Ludhiana, October 6:
A grand literary and cultural event was organized by the renowned media organization Radio India, led by its Managing Director Maninder Singh Gill, at the local Bombay Banquet Hall in Surrey. For nearly three decades, Radio India has been representing the rights and interests of the South Asian immigrant community.
The event was attended by Surrey City Mayor Brenda Locke, Member of Parliament Sukh Dhaliwal, Member of Parliament Gurbaksh Singh Saini, former Member of Parliament Gurmant Singh Grewal and former British Columbia Minister Dr. Gulzar Singh Cheema. A large number of prominent literary, cultural and social personalities from the city, representatives of Sikh societies, management committees of various gurdwaras and temples, Muslim community leaders and local residents were also present.
During the well-attended event, the distinguished personalities jointly released “Payal,” a collection of previously unavailable writings by the late renowned poet Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. The book has been re-edited and published after 53 years by the Punjabi Lok Virasat Academy, Ludhiana, under the editorship of renowned poet and Chairman of the academy, Prof. Gurbhajan Singh Gill. The publication was made possible with the support of the family of Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Colonel Jasbir Bhullar.
One of the significant compositions in the collection, “Do Janian” (Two Women), was sung in his melodious voice by renowned folk singer and Canadian businessman Surjit Singh Madhopuri. Surjit Madhopuri said that he had recorded the ghazal during his previous visit to Punjab, but it was only after obtaining this book that he learned the identity of its original author.
Speaking on the occasion, Radio India Managing Director Maninder Singh Gill said that legendary singers including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Maratab Ali, Naseebo Lal and Akram Rahi had sung Sukhbir Singh Sandhu’s composition “Us Bewafa Di Yaad Vich Roya Karan Ke Na”. He noted that although the poet passed away in 1985, people in Indian Punjab were unaware of the identity of the great poet behind the composition.
He also spoke appreciatively about the contribution of the book’s editor, Prof. Gurbhajan Singh Gill, to Punjabi literature and the Punjabi language.
The stage proceedings were efficiently conducted by noted barrister and solicitor Lovelyn Singh Gill.
Among those present were President of the Central Punjabi Writers Association North America Pritpal Singh Gill, Surjit Singh Madhopuri, Palwinder Singh Randhawa, Darshan Singh Sangha, Bikkar Singh Khosa, Jasvir Singh Bhalluria, Inderpal Singh Sandhu, Advocate Sangha, Shabba Hundal, Boota Singh Dhillon, Balbir Singh Padda, Balbir Singh Boparai, Ranjit Singh Walia and a large number of media personalities.
Prof. Gurbhajan Singh Gill, editor of the “Payal” poetry collection, expressed his gratitude to Radio India Managing Director Maninder Singh Gill for arranging 200 copies of the collection from Punjab and facilitating their distribution among Punjabi readers.