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Punjabi American Literature
conclave prods community to think
WSN Network
Sacramento:
The 13th
Punjabi American
Literature Conference organized by Punjabi Sahit Sabha California (Regd.)
was attended by about 300 hundred Punjabi writers and literature
lovers from different parts of the world. The keynote address was
delivered by Dr. Jaspal Singh from Chandigarh (India). Dr. Baldev
Singh Dhaliwal of Punjabi University Patiala and Dr. Pushvinder Kaur
of In-service Training Center Patiala also presented their papers on
Punjabi American literature.
Dr Jaspal Singh
in his keynote address challenged Punjabi writers to carve a niche
for themselves in the mainstream American Ethnic literature of the US.
He raised some fundamental questions as to why a representative text
of Punjabis’ destiny, dreams, hopes and aspirations could not emerge
from their collective experience. He illustrated the problem by
citing the example of European literature in different languages.
When a literary text in a particular language appears, the
translated version in English also becomes available within a few
months. Punjabi litterateurs need to concentrate on how to reach a
larger audience in the country of their adoption.
Continuing in
the same strain, Dr. Jaspal made an appeal for making Punjabi
Literature a part of American ethnic studies. It is time for a
serious thought why Punjabi literature holds no place in American
comparative literature and how such goals can be reached. He
further emphasized that Punjabi litterateurs have to come out of
their mental ghettos so that they could participate in a powerful
manner in the mainstream American literature, media and social
cultural discourse. The Punjabi Diaspora has to give up its tendency
of plowing their lonely furrow. They need to get rid of their tribal
psyche so as to establish their unique identity at the global level.
It appears that Professors of Punjabi origin in American
Universities could do more than anyone else, but unfortunately they
are completely isolated from the Punjabi community in general.
Instead of taking care of the interest of their community, culture
and institutions, they take America
as their exclusive intellectual colony so that they can keep on
perpetuating their intellectual hegemony over the ordinary Punjabi
community. Dr. Jaspal Singh said that they usually behave like
autocrats sitting in their ivory towers. In ordinary language they
can be termed as academic Czars. To establish a distinct Punjabi
identity in America which can become part of the overall American
cultural discourse is a very serious problem. The Punjabi American
intellectuals are sitting on the fence staring in the meaningless
vacuum.
The second paper
of the seminar was presented by Dr. Baldev Dhaliwal of Punjabi
University Patiala, India. He highlighted the contribution of
Punjabi writers in the field of American short stories. He
substantiated his views by giving appropriate examples from several
stories which had an overwhelming response from the audience. The
problem outlined by Dr. Jaspal Singh at the theoretical and
ideological levels was carried forward by Dr Dhaliwal at the
pragmatic levels presenting as an interesting discourse on Punjabi
American literature. The audience responded very warmly to the
intellectual propositions put forward by the scholar.
The third paper
was presented by Dr Pushvinder Kaur who came from Patiala
for attending this conference. She dwelled on her personal
experiences with American Punjabi literary figures and was able to
establish an emotional bondage with the audience. Consequently,
this seminar proved to be a challenge for the Punjabi audience at
the ideological, pragmatic, and emotional levels. It seems that now
time has come when Punjabi Americans have to deal with above stated
problems as their futuristic projects so that their place is
reserved in the overall socio-cultural discourse of America.
The first
session of this conference was devoted to story reading in which
Harjinder Pandher and Ratheshwar Singh presented their unpublished
stories. Jaswant Happowalia conducted the stage both for Story
Reading and Poetry Recitation. Kamal Banga Vice President of
Punjabi Sahit Sabha collaborated with Manjit Kaur Sekhon to conduct
the ceremonies. In the beginning of the conference participants paid
homage to departed Punjabi scholars and literary figures like S
Bhagwant Singh Azad, Narinder Bhullar, Dalbir Singh and Lal Singh
Dil whose demise has left a serious vacuum in Punjabi literary
world. Mr. Baldev Singh son of Bhagwant Singh Azad came to the stage
to receive the honor that was originally planned for his father. The
stage for this session was conducted by Manjit Kaur Sekhon in a very
successful way. The second session as has been stated above was held
in the memory of Jamal Hoshiarpuri and its main theme was
“Postmodernism and Diasporic Punjabi Literature.” Following this, Dr
Amrik Singh President of Punjabi Sahit Sabha California
congratulated the audience in general and the representatives of
different cultural and literary institutions in particular for
participating in a big way. Dr. Amrik Singh told the audience about
the special message sent by veteran poet Gurcharn Rampuri from
Canada about Dr. Jamal Hoshiarpuri’s contribution. Dr. Hoshiarpuri’s
daughter Dr. Tehseen took keen interest in the entire proceedings of
the conference. Dr. Amrik Singh also spoke about good wishes sent by
veteran journalist Surjan Zirvi from Toronto and former bureau chief
of The Tribune and now the editor of South Asia Post Gobind Thukral
for the success of the conference. He congratulated the organizers
for inviting distinguished scholars for the occasion. Mr. Jasjeet
Singh Board of Directors Amritsar Times and Mr. Daljit Sra Chief
Editor of Amritsar Times and Editor of World Sikh News Mr. Ajmer
Singh participated and took keen interest in the proceedings. Mr.
