Surjit Patar appointed Punjab Arts Council chairman

LUDHIANA: Eminent Punjabi poet and writer Surjit Patar, 72, has been appointed as the chairman of Punjab Arts Council. Punjab tourism and cultural affairs minister Navjot Singh Sidhu handed over the appointment letter to him at his house in Ashapuri, here, on Tuesday.
Addressing the mediapersons, Sidhu said, “Patar is a lighthouse and role model for many. Therefore, chief minister Amarinder Singh took only half a minute to finalize his name for the post.The council will hold a slew of events in September to promote cultural activities in the state. People from district, tehsil and even village level will be involved.”
An overwhelmed Patar said, “It is a great honour for me. We will ensure maximum involvement of youth in cultural activities to check drug menace.”
Thespian Neelam Mann Singh would also be a member of the council, the minister added.
Patar has replaced TV anchor Satinder Satti, whose appointment during the previous SAD-BJP regime had kicked up a row.
Sidhu said the state would get a cultural parliament, too. “Over 1 lakh people will be associated with it. Satti will also be a part of it. The cultural parliament will promote Punjabi culture and traditions,” he added.
The Punjab government, while issuing a notification in 1981, had established the Punjab Arts Council, a constitutionally autonomous entity. Its main aim is to cherish and nurture the culture of Punjab. Under it, three independent Akademies, Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi, Punjab Sahit Akademi and Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi, play an active role to promote dance, drama, music, literature and visual arts.
MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, MLAs Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Surinder Dabar, director of tourism and cultural affairs, Punjab, Shivdular Singh Dhillon, municipal corporation commissioner Jaskiran Singh, folk singer Pammi Bai, among others, also attended the event.
Catching them young
Punjab tourism and cultural affairs minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said he was in talks with education minister Aruna Chaudhary to involve education department in encouraging cultural activities in schools and colleges. “Punjabi is a beautiful language. We will not enforce it on anybody, but will promote it so that people, especially youth, are proud of it. The neglected Punjabi language department in Patiala will also be revived,” he added.