The Chief Minister, Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh has nominated noted poet Dr. Surjit Patar as the Chairman of the Punjab Kala Parishad and the appointment letter to that effect was handed over personally to the celebrated poet at his residence here today by the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu. Thanking the Punjab Government for this honour, Dr. Surjit Patar expressed strong hope that he would initiate a people’s movement which would render a yeoman’s service in propagating Punjabi culture, folk arts and literature worldwide.Interacting with the mediapersons on the occasion, Mr. Sidhu said that Dr. Patar is a literary giant of Punjab who has increased the stature of the Punjab Kala Parishad manifold by graciously accepting the Chairmanship. Calling Dr. Patar a guiding light for the future generations especially the youth, Mr. Sidhu said that Dr. Patar would take the Punjab Kala Parishad to farthest corners of the state by the dint of his energy and positive approach. He also said that serious endeavours would be made to associate 1 lakh art and culture lovers directly in short time with the activities of the Parishad. He also thanked the Chief Minister especially for the appointment of Dr. Patar.
The minister while divulging the futuristic vision, said that the Punjab Government seriously attempts to constitute a ‘Cultural Parliament’ within the next month so as to ensure that constructive deliberations are held to devise strategies for popularizing of Punjabi art and culture. He further said that modern tools of communication such as internet and social media would be used in order to make the Punjabi culture and art penetrate right into the homes of the people who would be vital partners in the movement for popularization of Punjabi art and culture.The minister while talking about western culture said that the Punjabi people are not anti to any culture instead they are fully capable of taking their cultural values and art forms to every nook and corner of the globe. He also added that under the aegis of the Punjab Kala Parishad, the literature, culture and art of Punjab would occupy a place of pride in comparison to the other cultures and the Punjab Government would render every possible assistance. Disclosing more, he said that as the Punjabi art and culture is very closely interlinked with the school education also, he would meet the Education Minister Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary to chalk out modalities for linking school students with this great enterprise.
Accepting his appointment as the Chairman of the Punjab Kala Parishad with utmost humility, Dr. Surjit Patar thanked the Punjab Government, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu and assured the lovers of Punjabi art and culture that he would leave no stone unturned to propagate the Punjabi culture as well as literature. He also said that it would be his sincere attempt to organize musical, poetry and singing contests throughout Punjab to connect the people with their great literary, cultural and artistic heritage of the State so as to widen its base.On the occasion, MP Mr. Ravneet Singh Bittu, MLAs Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Mr. Surinder Dabar, Director Tourism and Cultural Affairs Punjab Mr. Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Mr. Jaskiran Singh, Folk Singer Pammi Bai, SDM Mr. Damanjit Singh Mann, Joint Commissioner Municipal Corporation Mr. Kulpreet Singh, General Secretary Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Mr. Amarjit Singh Tikka, Advocate Mr. Harpreet Singh Sandhu and other dignitaries were also present.