Panjab University to celebrate its Foundation Day on October 1

Chandigarh, September 30, 2024: Panjab University will celebrate its Foundation Day with a foundation day lecture by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood on October 1 at 11:00 AM in the University Auditorium, Chandigarh.
 
This year’s Foundation Day celebration holds special significance as it commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of Late Dr. Om Parkash Vig, a distinguished chemist and former Chairperson of Panjab University's Department of Chemistry. His pioneering contributions to the field of chemistry left an unforgettable mark on Indian academia, and his influence extended far beyond Panjab University. In honor of his centenary, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, will release a biography chronicling Late Dr.Vig’s life, achievements, and scientific contributions. A special cover release by Indian Post will also be unveiled on the occasion to immortalise Prof. O.P. Vig's legacy and inspire future scientists.
 
The Foundation Day celebration serves as an opportunity to reflect on the university's rich legacy and its ongoing commitment to academic and research excellence.
 
PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig will present Pran Nath Vohra citation. Former PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Arun Grover will give introduction on PU Foundation Day. Prof. S.S. Bari and Prof. Rajendra Singh will give brief introduction of Prof. O.P. Vig, Emeritus Professor, former Chairperson, Department of Chemistry. Dean of University Instruction Prof. Rumina Sethi and all senior officers will also participate in the function.
 
It may be recalled that the eminent historian Prof. Romila Thapar had delivered the First PU Foundation Day Lecture in October, 2012. Jananpith award winner, Prof. Gurdial Singh delivered the Second Lecture in the year 2013; the third lecture in the series was delivered by Prof. Srikumar Banerjee, Homi Bhabha Chair Professor at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai in 2014; the fourth PU Foundation Day Lecture was delivered in 2015 by a PU alumnus and an eminent Biologist from the University of Massachusetts, Prof. Kamaljit Bawa, FRS. In 2016, Mahatma Gandhi Chair Professor Smt. Ela Bhatt delivered the fifth Foundation Day Lecture; Nobel Laureate Shri. Kailash Satyarthi, Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), PU and Lal Bahadur Shastri Chair Professor, PU delivered the sixth Foundation Day Lecture; Prof. N. Radhakrishnan, Chairman of Gandhi Peace Mission delivered seventh foundation day lecture; Union Minister of State for Finance Sh. Anurag Thakur delivered eighth Foundation Day Lecture; and Padma Shri Jitendra Kumar Bajaj, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies, Chennai and Delhi delivered Foundation Day Lecture in the year 2023. The Foundation Day lecture is a public lecture, open for all.