Arts council event dedicated to state’s literary legacy

Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya in collaboration with Punjab Arts Council, Chandigarh, hosted a grand award ceremony, ‘Rebooting Punjab – Nav Sirjana’, on Tuesday.

The event was dedicated to the legacy of Mahinder Singh Randhawa, Dr Surjit Patar and the promotion of the mother tongue. Principal Prof Ajay Sareen welcomed Deputy Commissioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal as the chief guest. Justice NK Sud, Chairman, Local Advisory Committee and Bhupinder Kaur Patar were the guests of honour. Sawaranjeet Singh Savi, Dr Yograj Singh, Ashwini Chaitley and Amarjit Singh Grewal also formed a part of the panel. The ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by the recitation of the DAV Gaan.

Principal Prof Sareen extended green greetings and phulkaris to the distinguished guests. Dr Aggarwal was presented with Om Dhwaj. Dr Sareen paid tributes to the legendary Dr Patar and spoke about the achievements of the institution. Dr Sareen expressed her gratitude to all dignitaries, guests and participants for making the event a grand success. She reiterated the institution’s unwavering commitment to promoting Punjab’s literary and artistic renaissance.

Swaranjeet Singh Savi, Chairman, Punjab Arts Council, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the cultural and artistic significance of the event. He said that the event was a part of the 75-day project to realise the dream of Dr Patar. It included holding seminars, art exhibitions and music concerts to raise awareness among the youth. Amarjeet Singh Grewal elaborated on the concept of ‘Punjab Nav Sirjana’, underscoring the need to rejuvenate and celebrate Punjab’s artistic and literary heritage. This can be done through the help of educational institutions and women in particular.

NK Sud presented his best wishes for promoting the mother tongue and asked the students to take interest in literature. During the ceremony, eminent personalities were felicitated for their remarkable contributions to various field. Manmohan Singh, Subash Parihar, Bhai Baldeep Singh, Mahinder Kumar and Dr.Jaswant Zafar were awarded for their contribution to cinema, fine arts, music, theatre and literature, respectively.

The Punjabi Maat Bhasha Award for prose was conferred upon Varinder Walia, while Jasbir Mand was honoured for his contribution to novel. The Arts Council also honoured Dr Himanshu Aggarwal and Dr Ajay Sareen for being the icons of constructive changes in society. In his presiding address, Dr Himanshu Aggarwal spoke about his love for the Punjabi language calling it a sweet language, perfect for the execution of tasks. He felt honoured, honouring the legends of Punjabi literature.

Bhupinder Kaur Patar recited an unpublished poem of Dr Surjit Patar on a nostalgic note. Dr Zameerpal Kaur from Central University, Bathinda, spoke at length about the Punjabi language and its importance. Anujot Kaur rendered a soulful voice to the poems of Dr Patar. A vote of thanks was presented by Dr Yograj Angrish. The stage was hosted by Dr Anjana Bhatia, Dr Navroop and Kuljit Kaur. The event was convened by Dr Navroop and the PG Department of Punjabi. Dr Sandeep Kaur was the co-convener. The Department of Design and Fine Arts presented an exhibition of paintings and portraits. The event stood as a testament to the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of Punjab, fostering an environment of appreciation for art, literature and regional identity. The ceremony concluded on a high note with a reaffirmation of the collective resolve to preserve and promote Punjab’s rich cultural tapestry.