Dr Surjit Patar is a well-known poet, translator and script writer. His poems enjoy immense popularity and have won high acclaim from critics.
Punjab Government has acknowledged his contribution to Punjabi language by appointing him as the Chairman of Punjab Arts Council.
Patar replaced TV anchor Satinder Satti who was chosen for this role during the previous SAD-BJP government.
Tourism and Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu presented the nomination letter from Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh at Patar’s residence in Ludhiana.
Addressing the mediapersons, Sidhu said, “Dr. Patar is a literary giant of Punjab who has increased the stature of the Punjab Kala Parishad manifold by graciously accepting the Chairmanship.”
“Dr Patar is a lighthouse and role model for many. Therefore, chief minister Amrinder Singh took only half a minute to finalize his name for the post.”
“Dr. Patar a guiding light for the future generations especially the youth,” said Mr Sidhu. “He would take the Punjab Kala Parishad to farthest corners of the state by the dint of his energy and positive approach.”
Accepting his appointment as the Chairman of the Punjab Kala Parishad with utmost humility, Dr. Patar thanked the Punjab Government and assured that he would give his best to fulfil his responsibility to propagate Punjabi culture and literature.
While speaking on the occasion, Tourism and Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said that serious endeavors would be made to associate 1 lakh art and culture lovers directly in short time with the activities of the Parishad.
The Minister while divulging the futuristic vision, said that the Punjab Government seriously attempts to constitute a ‘Cultural Parliament’ within the next month to ensure that constructive deliberations are held to devise strategies for popularizing of Punjabi art and culture.
“The modern tools of communication such as internet and social media would be used to make the Punjabi culture and art penetrate right into the homes of the people who would be vital partners in the movement for popularization of Punjabi art and culture,” said Mr Sidhu.
Surjit Patar hails from village Pattar (ਪੱਤੜ) Kalan in Kapurthala distt from where he got his surname. He did his graduation from Randhir Colllege, Kapurthala and then went on to do Masters degree from Punjabi University, Patiala.
In Patiala, Patar believes, he found a ripe earth for his creativity to blossom. He later did a Ph.D in Literature on "Transformation of Folklore in Guru Nanak Vani" from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
Dr Surjit Patar, Judgebir Singh, Ajit Chauhan and Preetinder Grewal at SBS Studio Melbourne
Interview with SBS Punjabi
He then joined the academic profession and retired as Professor of Punjabi from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
Among his works of poetry are "Hawa Vich Likhe Harf" (Words written in the Air), "Birkh Arz Kar" (Thus Spake the Tree), "Hanere Vich Sulagdi Varnmala" (Words Smouldering in the Dark), "Lafzaan Di Dargah" (Shrine of Words), "Patjhar Di Pazeb" (Anklet of Autumn) and Surzameen (Music Land ).
He has translated into Punjabi the three tragedies of Federico García Lorca, the play Nag Mandala of Girish Karnad, and poems of Bertolt Brecht and Pablo Neruda. He has also adapted plays from Jean Giradoux, Euripides and Racine.
He has also written tele-scripts on Punjabi poets from Sheikh Farid to Shiv Kumar Batalvi.
Patar held the office of the President, Punjabi Sahit Akademi. He has been the recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award for Hanere vich Sulghdi Varnmala in 1993 and Panchnad Puruskar by Bhartiya Bhasha Parishad, Kolkata in 1999.
ਪਾਤਰ ਦਾ ਜਨਮ ਸੰਨ 1944 ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਜਿਲ੍ਹੇ ਦੇ ਪਿੰਡ 'ਪੱਤੜ ਕਲਾਂ' ਵਿਖੇ ਹੋਇਆ। ਆਪਣੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਦੇ ਨਾਮ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਓਹਨਾ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਤਖੱਲਸ "ਪਾਤਰ" ਰੱਖ ਲਿਆ।
Dr Surjit Patar, Judgebir Singh (L), Shamsher Kainth (M) and Preetinder Grewal (R) at SBS Studio Melbourne Source: Supplied
Dr Surjit Patar with SBS host Preetinder Grewal Source: Supplied
ਪਾਤਰ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਿਸਟੀ ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਤੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੀ ਐਮ ਏ ਅਤੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਿਸਟੀ, ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਤੋਂ ਪੀ ਐਚ ਡੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਾ "Transformation of Folklore in Guru Nanak Vani " ਸੀ।
ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਉਹ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਖੇਤੀਬਾੜੀ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਿਸਟੀ, ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਅਧਿਆਪਕ ਵਜੋਂ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਅਤੇ ਇਥੋਂ ਹੀ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰੋਫ਼ੈਸਰ ਦੇ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਸੇਵਾਮੁਕਤ ਹੋਏ।
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