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ahib. In pursuance of that UGC asked Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar to submit a proposal in this regard. The proposal submitted by the University regarding the thrust areas, faculty positions and budgetary provisions was duly evaluated and approved by the expert committee constituted by the UGC. However, due to various technicalities regarding its status and funding, it could not take off at that time. A.S. Brar on assuming the office of Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar in July 2009 took up the matter with the UGC and HRD Ministry, Govt. of India and consequently, the UGC vide its letter D. No. F. 13-6/2004 (NS/PE) dated 3rd Feb., 2011, gave its approval for the establishment of Centre on Studies in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, besides sanctioning a grant of Rs. 4705 Lacs for the next five years i.e. 2011-2016 ( see Appendix). Guru Nanak Dev University Syndicate in its meeting held on March 11, 2011 constituted the Governing Body and Advisory Committee which are mandatory to run the above Centre according to the UGC guidelines. Prominent scholars of Sikh Studies have been taken on the above bodies. Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Scripture of the Sikhs, is one of the newest and the unique scripture in the history of world religions. It owes its origin to Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikh faith. It was Guru Arjan Dev, the Fifth Master, who compiled and canonized the Adi Granth. It comprised the sacred writings of the first five Sikh Gurus and those of the medieval Indian Bhaktas, Sufis and some Guru oriented persons. The Adi Granth, thus prepared, was installed in the Harimandir Sahib, the central Sikh shrine in Amritsar on Bhadon Sudi Ekam Bikrami Sammat 1661 (1604 AD). Guru Gobind Singh, while staying at Talwandi Sabo (Damdama Sahib), incorporated the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur in it; and before his demise at Nanded in 1708 AD, he conferred Guruship on the Adi Granth. Thereafter it came to be known as Sri Guru Granth Sahib and revered as the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs. Sri Guru Granth Sahib besides being the living Guru of the Sikhs, is very unique in many aspects among the scriptures of world religions. The message of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is holistic in nature. It is of great significance and relevance for the modern age. The main objective of the establishment of this Centre is to disseminate this wisdom academically all over the world in its true and authentic form. Thrust Areas and Objectives
Ever since the first installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in 1604, it has been looked upon as the most authentic repository of the divine 'word' (Sabad, Bani). Its essence lies in its being the vehicle of divine knowledge which is universal in nature. Being historically close to our times, its teachings are more significant and relevant to the problems of our times. Professor Arnold Toynbee has aptly remarked that "Mankind's religious future may be obscure yet one thing can be foreseen: the living higher religions are going to influence each other more than ever before, in the days of increasing communication between all parts of the world and all branches of human race. In this coming religious debate, the Sikh religion and its Scripture, the Adi Granth, will have something of special value to say to the rest of the world". The message of Sri Guru Granth Sahib addresses to the crucial problems of the modern world. It is a strong votary of amity and co-existence. Its teachings, especially, interfaith understanding, cosmopolitanism, eclecticism, holistic vision of life, future of humankind, approach to the problems of cultural diversity and human inequality and to preserve the Mother Nature are of global significance. In the context of Sri Guru Granth Sahib being a repository of Divine Word, interfaith dialogue, and also being relevant for an holistic approach to human life and civilization, the study of the origin of Bani, (holy verses), its preservation, various modes of transmission, different schools of exegesis and impact of Sri Guru Granth Sahib upon human beings in general and on its devotees in particular, the establishment of a Centre on Studies in Sri Guru Granth Sahib is one of the most desirable academic endeavour. To conduct in-depth research on various aspects of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Centre comprises the following six Divisions. I. Division for Studies on Interfaith Understanding
As the world is beset with sectarian animosities, Sri Guru Granth Sahib’s focus on inter-religious dialogue is very significant. Also significant is the focus on co-existence, amity and human integration. Humaneness forms the bedrock of the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and other holy men whose verses are incorporated in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It presents an excellent example of co-existence, cosmopolitanism, interfaith understanding and unity in diversity, which is unparalleled in the history of world scriptures. It rightly confers upon it the status of interfaith Scripture. The model of interfaith understanding as propounded in the Sikh Scripture can convince the people belonging to diverse cultures that human beings can accommodate each others’ views and live together in spite of their different religious affiliations. There is a need to further this message which requires dedicated and focused research. It is the need of the hour to understand that Sri Guru Granth Sahib addresses not its votaries alone, but the whole humankind. II. Division for Scriptural Studies
The fountain-head of Sikh theology and spirituality is Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Besides the cosmological, metaphysical and ethical percepts, its word view and goal of human life is very unique and significant. The roots of the Sikh institutions are enshrined in it. The contribution of the Sikh Scripture to the Indian thought is an interesting area which requires in depth studies. There are so many mythological and historical references of Hindu gods, goddesses and religious personages. Similarly, Islam particularly Sufism has been given a considerable space in the holy verses of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Numerous references to Buddhism and Jainism, the two ancient religions of India are found in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. In a way it presents the spiritual tradition of Indian sub-continent that had developed upto the end of seventeenth century. It requires meticulous research at the academic level. It holds great merit to understand the Indian tradition from the viewpoint of comparative study of religion. The writings of medieval Indian Bhaktas and Sufis form a glorious part of the Sikh Scripture. Studies on the Bhakti Movement, life and teachings of the Bhaktas and Sufis who have contributed to the text of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and their impact upon the people of Indian subcontinent form an important feature of the studies carried out in the Centre. III. Division for Studies on Musicology
Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a raga oriented scripture. The whole text has been arranged into 31 musical modes and their composite varieties. It is most suitable for congregational singing. The study of musicology of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is very significant as it represents a unique musical tradition which comprises the classical and folk varieties of music. It is an unprecedented blend of music and poetry. The Sikh Gurus, the Bhaktas and the Sufi Saints not only adopted the Indian musical traditions but adapted it to a popular understanding so that the musical and content part may be synthesized. The ragas of the classical tradition have been oriented to local and folk traditions. This magnificent localization process has proved very beneficial to the ordinary people. The Gurus themselves invented some of the ragas in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. So the musical tradition of Sri Guru Granth Sahib as propounded by the Gurus and its relationship with the Indian musical tradition are in the studies carried out in the Centre. IV. Division for Hermeneutic and Linguistic Studies
The Sikh Gurus and the other contributors to the text of Sri Guru Granth Sahib have expressed their spiritual experience through the medium of poetry composed in various ragas and meters. Although it has been written in Gurmukhi script yet its language transcends the boundaries of religion and regions. It abounds in varieties of Punjabi, Hindi, Braj, Sindhi, Persian, Sanskrit, etc.. The metaphors and similes employed in it speak volumes of the poetic genius and aesthetic sense of its authors. The study of the semantics of Sri Guru Granth Sahib is equally important along with the content of the text. There is a dire need to understand the language, script, grammar and poetics of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The Division for Hermeneutic and Linguistic studies takes care of the above components. The central focus is upon the text and its exegesis. Production of expositional literature is one of the chief objectives of the scholars working in the Centre. V. Division for Social and Cultural Studies
Sri Guru Granth Sahib is an authentic source of social and cultural history of medieval Punjab and India as well. Many of the verses in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib allude to the facts of social and cultural life. Its verses provide significant insights into the social and cultural history of the Sikh Panth. If a comprehensive picture is attempted to be brought forth with reference to Bani, it will considerably enhance our knowledge of the social and cultural history of medieval India. Above division is concerned about the studies regarding the role