Dr. Mohinder Singh Randhawa-themed Kavi

Hoshiarpur /Daljeet Ajnoha/July 27 : The Department of Languages, District Language Office, Hoshiarpur, in collaboration with Sahitya Sabha Garhdiwal and the Progressive Writers’ Association, Hoshiarpur, organised a kavi darbar dedicated to the Punjabi literary and folk contributions of Dr. M.S. Randhawa at the Dr. M.S. Randhawa Fruit Research Centre, Gangian-Dasuya. Prof. Surjeet Jajj was the chief guest, with Jasbir Singh Dhiman as guest of honour and Prof. Baldev Singh Balhi presiding over the function.
In his welcome address, Prof. Baldev Singh Balhi spoke movingly about Dr. Randhawa’s background, noting his roots in the village of Bodal in Hoshiarpur and linking his life to literature and society. Dr. Jaswant Rai, Research Officer of the Language Department, introduced the department’s activities and commented on Dr. Randhawa’s literary and folk legacy. He highlighted Dr. Randhawa’s extensive contributions, including work on Kangra art and folk songs, the folk traditions of Punjab, a four-volume history of Indian agriculture, books on science, the volume “Punjab — The Everlasting Name”, and his major role in founding the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Rose Garden. He added that Dr. Randhawa has deeply rooted Punjabi language, culture and heritage in the region. The discussion was further enriched by literary remarks from Prof. Keval Kaloti, Prof. Sham Singh, Prof. Surjeet Jajj and Jasbir Singh Dhiman.
Thereafter, a special issue (Nos. 131–132, April–September 2026) of the quarterly magazine Chirag was presented as a folk-dedicated edition. During the kavi darbar that followed, poets including Dr. Shamsher Mohi, Navtej Gurdhiwala, Manjeet Kaifi, Dr. Naranjan, Prof. Malkit Jauda, Dr. Armanpreet Singh, Harpal Singh, Dilpreet Kahlon, Tarsem Singh, Dr. Sarvjit Singh, Harshvinder Kaur, Dr. Sonia Devi, Rajinder Singh Dhadda, Navjot Singh Raju, Avtar Singh and Inderjeet Kajal enthralled the audience with recitations that further enlivened the fruit research centre’s orchards.
The Language Department honoured guests Prof. Surjeet Jajj, Jasbir Singh Dhiman and Prof. Baldev Singh Balli with traditional loiyas (shawls), books and sets of poets’ publications. The Fruit Research Centre hosted the writers with local mangoes and chilled lassi. Storyteller Surinder Neki delivered the vote of thanks, and Navtej Garhdiwala conducted the proceedings in a poetic style.