US-based author speaks about global influences on Punjabi

Amritsar, India – The School of Punjabi Studies at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) held an interactive session with expatriate writer Avtar Singh Gondara, who is currently based in California, USA. With over 30 years of writing experience, Gondara spoke to Punjabi language students about the international influences shaping Punjabi and its progression in Western societies.

A practising lawyer from Faridkot, Gondara published his first book ‘Sangharsh’, which drew on his own experiences and those of others to explore the meaning of success. He later translated ‘Mhaul, Man and Literature’, written by Dr Trilok Chand Tulsi, noting that the translation could serve as a valuable resource for researchers in the field of psychology.

Gondara shared that he had long served as editor of ‘Tarksheel’ magazine and currently edits ‘Punjabiat’. During his address, he highlighted the importance of integrating various disciplines and languages, stressing a secular ideology is essential for the scientific study of literature.

“A writer or researcher must act as a collaborator, transforming unexplored international issues into artistic expression and creating works that remain relevant across time and cultures,” Gondara said. “I now aim to expand the thematic scope of expatriate Punjabi literature.”