Patar releases book of Prof JS Gandam

Tribune News Service

Phagwara, December 11

Noted Punjabi poet and Chairman Punjab Arts Council Dr Surjit Patar recently released the maiden book of Punjabi writer Prof Jaswant Singh Gandam, titled ‘Kuch Terian Kuch Merian’, at a function held here recently.

Addressing an impressive gathering of eminent writers, columnists and journalists, Patar said there was an immense lack of beautiful and good prose writing. He said when budding poets came to him for advice about poetry, he always asked them to take to prose also while penning down poems.

Emphasising the significance of both forms of poetry and prose writing, Patar, while differentiating the two, maintained that while poetry laid a siege (‘kavita gherdi hai’) of its writer and could not be planned, prose could be planned and woven around a particular subject.

He said:“Vartak chalan wang hai; Kavita nachan wang hai”(Prose is like walking while poetry is like dancing).

Maintaining that a writer, howsoever he/she might be sensitive and emotional, had no right to be publicaly disappointed in his writings. Patar said even though some of his couplets could sound sad but at later stage he wrote them from a different angle and as per had what struck him at later moment. “New buds sprout out in changed situation, mindset and scenario”, he remarked.

For driving home his point, Patar quoted some of his couplets penned down in different situations. He said: “At one time I have written “Kuchh keha tan hanera jarega kiven”(How the darkness will brook my calling a spade a spade) but at the same time I have also written that “Balde hathan ne jehre hava ch likhe haraf uh hi hameshan likhe rehange” (Only those words will last forever which were written with burning hands amidst hostile winds)” .

He also quoted lines of his poem ‘Jaga de mombattian, ithe wagdian hi rehnian hawawan tatian’(Light up the candles without bothering about uncharitable winds) and ‘Main rahan te nahi turda,mein turda han tan rah bande’ (I do not follow beaten tracks but I carve out my own path).

Underscoring the need of the continuity of ‘sangharsh’(struggle), Patar mesmerised the audience by reciting and singing his poems and ghazals.

Noted writers principal Sarwan Singh, Gurmit Palahi, TD Chawla also spoke on the occasion. Among others, TV artist Prof Sarita Tiwari was also present. Patar was feted with a bouquet and a shawl by Punjabi Virsa Trust, the organisers of the function.