Garhshankar:- The renowned regional institution, Doaba Sahitya Sabha (Regd.) Garhshankar, organized a book launch and a Kavi Darbar (poetic symposium) at Hotel Pink Rose, Chandigarh Road, Garhshankar. The program commenced with a welcome address by the Sabha’s President, Dr. Bikkar Singh. The presiding board included Prof. Sandhu Waryanvi (General Secretary, Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha - Sekhon), eminent educationist and noted writer Dr. Soma Sablok, Prof. Baldev Singh Balli (District President, Progressive Writers’ Association, Hoshiarpur), Principal Navtej Garhdiwala, renowned folk poet Jagdish Rana, K. Sadhu Singh Mullanpur Dakha, and Dr. Bikkar Singh.
As an effort to encourage budding writers and connect them with readers, the debut poetry collection “Kade Jaape” by Anita ‘Nav’ Vashisht—a member of the Sabha and an English teacher at Government High School, Basiala—was released. Following the launch, Dr. Soma Sablok, Prof. Sandhu Waryanvi, Prof. Baldev Singh Balli, Prin. Navtej Garhdiwala, and Jagdish Rana shed light on the poetess’s literary creative process and personality, offering their congratulations and best wishes for her future.
The subsequent Kavi Darbar was moderated by the Sabha’s Senior Vice President, Balvir Khanpuri. Poets who marked their presence through their recitations included Gurdeep Saini, Deep Jagatpuri, Sitara Singh Gill, Gurdeep Gill, Tara Singh Chera, Joga Singh Bhammian, Manoj Phagwarvi, Sucha Ram Jadla (Former BP&EO), Sukhwinder Langeri, Harish Bhandari, Lecturer Jaswinder Singh Jassi (President, Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha - Sekhon, Dist. Hoshiarpur), Ranjit Poshi (Darpan Sahitya Sabha), Sham Sunder, Sohan Singh Sooni, Desraj Bali (President, Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha - Sekhon, Dist. SBS Nagar and Gen. Sec. Punjab Sahitya Sabha Nawanshahr), Navtej Garhdiwala, Jagdish Rana, Prof. Baldev Singh Balli, K. Sadhu Singh Mullanpur Dakha, Pawan Kumar Bhammian, Amrik Hamraj, Balvir Khanpuri, Sarwan Sidhu, Anita ‘Nav’ Vashisht, and Comrade Darshan Singh Mattu.
Dignitaries present at the event included Principal Dalwara Ram, teacher leader Mukesh Kumar, Hans Raj Garhshankar, and Comrade Kulwinder Sangha. To support Anita ‘Nav’ Vashisht, her husband Vinod Kumar, mother Tripta Rani, and family members were present alongside well-wishers such as prominent social worker Kulbhushan Sori, Manish Kumar (Jalandhar), Ravinder Kumar (Zirakpur), Sonu Kumar (Zirakpur), Avinav Vashisht, Pushkar Sharma, Sanjeev Rani, Poonam, Pinky, Reema, Madam Rupinder Kaur, and Lecturer Manoj Banga.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Amrik Hamraj, Vice President of Doaba Sahitya Sabha Garhshankar.