Kalidas was a greater playwright than Shakespeare: Prof Gurdial

Professor Singh,a noted Punjabi writer and novelist,has also been awarded the Padma Shri Award for his literary works.

Kalidas was a greater playwright than William Shakespeare,yet students know much about Shakespeare than about Kalidas, pointed out eminent writer and Jnanpith Award winner Professor Gurdial Singh as he delivered the Foundation Day lecture during the national seminar on the Making of Modern Punjab: Education,Science and Social Change at PU on Thursday.

Professor Singh,a noted Punjabi writer and novelist,has also been awarded the Padma Shri Award for his literary works.

Highlighting how Indian authors like Kalidas were often undervalued by academia under the influence of Western literary tradition,he said there was no epic like Mahabharata,or scriptures like the Vedas in any other country.

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Encapsulating various issues ranging from progress of human history,importance of the native language to disseminating scientific thinking in the present scenario,he traced the history of Punjabi language and said colonialism had disrupted the significance of the language as well as the education system through manipulative academic policies.

Taking note of Professor Ruchi Ram Sahnis 150th birth anniversary ,Singh said there was a need to enlighten people about contributions of Sahni and other scientists from Punjab.

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