Shagan Kataria/Manoj Sharma
Bathinda, 25 December
In the inaugural session of the seventh ‘People’s Literary Festival’ dedicated to Surjit Patar today, famous journalist Arfa Khanam Sherwani said that democracies are in a big crisis all over the world. He said that the free press and democratic institutions have faced serious threats. He said that the farmers’ movement of India has given a new ray of hope. Similarly, people are organizing against this trend in different countries. He said that compared to the pro-government media, the alternative media has given greater space to people’s voice. Chief Guest Prof. Jagmohan Singh said that in every era, the ruling parties have been trying to suppress the writers, artists and intellectuals who raised the voice of truth.
Earlier, Khushwant Bargari, president of People’s Forum Bargari, welcomed the guests. This session was moderated by Stalinjit Brar. On this occasion, Jaspal Mankhera’s book ‘Main ab uh nahi’ was presented to the public. Earlier, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Jas Mand and Prof. Jagmohan Singh inaugurated the book exhibition. The second session of the People’s Literary Festival was discussed in the context of Taskin’s book ‘Punjabi Folk-Sangeet, Hari Kranti de Aar Par’ in collaboration with Bharatiya Sahitya Akademi.
Rajinder Pal Singh Brar, Babu Singh Mann, Kuldeep Singh Deep and Taskin participated in this discussion. Taskin said that any art becomes a tool of the market and becomes anti-people. Kuldeep Singh Deep said that the mention of weapons and drugs in singing is a dangerous trend. Dr. Rajinder Pal Singh said that Punjabi songwriting and singing is also a reflection of social thinking like other forms of literature. Presiding over the session, Babu Singh Maan said that in the current era, songwriting has almost ended and words are being filled only in the noise of instruments.
On this occasion, famous photographer Varinder Sharma Faridkot also exhibited his photographs and original writing competitions of school students were also conducted.
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