Punjabi Lekhak Sabha and J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages jointly organized 2- day All India Punjabi Writers Conference at Abhinav Theatre, Jammu. This 2-day conference was inaugurated by Kavinder Gupta, the Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly who was the chief guest on the occasion. Dr Amarjeet Garewal, prominent Punjabi scholar, writer and intellectual, presided over the function. Besides, Dr Arvinder Singh Amn, Additional Secretary, J&K Cultural Academy, Dr Baljit Raina and S Devinder Singh Vishavnagrik were also present in the presidium. Kavinder Gupta, while speaking on the occasion, expressed his satisfaction that the learned minds gathered there, will definitely deliberate upon the issue in details in this conference and shall come up with a positive roadmap. He also announced an amount of Rs 5 lakh for the Punjabi Bhawan under construction at Rani Talab, Digiana, Jammu. Delivering his presidential address, Dr Amarjeet Garewal, spoke about the importance of Punjabi language as mother tongue and said that the writers can play an important role for its development and preservation. He said that the Punjabis of Jammu and Kashmir are the real natives of this State and have not migrated from any where out side the State. Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Dr Arvinder Singh Amn emphasized that it becomes the duty of the guardians, litterateurs and other responsible persons of the society to encourage their wards towards their mother-tongue which will prove beneficial in maintaining the values of rich culture which otherwise is facing threats. Vishavnagrik, president Punjabi Sahitya Sabha, also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the aims and objectives of the Sabha. Dr Baljit Raina presented key note address. The 2nd session started with the reading out of Short Stories. Those who read out their Short Stories included Surinder Noor, Prof Rattan Singh Kanwal, Jas Pal Maan Khera from Punjab, Hardeep Singh Deep and Gurpreet Chahal. In the III session, papers were presented by Vickramjit and Dr Mamta Rani while a Punjabi play, titled “Suraj Chhipan Tun Pehlan” was presented in the IV session.
