THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Punjabi Language Seminar held in celebration of Punjabi Listeners Club’s 30th anniversary held at Freer Community Centre 242 Leicester Road, Wigston, Leicestershire on Sunday 14th September 2025 from 3.30-6.30 pm was well attended and successful.
Punjabi Listeners Club was formed on the 3rd anniversary of BBC Radio Leicester’s Punjabi Programme on 9th September 1995 and has been promoting Punjabi Language and Sikh religion by holding Punjabi Writing Competitions and Dastar Tying Competitions and other events. Since 2016 the club has been celebrating International Mother Language Day at Gurdwara Shri Guru HarKrishan Sahib Ji.
The programme started with Kirtan by kaka Manyodh Singh and Bhai Surinder Singh Ji. Bhai Sulakhan Singh Dard BEM informed everyone about the history of Punjabi Language teaching in Leicester which started more than 55 years ago.
Oadby Councillor Santokh Singh Atwal, Kohinoor Radio manager Shangara Singh Randhava, author of 16 books Jaswant Kaur Bains, Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara Library Sewadars Kehar Singh and Kulwinder Kaur, Kuldip Singh Bhamrah QAM, Gur Kaur and Punjabi Film actor Dev Diwana Ji and others all spoke from the stage and read their poem/ geet or said their views about improving Punjabi Language.
Messages from Baljit Singh Brar Editor Punjab Times {India and Canada}, Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi MP and Defence Committee, and Channi Singh OBE Alaap Group were conveyed to Punjabi Maa Boli lovers present at the seminar.
Chief guest at the seminar Riaz Ravat Deputy Lieutenant who attended on behalf of Mr. Mike Kapur OBE Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire read a letter addressed to Co-Ordinator of Punjabi Listeners Club from Buckingham Palace in which His Majesty King Charles congratulated the club on its 30th anniversary.
Leicestershire has population of more than one million. The Chairman of Leicestershire County Council Mr Paul Harrison was another important guest who was delighted to be invited to the event and presented trophies along with the Chief Guest to Indy Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, Jaswant Kaur Bains, Councillor Santokh Singh Atwal, Shangara Singh, Kehar Singh, Kulwinder Kaur, Sulakhan Singh, Jaspal Singh Bains, Jaspal Singh Kang and Sukhjinder Singh Dhadday for Service to Punjabi Language.
Riaz Ravat DL and Chairman of Leicestershire County Council Paul Harrison were presented with Framed Laminated Photo of Harmandar Sahib. The seminar was recorded by PTC NEWS International and other tv channels and telecast few days later.
Jaspal Singh Bains author of many Punjabi books and ex- editor of The Sikh Times newspaper and BBC Radio Leicester’s Punjabi Programme 1992-2012 managed the stage brilliantly. The Punjabi Language Seminar raised £225 for Punjab which was given to Bhai Harjinder Singh, President of Gurdwara Shri Guru HarKrishan Sahib Ji.
Tarlochan Singh Virk, Co-Ordinator Punjabi Listeners Club thanked Oadby Gurdwara Sahib, Lieutenancy Office of Leicestershire County Council, all those who have supported the Listeners Club since 1995 and everyone who contributed towards donation for Punjab.
