Dedicated to Surjit Patar, Randhawa, Punjab Nav Sirjana Mahotsav begins
Punjab Nav Sirjana Mahotsav, a festival dedicated to the new creative vision of Punjab, honouring Mohinder Singh Randhawa and Surjit Patar, and the mother tongue, Punjabi, was inaugurated at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, in Chandigarh today. The Punjab Arts Council, will organise the festival across different regions of Punjab till March 29.
SS Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, inaugurated an exhibition set up by Vijay Ozo. Delivering the welcome address, Punjab Arts Council Chairman Swarnjit Singh Savi mentioned that for two months the events will focus on the youth and will be organised across nine cities in Punjab. Renowned thinker Amarjeet Garewal stated that the festival series had been carefully planned keeping the youth in mind, as they are the ones who will shape the future.
SS Gosal delivered the Mohinder Singh Randhawa Memorial Lecture-2025 on the topic ‘The Future of Agriculture and Rural Development in Punjab’. He provided a detailed account of Randhawa’s life and his contributions to Punjab’s agriculture.
The inaugural address was delivered by Prof Karamjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. He highlighted that the festival is being organised in honour of two Punjabi stalwarts — Randhawa and Surjit Patar. The event was presided over by Nirlep Singh, former Chairman of National Fertilisers Limited. In the next segment, Rajinder Singh from the Music Department of Punjabi University, performed a musical recital. This was followed by a documentary film titled ‘Main Phir Aawanga (I Will Return)’, based on the poetry of the late Surjit Patar, directed by Harjeet Singh.
Pritam Rupal and his group presented traditional folk ballads, while the highlight of the inaugural ceremony was the play ‘Dehi’, written by Amarjeet Singh Garewal and directed by Rajvinder Samrala. Punjab Sahitya Akademi president Atam Singh Randhawa was also present. The entire event was conducted by Punjab Arts Council Vice-Chairman Yog Raj.
