Phagwara(Punjab Outlook Bureau)The maiden anthology of poems ‘Bulh Sitiyan Sarna Nayin’, penned down by noted Punjabi writer and senior journalist Prof Jaswant Singh Gandam, was Tuesday released by Gurdeep Singh Sihra, Chancellor, GNA University and M.D. GNA Gears at a ‘Lok Arpan’ function.Speaking on the occasion, Prof Jaswant Singh Gandam said that though it was his first book of poetry, he had so far written four books, including three of prose ‘Kuchh Terian Kuchh Merian’,’Suttey Shehar da Safar’ and ‘Ugade Suraj di Akh’.
Besides these, he said that he had so far written about 500 articles on different topics in various Punjabi newspapers.“Though I have been doing ‘tukbandi’(jot down verses) since I was just 11 year old and have written a large number of poems till now,I have never published them in a book form and am doing so when I am in my 75th year”, he said.“You may call it my old age ‘ishaq’(love affair) and expression of my intense passions and emotions,” he told those present.
“This poetry book has 104 pages and includes 88 poems written during the last decade, especially during 2015-16 when I have had a kind of ‘creative fit’ ”, he said.“After distilling(‘kasheed karna’) them, I selected only 88 poems for my book”, he continued.Published by Punjabi Virsa Trust, the title of the book is designed by artist-writer Parvinder Jit Singh.
Quoting iconic poet Surjit Patar, he said that while prose was like walking, poetry was like dancing.Also quoting English poet William Wordsworth, he said that ‘poetry was a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings’.“But these feelings are not necessarily ‘recollected in tranquility’ as the ‘Father of Nature’(Wordsworth) had said, the feelings and emotions occurred even in turbulent times”, opined Gandam.“My poems focus on exodus of Punjabi youths to foreign countries, loneliness and melancholy of the elderly parents left behind, overpowering of human beings by digital technology, satire on socio-religio-political scenario, lighter vein verses and those with intellectual content”, said Prof Gandam.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest Gurdeep Singh Sihra said that art, especially music and poetry, contained both therapeutic and cathartic effects.Noted Punjabi writer and publisher of the book Gurmit Palahi also spoke about the literary works of Prof Gandam and appreciated their quality of content.Punjabi poets and writers Baldev Raj Komal,Parvinder Jit Singh, Sukhwinder Singh and Dr Monika Hanspal, Dr Sameer Varma and Dr Vikrant Sharma, Deans Academics, Business School and School of Design of GNA University respectively were also present.