Amarinder’s ‘The Last Sunset’ to release in London

‘The Last Sunset: The Rise & Fall of the Lahore Durbar’ penned by former Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh is scheduled for global launch in London next month while its Punjabi avatar — Aakhri  Lamhean di Daastaan: Lahore Durbar di Chadhat te Pattan-early next month.

Sources said here Thursday that Roli Books- the publisher of English version- has fixed September 18-19 for its release globally. Publishers of the book, ‘Roli Books’ is in the process of fixing up with the author for launch function, sources said.

The Punjabi version of the book is ready and printed by Lahore Book Depot, Ludhaina and would likely to be release in Patiala, sources said.

Sources added that since Patiala was the home town of Amarinder Singh and he was very keen to release it in Punjabi University, the university established in the name of Punjabi language.  The date & venue to release has not yet finalized.

Full report here Punjab Newsline

'We've a common past, history, struggles and heroes'

Fakhar Zaman, noted Punjabi writer-politician from Pakistan, founded World Punjabi Congress (WPC) to bring together two Punjabs and promote the divided region's culture at the height of India-Pakistan tension during the Siachen crisis in 1984. Zaman, a key aide to late former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto and the only Pakistani to receive Indian Punjab's Shiromani Sahitik Award, spoke to Sameer Arshad about the need for greater cultural exchanges to bridge the India-Pakistan gulf: 

How important are the two Punjabs to the India-Pakistan peace project? 
The key to improving ties lies in greater exchanges between the two Punjabs. There are around 110 million Punjabis on the either side of the border and a whopping 65 per cent Pakistanis speak Punjabi. The focus on shared culture and heritage could be a vital binding force between the two Punjabs and eventually the two countries. WPC has so far organised 24 international conferences in India, Pakistan and across the world with the emphasis on improving the ties between the two countries as well as promoting Punjabi language, culture and the shared Sufi heritage.

How difficult has the road been so far? 
We've made a historical contribution but faced difficulties as well. I've been under the fanatical threat and my house in Lahore was attacked in 2001. The organisation has made a historical contribution in bringing the two countries together starting with its foundation in Lahore in 1984, which didn't go down well with the fanatics. The conference came in the backdrop of the Siachen conflict. WPC played a prominent role in promoting good relations when it organised a conference in 1986, even when the rapprochement seemed difficult.

Full report here Times of India

Rich tributes paid to Shiv Kumar Batalvi

Punjab  Public and information minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan Thursday July 29 paid rich tributes to celebrated Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi and inaugurated two days state fair here in the memory of legendary writer.

Sekhwan appealed to the writers to strengthen the bonds of national integrity through their creative and constructive writings so that basic tenets of democracy remained intact.

While inaugurating state fair in connection with the 75 birth anniversary of Shiv Kumar Batalvi in this industrial town, Sekhwan underlined the need to educate  the youth about our rich culture. He exhorted the people to exercise adequate caution and vigilance in preserving and perpetuating our glorious so that the coming generation derive maximum  inspiration about over our old tradition.

He gave a clarion call to intellectuals  and writers to come forward with a grim determination to safeguard our rich cultural heritage to enable the younger generation to inherit this legacy.

Full report here Punjab Newsline 

Errors galore: Reference book for teachers withdrawn

The state Education department has withdrawn the reference book for primary schools teachers issued under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The book titled Gyan Sarovar, which was given teachers to teach subjects like history, geography, civics and general knowledge, turned out to be a book of errors.

Not only were there several printing errors and wrong information, the book written in English, “exposed the state government’s claim of promoting Punjabi language”.

By this time, most schools have completed half of the syllabus and authorities are not sure when the revised version of the book will be distributed.

The book cites two different theories related to the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and has two different names for the wife of Guru Amardas. It evens state that taking drugs does not make one is an addict and even lays undue stress on issues of blind faith.

Full report here Indian Express

Seminar on transnational Punjabi literature

Eminent scholars, litterateurs and artistes from world over are converging on Punjabi University campus for a seminar on Transnational Punjabi Literature and Culture: Challenges and opportunities.

The two days seminar on February 28 and March 1, being organised by World Punjabi Centre (WPC) in association with Sahitya Academy, New Delhi will be inaugurated by Manpreet Singh Badal, Finance Minister, Punjab. Deepak Manmohan Singh, Director, WPC will welcome the guests in the inaugural session to be presided over by Jaspal Singh, Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University. SP Gautam, Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Jotiba Phule University, Rohilkhand will deliver the keynote address.

Among those present as guests of honour will be Fakhar Zaman, chairman, Pakistan Academy of Letters, SS Noor, Vice President, Sahitya Academy, JS Dhaliwal of Canada chapter of WPC, Gurumel from University of Fresno, US and AS Brar and SS Gill, Vice Chancellors of GNDU, Amritsar and BFUHS, Faridkot, respectively.

There will be a concert of Sufi music, Sufiana, on the conclusion of the inaugural day by India's leading Sufi lyricist, composer, singer and scholar, Madan Gopal Singh.

A fortnight long exhibition of paintings by Swarnjit Savi will also be inaugurated by eminent artist Sidharth during the seminar.

Full report here Punjabi Newsline

REVIEW: Witness the Night

REVIEW

Witness the Night
Kishwar Desai
HarperCollins
Rs. 250
Pp 256
ISBN: 9788172239220
Paperback

Blurb
Durga. A fourteen-year-old girl, found all alone in a sprawling farm house tucked away in a corner of Punjab. Silent, terrified, and the sole suspect in the mass murder of thirteen members of her family. Simran. Whisky-swigging, chain-smoking unmarried social worker from Delhi. She is Durga’s only hope, for Simran is the only one who believes that Durga may be more a victim than a suspect. As Simran tries to explore every corner of Jullundar and its people, from the enigmatic tutor Harpreet and his disfigured wife to the pictureperfect high-society Arminder and her superintendent husband Ramnath, she delves deeper and deeper into a cruel world where even the ties of family are meaningless. It isn’t long before she realizes that nothing is quite as it seems.

Reviews
Behind the Sweetness and light Telegraph 
I cannot get over the shock and surprise I got while reading the novel. I have known Kishwar over many long years. She is always giggling, laughing and congenitally cheerful. I did not suspect that behind the façade of light-heartedness was concealed a morbid mind deeply concerned with the sordid realities of our lives. Highly readable.

Dreams die very young Financial Express
The passion reflects in the writing, and the tale was so clear that she finished writing it in a just a month. And, no, Desai did not provide the plot to the girl in Haryana, who in September last year was accused to killing seven members of her family, a narrative eerily similar to hers. “I almost passed out on reading that,” she says, shaking her head.

A Time to Kill Indian Express
Anger is essential to the book: Witness the Night begins with the protagonist Durga’s diary entries, describing the aftermath of the murders. Durga is writing an account for Simran Singh, a Delhi-based chain-smoking, whiskey drinking social worker who believes in her innocence and must unravel the events before the murders to get to the truth.