Scholars participating in an extension lecture on ‘Hindi literature available in Gurmukhi script’, organised by Punjabi University’s Department of Hindi, recommended a symbiotic relationship between multilingual literature accessible in Gurmukhi script for a holistic development of Punjabi.

The lecture was delivered by Harmohinder Singh Bedi, Hindi professor at the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

Bedi said it was imperative to study the Guru Granth Sahib to have proper and judicious knowledge of Indian literature.

Scholars of medieval history, he said, learnt the Gurmukhi script with the help of the Sikh holy book.

Bedi also expressed deep concern over multi-national companies writing catchphrases in the Roman script while using Punjabi and Hindi to promote their brands. He saw them as efforts aimed at destroying the Indian languages.

In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh said the Guru Granth Sahib presents a complete picture of spiritual poetry in multiple languages, scripted by the Sikh gurus and various saints and bhakts.

Sikh history, he said, cannot be comprehended without learning Gurmukhi script and languages other than Punjabi.

He also advocated the creation of an exclusive department for carrying out an in-depth study of literatures available in Hindi and other languages. Head of the Hindi department Ram Niwas Sharma and Dean, Faculty of Languages, B S Khaira also spoke on the occasion.