PAU pays tribute to literary legacy of Surjit Patar
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) paid a heartfelt tribute to Dr Surjit Patar, one of Punjab’s most revered poets, through a commemorative event, ‘Surjit Patar Simrati Samaroh’, hosted by the Dr Surjit Patar Chair at PAU, that blended emotion, memory and literature.
The occasion drew a diverse gathering of literary enthusiasts, students, faculty and admirers of the iconic poet.
Presided over by the vice-chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, the event featured esteemed guests including Onkar Singh Pahwa, CMD of Avon Cycle Industries, Ludhiana, as the chief guest, along with Bupinder Kaur Patar, the late poet’s wife, Prof Surinder Dhanjal from Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, Canada, and Jaswant Zafar, Director of Punjab Bhasha Vibhag, who graced the occasion as guests of honour.
The event opened with the musical notes of flutes. In a moving display of artistic reverence, students from PAU presented a series of poetic recitations drawn from Dr Patar’s timeless works. The performances were made possible through collaboration with creative collectives, ‘Poetrism’, ‘Kaaraj’ and ‘Spotlight’, bringing fresh energy and interpretation to the verses of Dr Patar.
In his address, the vice-chancellor congratulated and admired the efforts of Prof Jagdish Kaur, Chairperson of the Dr Surjit Patar Chair, reflecting on Dr Patar’s deep impact on Punjabi literature and his role in nurturing a sense of cultural identity and pride.
The chief guest, Onkar Singh Pahwa, lauded Dr Patar’s enduring contribution to language and art, describing his poetry as the “soul of Punjab in verse”. He praised the establishment of the Dr Surjit Patar Chair at PAU as a meaningful step.
Bupinder Patar, moved by the tributes, expressed her gratitude to the university and students for keeping her husband’s legacy alive with such reverence and creativity and presented a poignant recitation of Dr Patar’s poetry. Prof Surinder Dhanjal highlighted similarities between the poetic styles of Dr Patar and Paash, noting their shared aim of creating a beautiful society.
The event concluded with the recitation of Dr Patar’s poem, ‘Jagade Mombattiyan', a symbolic prayer for peace and love in the world.
The evening ended with a collective reflection on the importance of literary preservation and the role of youth in carrying forward the spirit of regional art and expression.
