Sahit Academy’s lit fest organises dialogue on journalism, Punjab

The third day of the four-day Book Fair and Literary Festival organised by the Punjabi Sahit Academy, Ludhiana, witnessed a session dedicated to Punjab and journalism.

The session was chaired by Prof Jagmohan Singh, with Dr SP Singh, former Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, as the chief guest and Satnam Chana as special guest.

Eminent voices, including Dr Swarajbir, Arish Chhabra, Shivinder Singh, and Rajiv Khanna led the discussions.

Welcoming the gathering, Academy General Secretary Dr Gulzar Singh Pandher outlined the scope of the festival and greeted teachers and students from Saraswati School, Doraha. Dr SP Singh, in his keynote, reflected on his experiences, highlighting the roles of religious and leftist leaders, and urged the need for a collective thought process beyond caste, attire, and religion.

He congratulated the Academy for organising a meaningful dialogue.

Prof Jagmohan Singh, in his presidential address, recalled the Ghadar movement and Bhagat Singh’s revolutionary tradition, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh.

Academy president Dr Sarbjit Singh added that intellectual dialogue had become a special feature of the festival, allowing participants to reflect deeply on Punjab’s concerns.

Surinder Kaile concluded the session with thanks and remarks on literary journals including Anu.

Dr Swarajbir opened the dialogue with a critical perspective on Punjab’s communal atmosphere and caste-based divisions, calling them persistent challenges. Shivinder Singh extended the discussion to contemporary journalism, expressing concern over corporate influence.

In the second session, Dr Gurikbal Singh engaged in a serious dialogue with poet Ravinder Sahira on poetry and diaspora.

The evening featured the play Ghar Ghar by playwright Pali Bhupinder, directed by Rajinder Raja and staged by Satya Group of Theatre, Ludhiana.

Chief guest Amarjit Singh Tikka praised the performance and lauded the Academy’s cultural initiatives. Additionally, photo exhibitions by Dr Paramjit Singh Sohal and Ravi Ravinder enriched the festival.