Patiala, December 9: The Department of Punjabi Language Development, Punjabi University is organizing the 36th International Punjabi Development Conference from December 10 to 12. The theme of this conference has been kept as 'Historical Tradition of Punjabi Society: Contemporary Relevance'. A large number of scholars from different fields are participating in the conference. The main objective of the conference is to talk about the promotion of Punjabi language, literature and culture in the country and abroad and to try to find solutions for our present and mark the future from our tradition.
Convener of the conference, Dr. Parminderjit Kaur, Chairperson of the Department of Punjabi Language Development, said that this is the 36th International Punjabi Development Conference of the department. The Department of Punjabi Literature Studies, Department of Linguistics and Punjabi Lexicography, Department of Religious Studies, S. Sobha Singh Department of Fine Arts and Department of Music etc. of Punjabi University, Patiala are cooperating as co-conveners in this conference. She said that Vice Chancellor K.K. Sardar Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha is specially attending the inaugural ceremony of this conference to be chaired by Yadav to deliver the 'Inaugural Address'.
The 'Welcome Address' will be delivered by Prof. Narinder Kaur Multani (Dean, Academic Affairs, Punjabi University, Patiala), 'About the Conference' by Dr. Balwinder Kaur Sidhu (Professor and Dean, Languages, Punjabi University, Patiala), 'Keynote Address' by Prof. Rajesh Gill (Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Punjab University, Chandigarh) at this inaugural ceremony. The special guests of the inaugural ceremony will be Dr. Rawail Singh (Convener, Punjabi Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi, Delhi), Prof. Jaspal Kaur Kang, (Former Professor, Department of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh), Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari (Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda), Prof. Manjit Bansal (Dean, Consultancy & Industrial Relations, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda), Prof. S. P. Singh (Former Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar).
The conference will have six sessions - Joint Academic Discussion (Punjabi Language, Literature, Culture, Contemporary Knowledge in the Context of Science and Technology), Punjabi Language and Linguistics, Punjabi Language and Linguistics, Punjabi Culture and Diaspora Culture: in the Context of Media and Arts, in the Context of Social Sciences, in the Context of Knowledge, Science and Technology. Two cultural evenings will be organized on the first and second day of the conference in which 'Aven Indrajeet' and 'Bol Mitti Daya Bavya' will be staged at Kala Bhawan.
On December 12, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema will be the chief guest and Education Minister Sardar Harjot Singh Bains, Food Processing and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian will attend the closing ceremony of the conference to be chaired by KK Yadav as special guests.