Ludhiana: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Tuesday bid a warm farewell to Dr Manav Indra Singh Gill, dean, postgraduate studies, and Dr Nirmal Jaura, director, students’ welfare, on their superannuation, acknowledging their long and distinguished service to the institution.Dr Manav Indra Singh Gill, who joined PAU in 1992, completed a career spanning over three decades marked by academic leadership, research contributions and mentorship. Over the years, he served in several key positions, including dean of two colleges, additional director of research and extension, director PAMETI, registrar and head of the department of fruit science. His scientific work resulted in numerous research recommendations, while his role as mentor guided several postgraduate scholars. His national and international engagements also contributed to strengthening PAU’s academic profile.Reflecting on his association with the university, Dr Gill described PAU as an institution that shaped not only his professional career but also his values and outlook. He expressed gratitude to colleagues and students, describing the university as a nurturing space where collective effort made individual achievements meaningful and where he was given opportunities to contribute equally to teaching, research and extension.Dr Nirmal Jaura’s career blended scholarship with creativity and cultural engagement. Widely regarded as a promoter of Punjabi culture, he used theatre, literature and media to bridge tradition with contemporary expression. His stint as director, youth welfare at Panjab University, followed by his tenure as director, students’ welfare at PAU, was marked by a strong focus on student development and cultural enrichment.Dr Jaura said the university was more than a workplace for him, describing it as a living and breathing space that gave him identity and purpose. He thanked the institution for giving him the opportunity to serve as a mentor and cultural ambassador, recalling that interactions with students and initiatives on campus became part of a shared journey. During his tenure, he introduced several forgotten crafts of Punjab through youth festivals at PAU and earlier at Panjab University.The farewell reflected a sense of appreciation and pride as colleagues and students acknowledged the lasting contributions of both academicians to the university and the wider academic and cultural community.
