Lahore visit by Prof. N K Jha, LLB. M. Phil, PhD (JNU)

Respected Sir,

I am glad to inform you that my recent visit to Lahore (Pakistan)  as a educational goodwill visit was very fruitful both  in terms of promoting academic cooperation as well as getting first hand knowledge about Pakistan. At the same time, it was also very much personally enjoying visit.

I visited various historical places and academic institutions including University of the Punjab, Kinnaird Girls' College, Government College University, Lahore University of Management Science and so on. I was surprised to get the warm and emotional welcome extended by both the University community as well as common people where ever we visited. The similarities between north India and Pakistan in terms of culture, civilization, music, language, etc., were so great that I felt there much more homely as compared to some parts of India.

I participated in discussion meets organized by the Vice Chancellor of University of the Punjab, Prof Mujaheed Kamaran, Principal of Kinnaird Girls' College, Ms David and Vice Chancellor of Government College University, Lahore. There were clear consensus on four points:

• 1 War is not an option between two nuclear armed neighbours
• 2 There is no alternative to constant dialogue.
• 3 Irrespective of lack of confidence between the governments of the two countries, there is a tremendous amount goodwill between the peoples of both the neighbours.
• 4 Instead of solely relying on top down approach that is governmental initiative for improvement of relations between two estranged brothers, time has come for making a beginning with down to top approach for developing cordiality between these two brothers.

To move in that direction, we developed a draft format for MoU between University of the Punjab and Pondicherry University in consultation with the Vice Chancellor of the former and submitted the same to our Vice Chancellor at Pondicherry, who has decided to go ahead after getting necessary clearance form the MHRD Ministry and Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India. Prof Vijay Kapur who is a senior IAS Officer who too visited Lahore, has kindly assured us to expedite the matter in New Delhi. The Kinnaird College too is planning a similar MoU with Pondicherry University.

I was very happy to know about establishment of another institute of excellence by your Excellency at Government College University in Lahore. In course of formal discussions as well as informal talks, I informed faculty as well as students at these institutions about MGS scholarships offered by UNESCO MISARC of Pondicherry University for doing PG course in South Asian Studies. I distributed them our Prospects as well as the SAF booklet regarding 12 institutions of excellence in South Asia. I fully utilized the occasion to inform them about excellent works being done by SAF in different SAARC countries in general and at Pondicherry University under the leadership of Your Excellence as well as our Vice Chancellor (Prof J A K Tareen) in particular. 

The students showed keen interest in applying for MSG scholarship and the Vice Chancellor Prof Mujaheed Kamaran and the local coordinator of our visit Prof Rafique Amir (a faculty at Kinnaird Girls' College)  offered us to extend help, in case of need, in sending best candidates to UMISARC of Pondicherry University. Finally, with the help of Prof Rafique, I was able to meet Prof Salima Hashmi. I explained her the imperative of getting students from Pakistan, as we have not got any nomination from Pakistan for MSG scholarship so far. I explained Prof Hasmi the significance of improving India-Pakistan relations in promoting SAARC and hence the need for getting students from Pakistan. I assured her that once we shall get nomination from Pakistan, we shall not only promptly send letters to Indian High Commission for grant of Indian visa as we are doing with other SAARC countries, but we shall also talk to concerned officials for clearance of their visa applications. I hope that students from Pakistan too will join our course next year.

With respectful regards,

Sincerely,

Prof. N K Jha, LLB. M. Phil, PhD (JNU)
Professor & Director
UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asia Regional Cooperation &  
UGC Southern Asia Studies Programme
Pondicherry Central University, Puducherry-605014
Phone (0413) 2654587 (Office)
Fax & Phone (0413) 2655005; Residence (0413)2253130

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