SADDA PUNJAB: SAHITYA, SABHYACHAR
ATE FILMAN
Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi is
committed to its task of promoting literature in all the main languages being
used in the state: Hindi, Punjabi, English and Urdu. The focus of today’s event
was Punjabi literature and culture. The speaker, a young man called Daljit Ami,
has made a niche for himself in media, particularly in TV journalism. We have often
seen him interview celebrities on the small screen. He has also been making
documentaries and is frequently asked to lecture on his areas of interest.
Punjabian di shaan vakhri,
so goes the saying. Punjab is a thriving state that has impacted people and
places in all corners of the world one way or another. Who is a Punjabi and
what makes one a Punjabi? It is hard to define but surely, being Punjabi does
not mean simply having saag and makki ki roti or in doing the bhangra, or in getting drunk? Let us not
believe in stereotypes, says Daljit Ami, let us look at the real picture.
Among many other issues, Daljit
Ami focused on the problem of drug addiction in the Punjab. Why has the land of
five rivers been afflicted with this problem? Can something be done about it? There
are other issues too, which Punjab has in common with other states: how do we
treat our women? Or those who are weaker than us, the disabled, the weak, or the
helpless? All these issues have to be taken into account when discussing sadda Punjab.
Punjabi literature, no doubt, is
flourishing with books being published daily in large numbers. Talking about
disaporic Punjabis, Daljit mentioned that the language and literature nurtured
by them is generally caught in a time warp, depending on the time when the
first generation of immigrants had relocated. Punjabi cinema dates back to
approx 1931-32. Initially it focused on popular legends of the region. Over the
years, however, Punjabi films have progressed only in fits and starts; good
films are few and far between, dependent on occasional interest taken by
individuals sporadically. Whereas a lot of foreign films focus on diasporic and
related issues, Punjabi films typically speak of success stories, not of the
actual struggle and agony that displaced people have to face.
We need a new idiom, says Daljit
Ami. We cannot keep on laughing at old jokes, we cannot go on harping on
obsolete tropes.
Introducing Daljit Ami this
evening was Jatinder Kaur who teaches Punjabi at MCM DAV College for Women. The
audience included several writers and creative artists of the city who participated
keenly in the discussion that followed.
The next CSA event will be
announced on Facebook and blog. Stay tuned.