Prem Kumar Chumber Editor of Ambedkar Times congratulated the
organizers for inviting scholars of caliber. Among the journalists
Mr. Kuldeep Dhaliwal, Mr. Husan Laroya of Ajit Group and Prem Kumar
Chumber were honored for their contribution to Punjabi journalism.
Dr. Onkar Bindra, an Almuni of UC Berkeley and a former professor of
Punjab Agriculture University was honored for invaluable services
for the cause of Punjabi community. New members who joined the
Punjabi Sahit Sabha were also welcomed such as Gurbachan Singh
Bhatia, Tatinder Kaur, Jyoti Singh and Gurpal Singh Khaira. Gurpal
Singh Khaira could not be present due to accident he got involved in
a day before the conference. Dr. Harbhajan Singh Shergill remained
present throughout the session and extended all kind of help for the
conference.
The third
session was devoted to poetry recitation in which over 30 well known
poets took part. This session was inaugurated by Azad Jalndhari a
reputed poet. S. Panchhi. Bhupinder Daler, Surjit Kaur and Gurcharn
Badhan jointly presided over this session. Tara Singh Sagar
President of the Bay Area Unit, Neelam Saini, Ishar Singh Moman,
Azad Jalandhari, Santokh Gill, Jyoti Singh, Harbans Singh Jagiyasu,
Mohinder Singh Ghag, Dr. Harbhajan Shergill, Harjinder Pandher,
Sukhvinder Kamboj, Kulvinder, Surinder Seerat, Major Bhupinder Daler,
Jagjit Naushahirvi, Harbhajan Dhillon, Charnjit Singh Pannu, Mrs.
And Mr. Amarjit Dardi, Abhitav Saini, Siast Jammu, Rathi Surapuri,
Gurcharn Jakhmi, Rajinder Sahota, Ravinder Atwal, Simran Kaur
Dhillon, Bupinder Singh, Amanjit, Surinder Kaur, Aabneet Kaur,
Inayat and Bableen, Sardara Singh Kalotia, Gurbachan Singh Bhatia,
Darshan Natt, Jainder Singh Gill, Sukhdev Gill, Jagdish Gill, Raman
Gill, Kamal Judge, Surinder Judge, Tatinder Kaur, Manjit Singh, M.A.
Varinder Sekhon, Manjit Sekhon, Karmvir Sekhon, Fresno Unit was
represented by Gurpreet Dhaliwal, Jagmit Singh Gill, Iqbal Singh,
Dr. Pargat Singh, Kewal Bolina, Charn Judge, Lachhman Singh Rathor,
Shinder Singh Australia, Parmjit Singh Randhawa, Piara Singh Kudowal,
Resham Singh Sidhu, Jaswinder, Surinder Bindra, Jarnail Singh
Sarpanch, Parmjit Bhuta, Palvinder Kaur, Sonia, Jeevan Rattu Shinger,
Rattu Shinger, Madan Sharma Trustee Lakashmni Narain Temple,
Joginder Singh Subedar participated in the session. Among the
organizers who put extra efforts in making the conference
successful, Harbans Singh Jagiyasu, Jyoti Singh, Tatinder Kaur,
Manjit Kaur Sekhin, Rabinder Atwal, Harjinder Pandher, Kamal Banga
deserve special mention. Sacramento City College Punjabi students at
its UC Davis Campus attended Thirteenth Punjabi American Literature
conference on 9th
September 2007.
They took keen interest in the proceedings of the conference and
interacted with participants.
20
September, 2007
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