Introduce youngsters to Punjabi literature: Patar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 27

A Punjabi poetry session, Chadheya Basant, was organised on the final day of the Amritsar Literature Festival on Thursday.

The session began with an address on the process of writing poetry by Padma Shri-awardee Surjit Patar, who said poetry was not confined to recitation of verse and the creative process behind its construction needed to be understood as well. “Reciting poetry in a way that each word is understood as intended is an art in itself but the larger process is the creative ideology behind the poem.” He said youngsters needed to be introduced to the rich text and verses of Punjabi literature through novel methods. Patar also shared some of his signature poems.

A total of 18 eminent poets participated in the session. Among them were Swami Anternirav, Ejaz Saif, Saleem Tabish and Surjit Rosh Badsali. The participants hailed Amritsar as a city that had retained its aesthetics as a hub for literature and culture along the lines of Lahore.