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Surjit Patar appointed chairperson of Punjab Arts Council
Patar is the most prominent of living Punjabi poets and not new to the Arts Council for he has headed the Punjab Sahitya Akademi in the past.
With chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh nominating celebrated Punjabi littérateur Surjit Patar (72) as chairperson of Punjab Arts Council (Punjab Kala Parishad), a poet is at the helm of affairs of this prestigious cultural organisation for the first time.
While the decision was expected , the manner in which chief Punjab culture minister decided to make the news public was sheer ‘Poetics at play’.
In a spontaneous decision, Sidhu decided to personally visit Patar’s residence in Ludhiana to deliver the appointment letter. Before leaving Chandigarh on this happy visit, the minister told HT, “I am doing so to honour him for he has honoured us by accepting this nomination.”
Cricketer, comedy star and now a politician, Sidhu has long been an admirer of Patar’s poetry. When he had floated ‘Awaaz-e-Punjab’ political party last year — before joining the Congress — he had used a couplet by Patar for the publicity poster which said: ‘Je aayi patjharh te ki hai, tu agli rut te yakin rakhin’ (So what if it is autumn now, keep faith in the next season).
On Tuesday, it was ‘Bahar’ (spring) all the way with even the monsoon clouds taking a breather mid-morning in Ludhiana as the minister touched the knees of the poet in respect in that unique Punjabi letter. Then, he presented the letter that Patar accepted in all ‘humility’, hoping to do his best to advance Punjabi culture, literature and language, which have been at the core of his poetry.
‘Was reluctant initially’
Patar shared with HT that he was reluctant at first to take the post. “However, it was the warmth and exuberance of Sidhu which prompted me to accept it,” he said quoting an Urdu verse ‘Phir teri arzoo ne meri raah rok li, Varna nikal chala thha sitaron ke jaalse’ (The wish to be with you stopped me, Else I was breaking free of the web of stars)
Cultural Parliament the aim: Sidhu
Praising the literary genius of Patar, Sidhu said: “Our aim is to wean back the Internet generation to our culture, folk arts and literature. We are attempting to set up a cultural Parliament, associating the best of minds, to start at the district level, move onto to the tehsils, then the villages and homes of people with their active participation”.
Several Congress leaders and dignitaries were present at the occasion but it was the cherished moments the minister had with Patar’s family members, including his 2-year-old grandson, that stole the show.
The child’s play led Patar to recite his translation of the nursery rhyme ‘ Jack and Jill’. He had composed the translation for his son Ankur and now recited it to his grandson Abir: ‘Sonu te Monu paharh te charhe, Lain gaye paharh ton sone de gharhe, Dig paya Sonu ohdi bhajj gayi totni, Pichhe pichhe Monu aai khandea lotni!’
This brought peals of Sidhu’s famous laughter.
Patar has been earlier associated with the council as the vice-chairperson. He has also headed the Punjab Sahitya Akademi. His is a rare case of a creative person, who has won every possible honour and a place in the hearts of the Punjabis with his classical lyricism. A competent cultural impresario, he has been elected the president of the Ludhiana Sahitya Akademi as well.
