‘Pash fought multiple wars and held protests with his pen’

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 20

‘Kaviyan de siveyan ch dehekde angiar kade thande nahi hunde’ (embers burning bright in poets’ pyres never grow cold), said legendary poet Surjit Patar at the 32nd Pash Yadgari Sahitak Samagam (Pash Memorial Literary Event) held at the Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall on Saturday. Poets, writers, intellectuals and eminent people participated in the poignant event held to pay tributes to the life and legend of poet Avtar Singh Pash amid the pandemic.

With his poetry rendered even more topical and apt in the crisis of present time – warm tributes were paid and his memory and revolutionary poetry was fervently pondered upon by all who have been moved by his ever-contextual and valid concerns.

Like many poets, whose verses and revolutionary songs of yore are chanted in various recent civil rights protests these days, Pash’s poetry has also seen a revival and heightened interest in the young.

Prof Dr Surjit Bhatti, who retired from Punjabi University Patiala, while speaking on the topic ‘Pash Anthology and contemporary challenges’ said: “Son of the soil Pash and his entire life work, literary works, poetry and the terrible way he parted with the world is testimony to the fact that he lived and died as a loyal, solemn and warrior son of the creative, hard working class of society.”

Dr Surjit Bhatti said our sensitivity as human beings was being choked for ages now. Pash’s iconic poem “Sabh ton Khatarnak Hunda Hai Saade Supneyan Da Mar Jana” (the death of our dreams is the gravest danger) understood this vicious attack on our being, ages ago.

He said it was through his pen, that Pash fought multiple wars and held protests. “Like a coconut, he was hardened and confrontational for the black forces of society, but like the inside of a coconut, he was a pure, soft, considerate and healthy literary influence for the creative society,” he said.

Desh Bhagat Yadgaar Hall general secretary Gurmeet Singh, senior Trustee Surinder Kumari Kochar, famous poet Surjit Patar, Dr Lakhwinder Johal and Pash Yadgaari Kaumantri Trust member Amolak Singh passed resolutions by raising hands that scholars, journalists, theatre persons, activists and social workers jailed in the country be released unconditionally. They also demanded that curbs on the freedom of expression and speech be removed and the sidelining of Punjabi language in various regions be stopped. The audience at the event also agreed to the support of farm stir against farm ordinances on the occasion.