Kapurthala- Continuing the series of annual memorial honors, the well-known literary organization Sirjana Kendra (Regd.) Kapurthala, which has been actively engaged in literary activities for the past 40 years, in collaboration with the Sandhu family, will confer the second annual memorial award in the memory of late poet Surinder Pal Singh Sandhu (Retired Deputy Secretary, Punjab School Education Board) upon renowned poetess and translator Prakash Kaur Sandhu this year.
President of the Kendra and internationally acclaimed poet Kanwar Iqbal Singh (Chairman, Excise and Taxation Department Kapurthala) and General Secretary Shahbaz Khan informed that retired DIG Sardar Tejinder Singh Maur will be the chief guest of the event. The presidium will include Kanwar Iqbal Singh, Gurtej Singh Raja Sandhu, Surjit Sajan, and Roop Daburji. Members of the Sandhu family, who have specially arrived from Canada for the event, including his wife Sarabjit Kaur Sandhu, daughter-in-law Rani Sukhwinder Kaur Sandhu, grandson Aadesh Inder Singh Sandhu, grandson Jagteshwar Singh Sandhu, along with close relatives Ravinder Singh Bains (Canada), Harinder Singh Bains (Canada), and Jathedar Ranjit Singh Khojewal, will also grace the occasion.
It is noteworthy that Sirjana Kendra has been presenting annual awards in memory of various poets for a long time. Continuing this tradition, Prakash Kaur Sandhu is being honored this year for her valuable contribution to literary activities, including three original poetry collections as a poetess, and translating approximately 10 books of various authors from Hindi to Punjabi, English to Punjabi, and Punjabi to Hindi. She has also translated around 10 medical-related books from English to Punjabi and English to Hindi.
Providing special information, poet Kanwar Iqbal Singh stated that the world-renowned late storyteller Shivdev Sandhawalia, a resident of Sultanpur Lodhi, District Kapurthala, was the father of Prakash Kaur Sandhu.
Senior Vice President Ashu Kumra, Vice President Malkit Singh Meet, Advisor Dr. Avtar Singh Bhandal, and Avtar Singh Gill stated that poets and writers from near and far are expected to attend the event. The award ceremony will be held on Sunday, 29 March 2026, at 10 AM at the office of Sirjana Kendra, Virsa Vihar, Kapurthala. This information was shared by General Secretary Shahbaz Khan and Assistant Press Secretary Rajni Walia.