Capt to inaugurate World Punjabi Conference today

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh will inaugurate the 6th World Punjabi Conference at the Law Auditorium, Panjab University, on Saturday. The conference, held in association with the Punjab Arts Council, will shift to the Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, on Sunday.

Panel discussions on issues and problems facing the state will be held. The remedies and solutions that emerge will be documented and presented to the state government for implementation. The discussions will be open to questions and suggestions from the public.

“We have invited representatives of political parties, writers and artists. We will ask for their suggestions and views on problems confronting the state,” said Punjab Arts council chairman Surjit Patar and chairman and former MP HS Hanspal during a press conference at Punjab Kala Bhawan on Friday.

“Punjabi language, education, and culture are on the decline. We are organising the conference to listen to experts and to move towards solutions,” Patar added.

‘PUNJABI SHOULD BE VISIBLE IN PUNJAB’

Hanspal said that they will pursue solutions and press the government for implementation after the conference. “Punjabi should at least be visible in Punjab. It doesn’t take much to write Punjabi at the top on signboards. In the South, even McDonald’s is written in regional languages,” he said. Patar said, “People ask ‘Punjab Di dharti te Punjab kdo’n aauga?’ (When will Punjab be there on Punjabi land).”

WPC secretary general Rawail Singh, World Punjabi Centre former director Deepak Manmohan Singh and Punjab Sahit Akademi president Sarbjit Kaur Sohal were present.

Five eminent personalities — SS Johl, Rajkumari Anita Singh, Jang Bahadur Goel, Sukhi Bath and Inqbal Mahal — will be felicitated during the conference. Delegates from Canada, USA, England, Germany, France, Italy and other countries are also participating.