Punjab Newspaper

The Valedictory Function of the on going Refresher Course in “Classic and Modern Indian Languages” was held at ICSSR Complex, P.U. Campus here today. The main attraction of the function was celebrated Punjabi Poet, Surjit Patar. He recited many of his choicest poems on the occasion, which included his old and new poems. One of his new poems, on the issue of purity of languages was much appreciated. He also recited poems from his first collection, ‘Birkh Arj Kare’ in melody and rhythm.


Patar also put forward some of his poems on Punjab and also on the Punjabi culture. One of his poems was related to his student Piare Lal. He was pleased to note that teachers from so many languages had participated in the course and thus provided a platform to understand each other and make bridges. He supported the view, earlier put forward by Dr. Satyapal Sehgal, Chairperson, Dept. of Hindi, that so many Punjabi teachers have been working with Hindi Teachers in the course and this makes it a historic moment, including his own coming to the Dept. of Hindi.

Before that, Prof. Shelly Walia, Director, Academic Staff College also highlighted this effort of A.S.C. to initiate efforts, so that different languages can be brought together in an institutional manner. He under scored how coming together makes us understand our own language better. He added that in future also, Academic Staff College would act as a synthesizing force between various Indian Languages. He put forward the view that comparative literature is need of the day and is being recognized as such through out the world. The function also included giving away of grade certificates to the participants, numbering 33 from the disciplines of Punjabi, Hindi, Sanskrit and Tibetan.

This was preceded by a Cultural Programme and feedback session by the participating teachers from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and West Bengal. The Cultural Programme was given by Shedup Tanjin, Sarabjit Ghuman, Davindra Gupta, Avtar Singh and Surinder Kaur. The feedback session included presentations from Pali Bhupinder, Ajay Kumar Srivastava and Mandip Kaur. The Programme was presided over by Renowned Hindi Short Story Writer and Ex-Head, Dept. of Hindi, P.U., Prof. Virendar Mehndiratta. He also pointed out the moment of different languages coming together. He opined that there couldn’t be an Indian Literature unless Indian Languages come together. He remembered his days as a teacher and said that this is the noblest profession, which gives scope for creativity. He also underlined the need for movement forward as it is not the stone in a river, which puts its impression on the river, but the other way. It is the river, an embodiment of moving forward that leaves its imprint on the stone.
Through this metaphor he observed that only a progressive literature is able to effect mankind permanently.

Dr. Satya Pal Sehgal, Coordinator of the Course made a brief comment on the course and highlighted the involvement of participants in the Academic Proceedings. Dr. Suresh Nayak of P.M.N. College, Rajpura conducted the proceedings according to the Chairperson, Dept. of Hindi.