Urdu translation of book ‘Lost Heritage: The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan,’ launched

LAHORE:The Urdu translation of Amardeep Singh’s acclaimed book ‘Lost Heritage: The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan,’ was launched under the auspices of Afkar-e-Taza ThinkFest at the Urdu Department, GC University here on Monday.

According to a press release, speaking to a packed audience, Amardeep explained how after 25 years in the corporate world, his heritage in Pakistan - his father was from Muzaffarabad while his mother hailed from Abbottabad - called him to document its fast disappearing imprint.

He explained that it took him almost five years and travel to over a hundred sites in Pakistan, to capture the vast canvas of Sikh history in Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Founder of the ThinkFest Dr Yaqoob Khan Bangash lamented the ignorance of the young generation of their past. ‘Over 65% of our population is young but they are unaware of the multiple layers of their heritage,’ he stated. ‘Our heritage is part of our identity and unless we know and appreciate it, we cannot become true Pakistani,’ he stated.

Urdu Department’s Chairperson Dr Saimra Iram noted that unless we learn about our multifaceted past, we will not be able to understand our present, or to prepare for the future. Concluding the session, GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Ahmed Adnan underscored the need for the search of truth. ‘We should not follow just money and fame, but yearn for the truth, because only that will ensure that we will be remembered by history,’ he maintained.