Nanak's 550th birth anniversary, PM constitutes NIC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday constituted a National Implementation Committee (NIC), under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State for Culture as Members, to commemorate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in the country and abroad.

Three meetings have been held under the chairmanship of Rajnath Singh in connection with Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary. The last meeting was held on November 8 this year.

The central government has also decided to celebrate the event with a series of activities in and outside the country with the help of various ministries and departments.

As per the central government, commemorative coin and postage stamps will be released by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Department of Posts.

Apart from that, Sultanpur Lodhi, where Guru Nanak spent much of his life, will be developed as a heritage city, also incorporating Pind Babe Nanak Da, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in collaboration with the State Government of Punjab. Ministry of Railways will upgrade Sultanpur Lodhi railway station with modern amenities.

A National Institute of Inter Faith Studies will also be set up by Ministry of Human Resource Development in Punjab for which the state government will provide land for free of cost. Besides, a high powered telescope in India for the devotees to view Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan has also been planned to install by the Ministry of Electronic and IT.

An international seminar on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak in New Delhi will also be organised by the Ministry of Culture as part of the celebration.

UNESCO will be requested to translate and publish an anthology of Guru Nanak Dev's writings in world languages and publication of Gurbani in different Indian languages will be made by National Book Trust (NBT).