JAMMU: Under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Sanjeev Jain, the Centre for Comparative Religions and Civilizations (CCRC) at the Central University of Jammu (CUJ) organized its weekly “Thursday Mind Meet” on the thought-provoking theme: “The Relevance of Pilgrimage Centres of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The session was graced by esteemed academician Prof. Lalit Gupta from the University of Jammu as the expert speaker. He was warmly welcomed by Prof. Vandana Sharma, Dean of Languages; Prof. A. K. Nanda, Dean of Social Sciences; and Prof. Niranjna Bhandari, Director, CCRC.

In her introductory remarks, Prof. Vandana Sharma introduced the concept of the Thursday Mind Meet to the audience and the guest speaker, highlighting it as a vibrant weekly platform curated by students of various departments of the University to engage in intellectual exchange and contemporary discourse.

Delivering his keynote address, Prof. Lalit Gupta provided an in-depth overview of the pilgrimage sites in Jammu and Kashmir. He shed light on their historical origins, cultural significance, preservation efforts, and their evolving role in the future landscape of tourism and spiritual heritage in the region.

The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, featured insightful presentations by MA student Aman, and Ph.D. scholars Deewanshu and Narrottam. They collectively emphasized the vital role of religious tourism in the socio-economic development of the region. The speakers asserted that pilgrimage tourism not only strengthens the economy of Jammu and Kashmir but also generates extensive employment opportunities for local communities.

The session concluded with an engaging question-and-answer segment, reflecting the deep interest of the attendees in the topic.

Dr. G. V. Snigdha Raj, Assistant Professor, CCRC, efficiently convened the programme. The event witnessed the participation of several faculty members, including Dr. Arvind Rituraj, Dr. Vikas Singh, Dr. Amita Gupta, Dr. Ashwani Kumar (CCRC), and Dr. Anooj Bhadu and Dr. Vishal from the Department of Economics.

Students and research scholars including Rohit, Naresh, Sunil, Progati, Manish Bharti, Dr. Narender, and Prabhakar, along with a large number of attendees from different departments, enthusiastically participated in the academic meet, making it a grand success.

Your voice can reach the world: At JK Monitor, we firmly believe that every well-researched idea has the power to inspire change beyond geographical boundaries. We are delighted to share an encouraging message from one of our esteemed contributors, Dr. Rakesh Verma (J&K Forest Services). “His article, ‘When Trees Become Rights-Bearing Citizens: A Lesson from Canada for India’s Ecological Future,’ published on JK Monitor, received appreciation from La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the French non-profit organisation that founded and promotes the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.”.  Read the message here
In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family
A Profound Loss: JK Monitor Mourns the Passing of Founding Chairman Dr. Priya Ranjan

We at JK Monitor are profoundly saddened by the sudden demise of our Founding Chairman, Dr. Priya Ranjan.IN LOVING MEMORY Dr Priya Ranjan

A brilliant mind who studied at Netarhat Residential School and graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before earning his PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Ranjan chose to return to India and dedicate his life to teaching, research and social good.

His pioneering work in networked systems, AI, robotics and biomedical applications—especially computer-vision tools for early detection of cancer and heart disease—reflected his deep belief that advanced technology must serve humanity.

For more than 15 years at JK Monitor, he remained a loyal friend, mentor and collaborator, marked by rare humility, intellectual integrity and quiet generosity. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Priya, you will be deeply missed. Your life continues to remind us that knowledge finds its highest purpose in the service of others.

— Team JK Monitor

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