HINDI DIVAS, CHANDIGARH

September 21, 2008.

The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi celebrated Hindi divas today by organizing a lecture on the state of the national language today. The main speaker was the well-known creative writer, Dr Indu Bali, Chairing the talk was the veteran journalist and commentator, Dr Radhe Shyam Sharma.

Indu Bali's talk was a hard-hitting one that targetted those who do not love the Hindi language as traitors to the nation. In an impassioned plea, she espoused the cause of the national language, stressing that we may consider ourselves truly free only when we give due respect and position to Hindi.

Dr Radhey Shyam Sharma pointed out that in all leading countries of the world Hindi is taught at institutions of higher learning and we in India should realise this and do our bit for the language.

DS Gupt, Vice-Chairman of CSA, summed up the views of the two speakers and reiterated that the Akademi should focus on the development and progress of Hindi.

Madhav Kaushik, Secretary of CSA, compered the event.

Creative Writing Workshop

Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi organized a two-day Creative Writing Workshop for College Students in collaboration with Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector-45, Chandigarh, in the College auditorium on 3rd &4th September, 08. About 80 students from various colleges participated. Miss Meera Modi, Principal, Dev Samaj College, welcomed the guests and participants. Ms. Christina, Deputy Manager, British Library, was the Chief Guest and inaugurated the workshop. On the first day Prof. Mahendra Kumar, Chairman, Dept of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, lectured on the intricacies of writing a Play. Dr. D. S Gupt guided the students on how to write Poetry. Mr. Vivek Atray, Director, Public Relations & Tourism, U.T., distributed prizes to outstanding participants. Smt. Neelkamal Puri, a teacher and novelist from Govt. college for Girls, Sector 11, gave tips to the students on Story-Writing and Shri Phool Chand Manav guided them on writing Articles.