Talk on Shiv Kumar Batalvi at Musafir Memorial Central State Library

Patiala, November 11:

                   Musafir Memorial Central State Library, Patiala in collaboration with People for Arts, Heritage and Literature (PAHAL) organised a Talk on Shiv Kumar Batalvi. The event was organised to promote and celebrate the beauty of Punjabi Language and Literature. The talk was delivered by Prof Balvir Singh and Prof Sawraj Raj. The participants read out Batalvi’s poems and could connect with some ideas, recognising the complexity and the subtleness of human experience.

                   The Talk was attended by students from various colleges, a Senior Secondary Schools along with their faculty members. Prof Balvir Singh pointed out the timelessness of Batalvi’s poetry as it resonates in the contemporary music; he shared numerous anecdotes from the poet’s life underscoring not only the aesthetics but also its depth and lore.

                   Batalvi, one the first feminist Punjabi authors, beautifully weaves in his poetry the emotions and acumen of women protagonists. Prof Swaraj Raj wove the threads of thought of Keats, Shelley and Batalvi. He talked of the relevance of poetry for the present generation as it gets consumed by the culture of speed. Dr Harsimran Singh Tuli, founder member of Pahal, told that the city will be witnessing many more such events which will foster a culture of reading and writing.

                   Dr. Prabhjot Sandhu, Chief Librarian in her address applauded both the participants and PAHAL was the enriching experience. She said that Library will be conducting more such talks and events to get the people of the city involved in literary events.