Rain mars Punjabi language event

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 21

On the occasion of ‘International Mother Language Day’ today, a march was organised by Punjabi Jagriti Manch to promote mother tongue Punjabi but the rain played a spoilsport.

City residents appreciated the efforts of the Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma in promoting the Punjabi language.The DC had himself cleared IAS exam in Punjabi.

As soon as the march was to start from Lyallpur Khalsa College to Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, it started raining. The march, which was led by youth performing ‘Bhangra’ had to be wound up. School students who were carrying placards to promote the Punjabi language were asked to immediately take shelter.

At the venue where ‘Pandal’ was erected for the dignitaries and artistes, there was no cover for the audience, who used their own umbrellas and braved rain to participate in the march.

As Sufi singer Rabbi Shergill sang only for a minute from the dais without any musical instrument. Hoshiarpur-based sisters Hashmat and Sultana too performed only one song.

Dubai-based hotelier and philanthropist SPS Oberoi was among the dignitaries. Deepak Bali, Satnam Manak and other members of Punjabi Jagriti Manch organised the event. Bali said: “The rain forced us to quickly wind up the function as we did not want the audience and VIPs to get inconvenienced.”

An electrical engineer from PEC, said: “I always felt that I was comfortable and proficient in Punjabi. So, I prepared for my papers in Punjabi. Though there was shortage of study material in sociology, which was my main subject for the Civil Services exams, I somehow overcame that problem too”.