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| Former Union Minister Dr Manohar Singh Gill awarding fellowship to Prof Gurbhajan Gill |
Ludhiana, March 14, 2018 (Iqbal Happy): For his contribution towards Punjabi language and culture, the Punjabi Sahit Akademi today awarded fellowship to noted Punjabi writer Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill at a function held at Punjabi Bhawan, today. This fellowship was awarded by Former Union Minister Dr Manohar Singh Gill, who was the chief guest on the occasion, Padma Shri and Chairman Punjab Arts Council Dr Surjit Patar, Dr SP Singh former vice chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, former vice chancellor Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, Dr NS Malhi, former vice chancellor Guru Kashi University, Punjabi Sahit Akademi President and General Secretary Dr Sukhdev Singh Sirsa and Dr Surjit Singh, respectively, besides several others.
It is pertinent to mention that earlier Prof Gill was awarded fellowship by Punjabi University, Patiala for a project named "Kheti-Bari Lok Dhara” that is related to agriculture folklore as well as the Shiromani Sahitkar Award by Punjab Government.
Thanking the Punjabi Sahit Akademi for this prestigious honour, Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill while speaking on the occasion said that he has always worked wholeheartedly for the promotion of Punjabi language and culture on all forums, whether national or international. He said that he is thankful to Punjabi Sahit Akademi for honouring him with such a prestigious honour.
Dr Manohar Singh Gill congratulated Prof Gill for this prestigious honour and said that one should always serve his or her mother tongue on all platforms in life.
Dr Surjit Patar said that Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill is one of the very few poets of Punjabi language who highlight the plight of common man, environment and social evils through his writings.
Prof Gurbhajan Gill served the Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana for more than three decades and is also the former president of Punjabi Sahit Akademi Ludhiana and chairman of Maharaja Dalip Singh Memorial Trust, Bassian Kothi.
Apart from several national and international awards, Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill has 16 books on Punjabi poetry to his credit, which includes Gulnaar, Sheesha Jhooth Bolda Hai, Har Dhukhda Pind Mera Hai, Bol Mitti Daya Baweya, Agan Katha, Khair Panja Paaniya Di, Dharti Naad, Phullan Di Jhanjhar, Paardarshi, Mor Pankh, Mann Tandoor, Camera Di Akh Boldi, Surkh Samundar, Do Harf Raseedi, Mann De Boohe Baariya and Tareya Nal Gallan Kardeya.
Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill was born at Basantkot (near Batala) in 1953. He received his graduate and postgraduate degrees at GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana and SCD Government College, Ludhiana respectively. He served for sometime as a Lecturer in Punjabi at Guru Nanak National College, Doraha and LRM College (now DAV College) Jagraon. Since 1983 he worked as Editor (Punjabi) at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He has written nazams, ghazals, and geets with equal ease.
The awards he has received so far include Bhai Vir Singh Award (1979), Shiv Kumar Batalvi Award (1992), Bawa Balwant Award (1998), Prof. Puran Singh Award (2002), Giani Sunder Singh Award (2002), S.S. Misha Award (2002), Safdar Hashmi Literary Award (2003), Principal Sant Singh Sekhon Memorial Gold Medal (2003), Surjit Rampuri Award (2005), Balvinder Rishi Memorial Ghazal Award (2005), to name a few.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Punjabi singer Pammi Bai, photo artist Tej Partap Singh Sandhu, Gurpreet Singh Toor IPS, Prof Ravinder Bhathal, Director of Sardari TV Rana Sidhu “Toronto”, GGN Educational Council President Gursharan Singh Narula, GGNIMT Director Manjit Singh Chhabra, Secretary Punjabi Akademi Delhi Gurbhej Singh Goraya, Ranbir Singh USA, Jasjit Singh Natt USA, Dr Guriqbal Singh, besides several others.
