Ambala, June 8- The Ambala unit of the Progressive Writers Association organized its monthly seminar, "Meet Your Writer," at the residence of senior Punjabi-Hindi poet Bharat Bhushan in Mathura Nagri. The program was moderated by Prof. Gurdev Singh Dev, the state finance secretary of the association.
Tribute to Late Progressive Writers The first session of the seminar, dedicated to the late progressive writers of Haryana, was presided over by state senior vice-president Tanveer Jafri. Dr. Rattan Singh Dhillon, a senior poet and national executive member of the All India Progressive Writers Association, served as the keynote speaker. He provided insightful details regarding the historical background and current status of the progressive movement. He specifically highlighted the contributions and struggles of late writers Harbhajan Singh Komal, Lalit Kartikeya, Brahma Kumar Singh, Mohinder Singh Nagi, Harbhajan Singh Renu, Puran Mudgil, Dr. Subhash Mansa, and journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati, who played pivotal roles in advancing the movement in Haryana.
Dialogue with Poet Bharat Bhushan The second session featured an interactive dialogue with 76-year-old senior poet Bharat Bhushan, the author of 18 Punjabi poetry books. He shared that his ancestors migrated from West Punjab in 1947, and the fragrance of the soil of Narowal and its dialect are deeply embedded in his poetry. He credited his mother for teaching him the idiomatic Punjabi that shaped him as a poet. Born in Batala and raised in Dera Baba Nanak, he acknowledged the mentorship received from Dr. Joga Singh of Punjabi University, Patiala, and Naveen and Satnam Singh from the Language Department, Punjab. He recited his favorite works, including Ravi, Koi Pind Mera Vi Ae, Dhyan, and Je Vagan Ravi Te Jhna, and engaged in a Q&A session with the audience.
Poetry Session The third session was a poetry recitation presided over by Gurmeet Singh, editor of Tarksheel magazine. Theatre artist and poet Yadwinder Singh Kaloli recited 'Main Kandiali Tari Ve', while Krishan Avtar Suri presented 'Eh Duniya Rang Birangi Hai'. Tanveer Jafri shared satirical humor, and Narsingh Kumar Mayur presented an interesting satire on the faith of devotees. Bharat Bhushan, Rattan Singh Dhillon, and Gurdev Singh Dev also presented their poems. Gurmeet Singh concluded the session with his presidential address. The seminar ended with a vote of thanks by convener Prof. Dev to Paramjit Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Gopal, Krishan Gupta, and others.