Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 8: A Punjabi Kavi Durbar was organized by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages at Dera Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Hall where Baba Jatinder Pal Singh Sodhi, Head of Dera Baba Gurudwara was the chief guest and Ajit Singh Mastana, a well known Punjabi writer from Kashmir presided. Eminent, senior and young Punjabi poets of the region participated in this Kavi Durbar. A large number of people and devotees attended the programme.
Popinder Singh Paras, Editor Sheeraza Punjabi, in his welcome address said that the Academy is committed to reach far flung areas to cater the services to the people there. This time Dera Baba Banda was selected for Kavi Durbar where the emphasis was laid on selecting senior and well established poets of Punjabi so that their talent is shown to the devotees and people of Dera Baba at Reasi.
The poets included Dr Baljeet Singh Raina, Dr Monojit, Bhupinder Bhargav, Ajit Singh Mastana, Amar Singh Kuka, Bachan Bharti, Jang S Verman, Ajit Pal Sharma, Pritam Singh Anjaan, Amarjeet Kaur Neer, Hardeep Singh Deep, Resham Kaur Resham, Gurpreet Kaur, Dr Mamta, Tejinder Singh Premee and Davinder Singh Dhanjal. The poets expressed themselves on various issues like religious sentiments, political satire and other issues related to life situations.
While welcoming the initiative of Cultural Academy, Baba Jatinder Pal Singh Sodhi said that Punjabi should be given its due place in the State. He said that the rights of Sikh community in particular are being withdrawn. He said Academy has given an opportunity to the devotees and people of Dera Baba to listen to the fine poetry of well known poets of the region and their views. He accepted the request of the writers to hold one day Durbar every year on the name of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.
Shiv Shankar Pahwa, National Coordinator, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Sikh Samparaday, also expressed his views. He said that he belongs to Haryana and the Government there has given due place to Punjabi language.
The programme was conducted by Popinder Singh Paras and vote of thanks extended by S T S Premee, Secretary, Manoranjan Kala Kendra, Jammu.
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