University of Jammu organizes First Annual Prof. Shailendra Singh Jamwal Memorial Debate Competition

The Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu organised ‘1st Annual Prof. Shailendra Singh Jamwal Memorial Debate Competition’ for the students of the colleges and University departments today. To commemorate life and legacy of Prof. Shailendra Singh Jamwal, the University of Jammu has instituted this memorial debate competition to be organized annually. Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu was the Chief Guest and Prof. Anju Bhasin, Dean Academic Affairs, University of Jammu was the Guest of Honour at the Valedictory function. Family members of Prof. Jamwal; Dr. Sureshtha Jamwal (Wife), Sh. Narinder Singh Jamwal & Sh. Brij Nandan Singh Jamwal (Brothers) Dr. Chahukeshi Jamwal (Daughter) and Kunwar Pulkit Singh Jamwal (Son) were also present on the occasion.

In his address, Prof. Umesh Rai commended the Department of Students Welfare for organizing this Debate Competition in fond memory of Prof. Shailendra Singh Jamwal who was a distinguished academician and researcher and above all an ideal teacher which could be assessed from the testimonials shared by his colleagues and students during the event. Prof. Rai, further emphasized that Prof. Jamwal was not only a remarkable academician but also a person, who truly embodied ownership of his department, institution, culture & broader community. Underscoring the importance of embodying such qualities, Prof. Rai called upon one and all for embracing and emulating them within academia & beyond.  

Prof. Anju Bhasin, Dean Academic Affairs while paying tributes to Prof. Shailendra Singh Jamwal fondly reminisced about Prof. Shailendra Singh Jamwal, recalling him as a person who always wore a smile. She expressed hope that the academic discourse generated by the event would stimulate the students' intellect.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dean Students Welfare, Prof. Prakash Antahal informed about the contributions of Prof. Jamwal in various capacities in the University of Jammu. He asserted that the scholarly and visionary contributions of Prof. Jamwal have not only helped the University of Jammu but also the whole region.

Prof. Sarika Manhas, Co-Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee informed in detail about the relevance and scope of this new initiative by the University of Jammu. Dr. Madhulika Singh, representing the Department of History read the citation about Prof. Shailendra Singh Jamwal.

In the year 2003, Prof. Jamwal was awarded the Commonwealth Academic Fellowship, London , UK. He also bagged the Post Doctorate Fellowship at the London School of Economics. In the UK, he worked on the project entitled, “Kashmir embroglio and the British Policy 1947-8”. He was appointed reviewer of major international projects of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan by the ACU (Association of Commonwealth Universities), Gordon Square, London. He delivered lectures on the themes of Jammu and Kashmir state at the Foreign Office, London, the University of Bristol, British Library, Indian YMCA and School of African and Oriental Studies, London in the year 2004. He published three books on the history of J&K, which are: Jammu And Kashmir: Autocracy To Democracy, Srinagar Riot Enquiry Committee – 1931, Settlement Operations In Kashmir And Jammu. It is pertinent to mention here that the extensive research work undertaken by Prof. Jamwal on Jammu & Kashmir has played an important role in reshaping the narrative of the region in the right perspective, Nationally & Internationally.

Dr. Virender Koundal, Director DSRS and Dr. Udham Dass, JKAS (Scholar of Prof. Jamwal) shared the remembrances of Prof. Shailendra Singh Jamwal and also shared various facets  of his generous personality. Mr. Madan Sharma, an employee of DSW presented a Dogri poem in reverence of Prof. Jamwal.

The topic for the 1st Annual Prof. Shailendra Singh Jamwal Memorial Debate Competition was In the opinion of the house, “Penalizing Drug Addicts is an effective measure to control drug menace”. Vatsalya Chadha from the Department of Law, JU secured the First position whereas Sushant from the Law School, JU and Anadi Mishra from Kathua Campus secured Second and Third positions respectively.  The Certificates of Merit were awarded to Aasmi Abrol from MIET, Shiena Singh from the Department of English, JU, Skilva Rajput from DD & OE, JU and Suneha Chambyal from DSRS, JU. Prof. Archan Kesar, Prof. Neelam Saraf and Prof. Aekta Gupta were the adjudicators and Dr. Hema Gandotra was the Teacher incharge of the event.

 Prominent amongst those who attended the programme included Prof. Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research Studies, Prof. Pankaj Srivastava, Director DD & OE, Dr. Manisha Kaul, JKAS (Scholar of Prof. Jamwal), Senior Faculty members, officers, staff, scholars and students of the University of Jammu.

Prof. Garima Gupta presented the vote of thanks. The event was organized under the guidance of Prof. Prakash Antahal, Prof. Monika Chadha and Prof. Sarika Manhas and was coordinated by Prof. Garima Gupta, Dr. Pritam Singh, Associate Dean SW, Dr. Shallu Sharma & Dr. A.R. Manhas, Deputy Proctors, Ms. Mansi Mantoo, Officer Incharge DSW, Sumeet Sharma, Drama Instructor and Ifra Kak, Cultural Officer. Srishti Sharma conducted the event where as the sound was looked after by Kulbhushan Thakur and Arif Paul. Hall Management was looked after by Kanya Sharma, Bipasha Raina, Angraz Singh, Maithili Manhas and Nighat Mir.