DSRS organises Brigadier Rajinder Singh Memorial Public Lecture

The Department of Strategic and Regional Studies (DSRS), University of Jammu in association with Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) organized ‘Brigadier Rajinder Singh Memorial Public Lecture’ at the Brig. Rajinder Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu. The event was presided over by the Prof. B. N. Tripathi, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Jammu. The Chief Guest and the main speaker of the event was Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), PMO whereas Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Goverdhan Singh Jamwal was the Guest of Honour. Prof. Virender Koundal, Director DSRS, formally welcomed the speaker along with other dignitaries and introduced the theme of the lecture. In his welcome address, Prof. Virender highlighted the role of DSRS in creating awareness regarding the prevailing security environment among the public.

In the beginning of the program, Col. Sandeep Singh, SM, Dy. Commander, 36 Brigade of the Indian Army briefly highlighted the important facts related to Brig. Rajinder Singh’s life and his contribution towards the erstwhile State of J&K and also the Union of India.

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Goverdhan Singh Jamwal also gave a brief account of events happened around the invasion of J&K by Pakistan Army in October 1947. He highlighted how Brig. Rajinder Singh and less than 100 soldiers fought with 6, 000 militiamen from Pakistan.

While delivering the Brigadier Rajinder Singh Memorial Public Lecture, as the main speaker, Dr. Jitendra Singh explained various events resulting into the partition of India and subsequently the accession of J&K to the Union of India. Dr. Singh described partition of India as the ‘gravest blunder’ of the word history, which apart from human casualties, created various security problems for India. He explained the role of Jawaharlal Nehru in declaring unilateral ceasefire leading to the loss of significant portion territory to Pakistan now known as Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir (POJK). India had reaffirmed its position on 22, February 1994 by passing a unanimous resolution in Parliament of India to regain the territories illegally occupied by Pakistan. He highlighted another blunder of that regime in the shape of Indus Water Treaty in which major share of water was given to Pakistan depriving J&K of economic development.

Prof. B. N. Tripathi congratulated the Dept. of Strategic and Regional Studies and Jammu Kashmir Study Centre for successfully organising the event which is relevant from public awareness and national security perspective.

This event was hosted by Dr. Mohd. Monir Alam, Sr. Assistant Professor, DSRS. The vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Ganesh Malhotra. The program was attended by Army Officers of 4th Battalion the Sikh Light Infantry, teachers, scholars and students from IIIM Jammu, IIMC Jammu, retired officers of armed forces, members of civil society, officers, faculty research scholars and students of Jammu university and representatives from media.