Prof Bhatthal is new president of Punjabi Sahit Akademi

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 15

Prof Ravinder Bhatthal has won the presidential poll of Punjabi Sahit Akademi during the elections of the premier literary body of the state held at Punjabi Bhawan on Sunday. He won against Dr Tejwant Singh Gill. Prof Bhatthal received 402 votes whereas Dr Gill gained 315 votes.

Surinder Kailey, with 379 votes won the post of the senior vice president and Dr Surjit Singh was elected for the post of general secretary.

For the post of the executive members, Sehajpreet Singh Mangat, Khawant Bargadi, Dr Gulzar Pandher, Bhupinder Singh Sandhu and Manjit Kaur Ambalwi were elected for the post of vice president.

Prof Bhatthal said he would ensure to take literature to people, so new and young writers could emerge. More literary activities would be held and he would work to make the literary magazine of the academy ‘Alochna’ to be more interesting.

When littérateurs cast votes

It was time for litterateurs to leave the pen not for writing but ticking the boxes against the candidates they wanted to vote for. Four booths had been set for voting.

Isher Singh Sobti, one of the most elderly members of the academy at the age of 98, came down especially vote. As many as 728 votes in total were cast. The academy has around 2,000 members with more than 30 per cent of them are settled abroad.

Executive members 

• Sehajpreet Singh Mangat, Khawant Bargadi, Dr Gulzar Pandher, Bhupinder Singh Sandhu and Manjit Kaur Ambalwi were elected to the post of vice president.
• Executive board members are Tarlochan Lochi, Sukhdarshan Garg, Manjinder S Dhanoa, Gulzar Shaunki, Sri Ram Arsh, Jasvir Jhajh, Amarjit Kaur Hirday, Dr Sharanjit Kaur, Bhagwant Rasoolpuri, Tarsem, Kamaljit Neelon, Dr Sudarshan Gaso (from Haryana), Surinder Neer (J&K) and Dr Jagvinder Jodhan