Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Jaswant Deed on Campus

14th July 2015

Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi today held another event in the city which drew a sizable audience, young and old. This time the focus was on Punjabi poetry and the audience comprised mainly those passionate about literature produced in the land of five rivers.
The invited poet today was Jaswant Deed, a former Sahitya Akademi Award winner. This celebrated author of several collections of poetry has recently relocated to Canada but his heart is very much here in the soil that has nurtured his creative talent. The poet spoke about his works and recited some of his poems. This was followed by insightful comments comments on his work by several well-known academicians and critics including Drs Minder, Surjeet, and Jagjit Singh.

Deed's main contribution to Punjabi poetry lies in the fact that he brought about a radical change in the idiom used in verse. Moreover, it is intellectual poetry that he writes; poetry that appeals to the thinking reader, engages the intellect and invites critical attention.
Following an interactive session on poetry, Jaswant Deed also screened his film "Jalpari", which focused on changing human relationships, particularly in a diasporic situation.
Today's event was coordinated by Prof Yog Raj of Panjab University who is also a member of the CSA. Along with students, present on the occasion were several senior writers and academics who participated in the discussion. Shri Gulzar Sandhu, ID Gaur, Malkit Singh, and others shared their views on Deed's poetry.
CSA office bearers present included Manju Jaidka (Chairperson), Anil Raina (Vice-Chairman), and Madhav Kaushik (Secretary).