INVC,,
Haryana,,
Haryana Government has decided to increase the prize money for Sant Taran Singh Vahemi Award to Rs one lakh from Rs 51,000. The award would be conferred upon outstanding Punjabi litterateur.
This was announced by Haryana Cooperation Minister, Sardar Harmohinder Singh Chattha at the award ceremony organized to honour the Punjabi litterateurs, authors of books and story writers here today. Seventeen litterateurs were honoured by Mr Chattha with award money, memento, shawl and citations.
Speaking in chaste Punjabi, Mr Chattha called upon the Punjabi litterateurs to use simple language so that a layman, agriculturist or even a child could understand it. He said that the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda has taken a number of steps for the promotion of the Punjabi language like according it the status of second language in the state, increasing the number of awards and award money for the promotion of Punjabi language and appointing Punjabi teachers.
The Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr K.K. Khandelwal said that the Punjabi language is spoken by 14 crore people in 165 countries. He said that it is the language in which the word is paid respect of the ‘Guru’.
The Director of Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs and the Additional Principal Secretary to Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Shiv Raman Gaur said that Haryana has contributed in a big way for the promotion of the Punjabi language. He called upon the Punjabi writers to contribute for the Punjabi Samvad, the monthly Punjabi magazine being published by the State Government. He also suggested for translation of masterpieces of other languages into Punjabi.
Noted Punjabi litterateur, Master Amrik Singh of Sirsa was honoured with Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Award carrying Rs 1.5 lakh and a citation. Late Dr Amarjeet Singh Kang was also honoured with special prize carrying Rs 1.5 lakh, his wife Mrs Jaspal Kaur received the award. Mrs Arkamal Kaur of Faridabad was honoured with Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Award carrying Rs one lakh and Dr Jiwan Bakshi of Kurukshetra was honoured Shaikh Farid Award carrying Rs one lakh. Mr Gurbaksh Singh Saini of Panchkula got Taran Singh Vahemi Award carrying Rs 51,000 and noted Punjabi singer of Ambala, Mr Resham Singh Anmol bagged award for folk singing carrying Rs 21,000.
Punjabi litterateurs Dr Darshan Singh, Dr Indu Gupta, Mr Gobind Singh, Mrs Kanwaljeet Kaur Juneja, Mrs Joginder Kaur Agnihotri, Mr Naib Singh Madher, Dr Mukhtiar Singh and Mr Veer Singh Thind were also awarded with awards of Rs 21,000 in different categories. Similarly, Mrs Manjeet Kaur Ambalwi, Mr Iqbal Singh and Mr Prem Singh Barnalwi got first, second and third prizes in story writing.
Mr Chattha also released the books ‘Baat Terian-Merian’ written by Dr Harbans Kaur, ‘Mahek Saraswati Di’ by Dr Darshan Singh, ‘Sagar Diya Chhalla’ by Mrs Joginder Kaur Agnihotri, the translation work of ‘Hind Samvad’ by Mr Kesra Ram, ‘Neeli Keel’ by Dr Madhu Bala, ‘Gaao Gita Da Vihaara’ by Mrs Gurinder Kaur Saini, ‘Samundar Di Lehran’ by Dr Indu Gupta and a book by former Director of Punjab Public Relations, Mr Jagjeet Puri. Folk Singer, Mr Resham Singh Anmol and Mrs Dolly Guleria also enthralled the gathering with their songs ‘Nankana Sahib Ki Yatra’ and ‘Meethi-Meethi Bolian Punjab Di’ respectively.
On this occasion, Director of Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, Mr C.R. Moudgil, Secretary of Haryana Urdu Akademi, Mr K.L. Zakir, Director of Haryana Kala Parishad, Mrs Usha Sharma, Punjabi Folk Singer, Mrs Dolly Guleria, the Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Awardee, Mr Sukhchain Singh Bhandari and number of litterateurs, authors of books and story writers were also present.
