Anil Joshi, Cabinet Minister, Local Bodies, Medical Education and Research, Government of Punjab today released Moninder Moudgil’s first book of Punjabi poems – “KACHCHI KANNI” (THE NASCENT PEN) at his residence in a simple and graceful ceremony attended by scholars of repute, friends and family members. Hailing the book as a significant contribution to Punjabi Literature and Language in an age marked by crass consumerism and virtual image-industry, Mr. Anil Joshi felicitated the poet-Moninder Moudgil for “highlighting the civilization crisis of our times and dealing with such issues as class/caste/religious differences, economic, social and cultural inequalities and injustice”.Professor Jaspal Kaur Kaang, Chairperson, Guru Nanak Sikh Studies, Professor Gurpal Singh and Professor Sudhir Kumar, Panjab University Chandigarh in their brief remarks appreciated the aesthetics and the plurality of meanings fore grounded in such evocative poems as “Maa”, “Dhee Di Mang”, “Vaisakhi”, “Aao Jaagiye”, Guru Gobind Singh”, “Pradushana”, “ Mainu Dasso”, Meri Jaat Ki Hai” ? “Dhee Raaniye”, and “Udan Pariyan”, which emerge from the native soil and assume larger national and universal meanings through his versatile pratibha (creative imagination).
On this occasion, Mr. C.R. Moudgil, the eminent Punjabi Writer and former Director,, Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, said that “there is an urgent need to protect, preserve and nurture the great literary and cultural heritage of Punjabi tradition which is manifest in Moninder Moudgil’s poetry- that recontextualizes the sacred and the secular, the mundane and the universal in the contemporary times”. The other dignitaries who were present on this occasion include-Dr. Ashok Sharma(Samrala), Mr. A.S. Parashar, Bureau Chief Punjab Kesari and the family members of Moninder Moudgil, Manager Printing & Publication Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra the Writer Moninder Moudgill in his statement thanked all the dignitaries who attended the event and praised the efforts of Mr. Prabhjit Singh, the Publisher(Shahid-e-Azam Publication, Patiala) and especially singled out Mr Jatinder Moudgil, Manager Press, Panjab University, Chandigarh for his constant and untiring help in getting the title published.