-Ramesh Chander
Adampur (Asian Independent)- Punjabi Sahitya Sabha of Adampur Doaba of Jalandhar district of Punjab is the platform of Punjabi literary talent of the region and beyond. It is engaged in publishing and promoting Punjabi literature under the stewardship of Retired DEO, Roop Lal Roop, himself a poet and writer of standing. The Sabha not only publishes stand alone works of writers of acclaimed status but also provides due space in its publications to writers and poets who are not able to publish their stuff on their own. As such the Sabha is doing a yeoman’s service to our mother tongue (Maa Boli) Punjabi. We must recognize and appreciate this great job. .
Though I am not a literary person of any standing yet it is my honour and pleasure that Punjabi Sahitya Sabha for the last couple of years kindly associated me with some of its functions and activities like release of new books and poetic symposiums (Mushyaras). I thoroughly enjoy and benefit from these kind gestures. This time on September 17, honours to release the books of Punjabi poetry – Jagde Bol (collection of poems by different writers published by Punjabi Sahitya Sabha of Adampur) ) and Lafzan Di Dargah of Dr. Gurinder Gill fell on me. It was a real pleasure to be in company of literary personalities of the area. It was a well attended function by the quality audience in spite of not so hospitable weather due to heavy rain pour. Jagde Bol is a collection of assorted poems of 41 poems on various aspects of the socio-cultural and socio-economic concerns and interests to the society at large. The Editors of the book thoughtfully inserted and quoted some of the poetic gems of literary authorities like; Lal Singh Dil, Gurdass Ram Alam, Sant Ran Udasi, Pash, Baba Balwant among others. The second book was Lafzan Di Dargah of an acclaimed poetess and literary personality, Gurinder Gill, an NRI Punjabi living abroad. The book contains 133 poems on different subjects pertaining to day to day life of in this world of challenges and endeavors to meet them. The books were reviewed and commented upon by competent academics namely; Prof Malkit Jaure, Dr. Ravinder Kaur and Dr. Balwinnder Thind for the benefit of the attentive and awakened audience. It was really an impressive function. Roop Lal Roop is not only a worthy son of the soil but also an able educational administrator and an excellent organizer. These formal ceremonies to launch (Ghund Chukai) the book ushered us into the second part of the function, an impromptu Mushyara by the members of the Sabha and special invitees. It was a gratifying to note that a young physically challenged lady came on the wheel chair with her mother and participated in the Mushyara. In my brief comments, as an almost an illiterate entity as far as the literary aspects of the event are concerned, said that to my mind poets are certainly better human beings with God given talent and recalled Gurdass Ram Alam, in spite of the fact that he was not much educated formally, gave a new height to the famous dictum of Karl Marx ‘to each according to ones need and from each according to ones capacity’ in one of his poems in Punjabi ‘Asin bit to baddu diden han; sanu lod mutavik milda nahin’. Roop Lal Roop interjected several times with his gems of thoughtful comments of the literary and social value.
Yet another book of collection of poems in Punjabi – Viwastha Pariwartan consisting of 172 poems written by Dharam Pal Panther of Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala was presented to me by the author. Panther Sahib is a missionary writer and a community activist. I will certainly read the book to further educate myself.
Jagde Bol is the third book of Punjabi Sahiyatia Sabha published in recent years after Kavia Rishman in 2020 and Siar Da Pattan in 2022. I have had the honour to release Siar Da Pattan and also the earlier book – Fakiri Ramjan and Ulje Sulje Akhar of Gurinder Gill, Lafjan Di Sultan as termed by Roop Lal Roop. Some details may be access in my blog: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2022/02/siar-da-pattan-collection-of-poems.html
