Sangrur Heritage & Literary Festival concludes at high note

Greed for NRI grooms be curbed and more vigilance required: Justice Rakesh Garg

Sangrur, November 22: Chairman of India’s first and only NRI Commission, Justice (retd) Rakesh Garg asked the people of Punjab to be more vigilant and curb their desire to have NRI grooms to protect their daughters against fraudulent weddings.

Chairman of NRI Commission, Mr. Justice (retd) Rakesh Garg

Addressing on the last day of the three-day Sangrur Heritage & Literary Festival he informed that since the formation of the Commission in 2011, there had been about 1150 cases registered predominantly relating to matrimonial and property disputes out of which only 200 odd cases may be pending but in my tenure, he reitereated, 100 percent of the cases have been decide.

Dr. Raj Mohan Gandhi (centre) in discussion with
former VC of Panjabi University Dr SS Boparai (left) and
Prof Harpal Singh Pannu (right)

He said that the police authorities need also to be more vigilant especially where the boy does not return or calls the bride overseas after wedding here, which calls for more stringent action and including sections 406, 420 and 498A as well as the charges of fraud and rape.

Earlier on the day the Punjabi edition of Rajmohan Gandhi’s book “A History from Aurangreeb to Mount Batten” was released by the Panjabi University’s former vice chancellor Dr. Swaran Singh Boparai.  “I said written this book because of my deep curiosity in the history of Punjab and my affection for Punjabis,” he added.

The young writers session saw Khushwant Singh of “Maharaja in Denim” fame,

Suditi Jindal of “Grow up Moon”, photographer and artist Sandeep Singh, digital art specialist Mandeep Singh, and poetess haiku writer, Jaspreet Mandher from Panjabi University Patiala.  Moderated by journalist Balpreet, on their respective process of writing, Khushwant Singh considered it a divine process and he lets his pen do the writing at first and it is only later that he works on developing or refining the story line, while for Suditi Jindal it came naturally from her subconscious where this art lay dormant but once discovered, she found writing an energizing experience.

The digital artist Mandeep  and photographer Sandeep that any form of art is an artist’s expression and even when a biography is being written, it is the author’s perspective and persona that gets reflected in the writing.

Noted calligraphist, Kamaljeet Kaur

Earlier in the day, Sandeep Singh and Mandeep Singh showcased the art of digital photography and graphic designing while Suditi Jindal conducted a workshop on story writing at the Festival.

Kamaljeet Kaur the noted and lone Panjabi calligraphist underlined the need for students to learn Gurmukhi and art of writing which would generate interest amongst the young generation in their mother-tongue, on which, in another session, Dr. Surjit Singh of Punjabi University and Manmohan Singh made passionate appeal to revive interest in the language.

Panjabi language can be saved through the collective consistent efforts of writers, community, government, academicians, religious leaders, publishers, and the media, and emphasised that educational institutions have a great role to play, said noted writer Surjit Pattar.  We are undermining and demeaning study of Punjabi for which appropriate strategy should be developed, he added.

Mrs. Bittu Sandhu recited poems from her books Safina and Sadran and shared her views on poetry.

Former Punjab chief minister Smt Rajinder Kaur Bhattal along with the queen of the jungle, environmentalist and author Sunita Dhairyam shared their life’s journey and challenges they encountered in the male-dominated society.

Honouring Sangrur’s Icons

Sangrur Heritage & Literary Festival also recognized some of the sporting icons of Sangrur ,  including the hero of Mission Thar Desert Col. Parry Grewal,  Mission Artic expeditionist Alamjit Sekhon, Senior Trap Shooter Capt Fatehbir Shergill, and  Junior Trap Champion Haqiqat Singh, and short documentaries of their respective expeditions were also screened.

Sangrur Kala Kendra also honoured the Festival Director and founder of the heritage and literary event in Sangrur, Karanvir Singh Sibia and historian author of Sangrur, Rajeev Jindal for reviving the interest in heritage and literature of the region amongst the community.  Both of them, who have authored and chronicled the history of Sangrur and the Jind state in their respective books, shared their memories and the great contribution to the society their forefathers had made to the city.

The day’s proceedings opened with a classical dance performance by students of General Gurnam Singh Public School and Krishnanshu Jindal, student of Class VIII gave a presentation on how to preserve heritage buildings of Sangrur.

The Festival came to an end with the Rajasthani folk performance ‘Tera Bandhani’.