Online platform brings writers, poets from both Punjabs together

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 6

A new initiative to talk about the shared culture, history, language, music, poetry and food in two Punjabs across the borders, the Majha House organised the first digital interaction under its new series, ‘Sanjha Punjab’, on Wednesday.

Writers, artistes, poets and musicians will come on the online platform to share thoughts from across the borders. The first interaction invited four noted journalists and writers, along with poet Arvinder Chamak from the city, for a dialogue.

The icebreaker session from across the border had Afzal Sahir, Madiha Haneef, Sughra Sadaf and Raza Ahmad Rumi. Besides Arvinder Chamak, Prof Sarbjot Behl and Preeti Gill joined them. Madeeha Arsalan also participated in the event.

Chamak, who played an instrumental role in getting this concept of peace and harmony on board, said, “Madeeha Arsalan is a renowned teacher, writer and poet, who has taught both in the US and in Pakistan while Raza Ahmad Rumi is a writer, policy analyst and journalist who teaches at the Ithaca College and Cornell Institute for Public Affairs.”

Around 100 members from both sides of the border participated in this event. Most of them were eager to listen to the opinion of the eminent panel on the exchange of ideas and culture between the two countries despite political hostilities.

Afzal Sahir, a poet and journalist, said, “We are all joined by our common histories and culture. No one can take that away from us.” Seconding this thought, Madeeha said, “As people, we have experienced only warmth and love between us. We should all beware of divisive policies which are solely aimed at sowing seeds of dissent among the innocent citizens, who share much more than just a border.”

Raza Ahmad said, “I have been teaching history and evolution of language for many years now, and the two Punjabs are one as far as both history and language are concerned. We will always remain conjoined due to these shared aspects of our rich cultures.”