Vancouver, Friday, April 10, the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Asian Studies Department and Asian Library hosted their 15th annual Harjit Kaur Sidhu Memorial program with a remarkable success. Harjit Kaur Sidhu was a passionate educator and advocate for Punjabi language and culture, and recognizing and celebrating excellence of Punjabi language at this event was a true tribute to Harjit Kaur. The auditorium of the Asian Centre was packed with UBC students, teachers, staff, and members of the community. The Program was opened with the land acknowledgement and a brief introduction of Harjit Kaur Sidhu and the event from the Head of the Asian Studies Department, Dr. Sharalyn Orbaugh.
At this event, each year, an individual is recognized and awarded for their contribution to Punjabi language. This year, this honour was given to the popular Punjabi poet Sardar Inderjit Singh Dhami for his exemplary work in Punjabi language. He was also the main speaker for the event. In his speech, he impressed the audience with his poems. His poem about mothers made the audience emotional.
The warm applause he received after his speech highlighted his popularity with the crowd.
Another commendable step of this annual event is to organize children’s essay competitions and honor children who write best essays. Every year, three students are given prizes in the beginner category and three in the advanced category for writing Punjabi essays. In the preliminary category, the students of Dashmesh Punjabi School Abbotsford Anayat Kaur Dhillon and Niyamat Kaur Dhaliwal won first and second awards, and the third prize was won by UBC student Vansh Sidhu Priya. In the advanced category, UBC students Amreen Kaur Toor and Harleen Kaur Dhillon won first and second prizes, and the third prize was given to Sehajpreet Kaur Dhaliwal, a student of class 12 at Semiahmoo Secondary School.
During this event, the UBC students presented several very informative presentations on Punjabi history, culture, and eminent Punjabi singers in a very effective manner. Several students including, including alumni, performed popular Punjabi poems and songs, and they were very well received. Apart from this, students also highlighted how Punjabi language skills decline from one generation to the next, especially in families that do not speak Punjabi at home.
Overall, the event was very entertaining, educational, and inspiring along with promoting Punjabi language and culture. The program was hosted by South Asian and Himalayan Studies Librarian Sarbjit Kaur Randhawa and Punjabi Language and Culture Lecturer Gurinderpal Mann very smoothly. Everyone thanked Dr. Ravi Sidhu, his wife Dr. Parvati, and the Sidhu family for this quality Punjabi program, and appreciated the hard work of the organizers and students. Sarabjit Kaur Randhawa and Gurinderpal Mann expressed their gratitude to all attendees, performers, volunteers, and extended special thanks to the eminent personalities who participated in this program including the Chief Guest Inderjit Singh Dhami, Punjabi poet Amrik Palahi, poet Kavinder Chand, ghazal poet Dashmesh Gill Firoz, ghazal poet Rajwant Raj, poet Sukhjit Hundal, writer Parminder Swaich, story writer Jasbir Mann, poet Basan Singh Upeshk, song writer Harjinder Singh Cheema, Indian Sahitya Academy awardee ghazal poet Jaswinder, and Dashmesh Punjabi School teacher Kuldeep Kaur Brar.
