Get a feel of undivided Punjab at PAU’s cafe

LUDHIANA: When you will reach at the ‘Farmview Cafe’, on the PAU campus, a 0 km milestone seems to welcome the visitors. Once you will cross the landmark you will see that ‘Lahore’ written in Gurmukhi and ‘Shahmukhi’ is just 159 km from this place, to make you realise and recount that Punjab, even though divided by border, is still there as an entity, connected with the common culture threads.

A board describes various activities at Farmview Cafe, PAU, in Ludhiana. Photos: Himanshu Mahajan

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 14

When you will reach at the ‘Farmview Cafe’, on the PAU campus, a 0 km milestone seems to welcome the visitors. Once you will cross the landmark you will see that ‘Lahore’ written in Gurmukhi and ‘Shahmukhi’ is just 159 km from this place, to make you realise and recount that Punjab, even though divided by border, is still there as an entity, connected with the common culture threads.

That is the first instance of the ambience that connects you with the culture and glimpses of the undivided Punjab. Recently passed out, and current students of the varsity, have captured the glimpses of the undivided Punjab infusing it symbolically to make it a place for cultural and literary pursuits.

The five rivers of Punjab are depicted through stones on the blue waters in this cafe. “We have tried to capture the spirit of ‘Sanjha’ Punjab, by depicting its culture,” said Sarabjit Singh, a former student.

“In fact, we are painting the portraits of Bulle Shahand and Ustad Daman, the venerated poets, of undivided Punjab,” he says.

A ‘Gurmukhi’ tree depicting Punjabi alphabet at a nearby wall lend that literary atmosphere. A poem of Shiv Kumar Batalvi written on the pillar nearby, in addition to the work poetry and portraits of Baba Fareed is being made.

Manjinder Singh Sandhu, another former student said, he and his counterparts have tried to reuse waste material with fresh ideas to lend that creative touch to the place. “A board written 'jee aya nu' is prepared by discarded bicycle chains and colourfully painted and with plastic bottles,” he said.

Another board reads that it is a place for reading books, photography and for playing. A set of books are also placed for visitors. “Punjab have a rich culture and all Punjabis need to reconnect with it,” says Gurloveleen Singh Rana, another former student.

‘Nukkad natak’, ‘mehfil mittran di’, story-telling sessions will be organised with students as well, says Narjit Singh, another student who passed out this year. “It is a good sign that not just the students who passed out, but current students of the varsity are equally contributing to reconnect with culture,” says Sarabjit.