Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday sought suggestions from the Sant Samaj for commemorating the 550th birth anniversary of the first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev next year in a befitting manner.
Interacting with the representatives of Sant Samaj, the chief minister said it was a matter of pride and honour for him that these celebrations were being held during his tenure.
An official release quoting Amarinder Singh said the state government will ensure that the celebrations are held in the most befitting manner and they had even sought assistance from the Union government for the purpose.
The chief minister sought suggestions and inputs from the representatives of Sant Samaj for crystallising the concept and programmes for the celebrations.
The chief minister has constituted a committee comprising Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla, for preparing the blue print for the mega celebrations.
Amarinder Singh said the year-long celebrations will focus on Guru Nanak Dev life, his ideology, and his works, which continue to inspire millions of people across the globe.
More From This Section
He requested Baba Sarvjot Singh Bedi to form a committee of the representatives from Sant Samaj, which would stay in regular touch with the state executive committee to ensure meticulous implementation of the final programme.
The chief minister told the members of Sant Samaj that his government will celebrate events at the historic places closely connected with the life of Guru Nanak Dev.
These would include Sultanpur Lodhi, Dera Baba Nanak and Batala.
The chief minister said on the suggestion of the state government, the Centre had formed a 36-member national committee under the chairmanship of the Union home minister, with the Union finance minister, Punjab chief minister, Union cultural affairs minister and the principal secretary of cultural affairs among its members.
Amarinder Singh said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was also being consulted by the state government to chalk out the modalities and action programme for these celebrations.
The 'Parkash Purab' of Guru Nanak Dev would be celebrated on November 12, next year, the chief minister said.
The state government would initiate development works at the historical places, associated with the life of the first Sikh master, in the second week of November this year, Amarinder Singh said, adding Punjab has sought a special package of Rs 2,145 crore from Centre.
The projects envisaged by the state government include setting up of a National Institute of Inter-Faith Studies at Amritsar and 500-bed super specialty hospital in Gurdaspur in the name of Guru Nanak Dev.
The government will establish a Heritage Village -- 'Pind Babe Nanak Da' -- at Sultanpur Lodhi at a cost of Rs 200 and undertake various development works.
The chief minister said the state government has constituted a three-member committee, headed by the vice chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, with the head of the university's history department and a representative of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) as its members, to suggest to the government the roads traversed by Guru Nanak Dev, so that those can be named after him.
Amarinder Singh also said the state government was already in touch with the railways ministry for running special trains to holy places from different parts of the country.