I am glad to report that the 8th Summer Program in Punjab Studies went well. We had a group of sixteen participants, two of whom were university professors, seven doctoral students, three recent BAs, three undergraduates, and a human rights activist. They came from twelve universities (Coventry, London, Lund, Harvard, New York, Northern Virginia College, Punjab, Rochester, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, Rochester, and Rutgers), and their areas of research ranged from anthropology, economics, ethnomusicology, history, law, linguistics, literature, religion, to sociology.

At the Banks of the Yamuna River

It was gratifying to see participants’ general satisfaction with the program. The precise ranking they assigned to various aspects was as follows:

1. Punjabi 11 (outstanding), 1 (excellent), 2 (good)
2. History 9 (outstanding), 5 (excellent)
3. Culture 8 (outstanding), 4 (excellent), 2 (good)
4. Travel 12 (outstanding), 1 (excellent)*
5. Organization 14 (outstanding)

(Shinder Thandi and Gibb Schreffler did not fill the evaluation forms.

*Karam Malhotra of Punjab University did not participate in travel part of the program)

The Residence of Nora Richards

In the category of additional comments, some of the sentiments expressed regarding the program read:” “an academic carnival;” “intellectually transformative;” “an invaluable experience that I will carry for the rest of my life;” “the greatest trip of my life;“ “great gift of a valuable experience;” “Even though I have been to India before, I learned so much more about not only Punjabi culture but India in general;” “Extraordinary access to some of the best-known scholars and writers in the Punjab;” “A thorough and well-rounded introduction to the region. I was moved by the opportunity to see the Goindval Pothis;” “I am sure that a more well organized or more informative foreign study program could not be found.”

Visiting Narbulinga

The continued success of the program is primarily due to the fruitful interaction between students eager to learn about the Punjab and local luminaries with distinguished careers in wide array of fields willing to impart their experiences and knowledge. Over the years, the program seems to have created a special space for itself in Chandigarh’s summer activities.

Visiting a Catholic Church in Dehra Baba Nanak

As Surjit Pater, the leading Punjabi poet, put it: “Monsoon may or may not come to the Punjab but the Punjab Studies Program friends are here every summer. We wait for them and feel honored to receive them.” It is a life-time opportunity for me to create this meeting point between the great minds of the Punjab and the upcoming generation of scholars in the West.

The S.G. Thakur Singh Art Gallery

Surinder Kaur Talking to the Participants

For The Tribune’s (the largest local daily) coverage of the program, please see:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040814/saturday/main2.htm

Gurinder Singh Mann