Summary of 'The Divine Versifiers' By Dr Gurnam Kaur  

The Department of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Studies of Punjabi University, Patiala has the rich tradition of holding two commemorative lectures every year: "Guru Nanak Commemorative Lectures" and "Guru Teg Bahadur Commemorative Lectures". Every year two eminent scholars are invited to deliver these lectures at two different occasions. Guru Nanak Dev is the symbol of human freedom and transformation of human society at spiritual, religious, social, economic and political level. He travelled far and wide to have discussions with the religious leaders and to enlighten common man for this purpose. He is the first spiritual Personality to declare that all finite beings belong to the same Infinite Being, called God, and no one is high or low in His eyes. Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru, is the symbol of defending and preserving the basic human rights of every person to worship God and estabIish that al I are equal in the eyes of God. After Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur carried further the tradition of martyrdom.

It is also a tradition with the department to publish these lectures in the form of a book so that the scholars and students can benefit from the scholarly views. In the present book "The Divine Versifiers", different aspects of Guru Nanak Dev's Bani and life, and Guru Teg Bahadur's Bani and life, and Gurmat philosophy have been discussed. The scholars whose lectures are included in the book belong to the different specializations in the academic field such as literature, philosophy, Public Administration and Political Science, Economics etc. So it will be beneficial to the readers to have an insight into Gurmat Philosophy from different angles.  

Finally, I will say that it is a matter of pleasure that we are able to publish this book to Coincide with celebrations of Sri Guru Granth Sahib's Parkash Diwas, Guru Angad Dev's Birth and martyrdom of Sahibjadas. The Department of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Studies has contributed towards these celebrations while bringing out five special issues· of its biannual magazine "Nanak Parkash Patrika" and holding two seminars, and two symposiums on Parkash Diwas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib along with initiating four Commemorative Lectures in the years 2004 and 2005. 

Table Of Contents For 'The Divine Versifiers' By Dr Gurnam Kaur

Foreword

Sh. Swarn Singh Boparai V

Kirti Chakra, Padamshri

Introduction

                       - Dr. Gurnam Kaur VII

The Divine Versifier

                      - Dr. Mohinder Pal Kohli 1

Guru Tegh Bahadur Testimony of Conscience

                      - Dr. Mohinder Pal Kohli 18

Sant Singh Sikhon's Critique of Gurbani

                     - Prof Tejwant Singh Gill 31

Guru Nanak's Philosophy of Praxis

                      - Prof Nirbhai Singh 61

Guru Nanak's World-View And Modernity

                      - Prof Nirbhai Singh 70

Guru Nanak's Response to the Chimes of History

                      - Prof Harbhajan Singh Deol 81