LAHORE, Dec 4: The Lahore University of Management Sciences’ humanities and social sciences department on Wednesday organised an all-day interaction with distinguished Indian historian and former member of the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Indian parliament) Prof Rajmohan Gandhi.

The panelists also talked about Prof Gandhi’s book “Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten”. The professor is also the grandson of Mohandas Gandhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Harbans Mukhia from Jawaharlal Nehru University focused on historical sketch from early times to Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 and the immediate period in which Adina Beg Khan emerged as the first “son of the soil” acquiring some autonomy from the two competing power centers – Delhi/Agra and Kabul.

Mr Gurjit Singh Cheema, a retired official of Indian Administrative Services, spoke about the Sikhs, especially Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

LUMS’ Dr Mohammad Waseem discussed the British annexation of Punjab and the Punjab under imperial rule. The historiography of Punjab and the freedom struggle in Punjab was discussed by Dr Ali Usman Qasmi of LUMS.

Dr Hassan Javid and Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed took up the class question during the British rule and “Independence and Trauma”, respectively.

The panel discussion concluded with a discussion on the partition of Punjab and its impact on relations between India and Pakistan, and the two (east and west) Punjabs by Dr Pallavi Raghavan from Center for Policy Research, New Delhi. — Staff Reporter