AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—As many as 14 faculty members from Columbia University, USA, are here to learn about the Sikh religion. On their special tour, these teachers will be attending a three-week course on the Sikh religion at the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Centre of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU).
Sikh scholars from the GNDU and representatives of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) welcomed them warmly. These teachers have expressed great interest in learning more about the Sikh religion.
GNDU senior professor and noted Sikh scholar Dr Balwant Singh Dhillon termed their visit as unique initiative. He said if the mission succeeded, more teachers from the USA would be called here frequently so that they could learn more about Sikhism.
“Apart from gaining knowledge about Sikh history, heritage, culture and traditions, the delegation members would learn Punjabi during the three-week course. During their visit, they would also be taken to various historical Sikh Gurdwaras, particularly Anandpur Sahib where the foundation of Khalsa was laid”, he said, adding, “they were holding talks with the US university for the past one year on this initiative”.
The delegation also paid obeisance at the Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) before starting their course. Here, the SGPC welcomed the delegation and expressed hope that their visit to the holy city and subsequent learning about the religion at the university would help in addressing the issue of Sikh identity in America, where the Sikhs were bearing the brunt of hate crimes ever since 9/11.
