issue.

Grover said he would write to senior professors and students to give their suggestions on the issue they wanted to discuss with Dr Manmohan Singh. He said he was planning to invite “neighbouring educational institutes” for the discussion with the former Prime Minister.

The authorities will write to Dr Manmohan Singh after the admissions are over in August to finalise the schedule and the topic of discussion.

The VC said during the visit of Gulzar, who had assumed Tagore Chair, they were planning to sell his books to all affiliated colleges at subsidised rates.

Grover said at present, the market price of a set of two books of Gulzar was Rs 2,000 and the publisher had agreed to give it for Rs 1,500.

However, he was planning to provide these books to all 200 affiliated college libraries at a cost of Rs 500.