Baljinder Maan brings laurels to

Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha/April 07 : Through the joint efforts of the Punjabi Department and the Publication Bureau, under the patronage of Vice Chancellor Dr. Jagdeep Singh and under the leadership of Department Head Dr. Rajwant Kaur Punjabi, the 12th five-day Book Fair and Literary Festival was grandly organized at Punjabi University Patiala. On this occasion, while publishers from across the country arrived to exhibit their books, at the same time expert litterateurs and dignitaries related to various subjects of literature, art, and culture from across the nation remained present for five days. During the musical evenings, artists like Ranjit Kaur, Gulshan Komal, Sukhi Brar, and Debi Makhsoospuri added great vibrancy.
Keeping in view the need of the hour, on the fifth day of this festival, the organizers took a new and healthy initiative in the form of a ‘Children’s Literature Dialogue’. A discussion on children’s literature at this level was organized for the first time in any university. In this new chapter started by the managers at the university level, prominent children’s literature writers of Punjab were specially present, including Dr. Kulbir Singh Suri (son of famous novelist Nanak Singh) from Amritsar, Hrideypal Singh (son of Gurbaksh Singh Preetlari, the founder editor of ‘Bal Sandesh’), Manmohan Singh Daun from Chandigarh, Dr. Darshan Singh Asht from Patiala (all Sahitya Academy and Shiromani Bal Sahitya Award winners), and representing Doaba was the editor of ‘Nikkiyan Karumblan’ the only Punjabi children’s magazine recorded in the ‘India Book of Records,’ and an eminent Children’s Literature writer Baljinder Maan (Mahilpur, District Hoshiarpur).
The topic of the children’s literature dialogue was ‘The Crisis of Children’s Literature: Quality or Scarcity.’ Expert scholars while presenting their views specially praised the management of Punjabi University Patiala for this initiative. They stated that Punjabi University Patiala has become the first university to recognize the importance of children’s literature at the university level and to hold a discussion on this subject. Now, taking inspiration from here, other universities will also take the conversation on children’s literature forward. They will also take the responsibility of having their students conduct research work on various aspects of children’s literature.
The foundation of language development is linked to children. If children start loving and respecting the Punjabi language, then there will be no need of saying this by the elders. Love and respect for the Punjabi language among the children can only be created through interesting children’s literature. Children’s books and magazines written according to age groups must reach their hands through teachers and parents. The writers involved in the dialogue seriously discussed and refined subjects such as literary creation methods and genres including poetry, stories, novels, painting, animation, magazines, the educational system, publishing, and the role of the government. On this occasion, Baljinder Maan not only participated in the dialogue but also brilliantly played the role of moderator, and brought laurels to Hoshiarpur and especially Doaba.
On this occasion, the writers involved in the dialogue were specially honored by the Head of the Punjabi Department and Chief Fair Manager, Dr. Rajwant Kaur Punjabi on behalf of the organisors. During this dialogue, two drama collections by Dr. Darshan Singh Asht, ‘Tusin Bacche Kadon Banoge Ate Hor Bal Natak’ and ‘Chugalkhor Ate Hor Bal Natak,’ along with the latest issue of ‘Nikkiyan Karumblan,’ were also released.
On the occasion of the Children’s Literature Dialogue, Punjabi lovers including playwriter Dr. Kuldeep Singh Deep, Satpal Bhikhi, Tarsem, Dr. Sukhdarshan Singh Chahal, Aminder Singh, Baldev Singh, Sukhwinder Amrit, Gurinder Singh Kalsi, Vikram Chandel, Simran Aks, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harveer Maan, Harinder Gogna, Principal Sarwan Singh, Davinder Patialvi, Dr. Jaswant Rai, Daljeet Kaur Daun, Storywriter Nakshdeep Panjkoha, Mohan Lal, Baldev Singh Sadaknama, Jarnail Singh Canada, Jinder, Bhagwant Rasoolpuri, Khushwant Bargari, Dr. Gurmukh Singh, Jasveer Begumpuri, along with students, teachers, and children were present.