Ravi, a collection of ghazals, released

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 23

Ravi, a newly published collection of ghazals in Shahmukhi, was released by a former member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Jenab Rai Azizullah Khan, at a send-off function of the 30th World Punjabi Conference held recently in Lahore. The book is authored by Prof Gurbhajan Gill, who is a native of Basantkot village in Gurdaspur and is now based in Ludhiana.

Those present on the occasion included Prof Zahid Hassan, Dr Sugra Saddaf, Baba Nazmi, Afzal Sahir, Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, Dr Sukhdev Singh Sirsa, Jaswinder Kaur Gill, Dr Sultana Begham, Gyan Singh Kang, Kamar Mehndi and Ahmad Saleem Minhas.

TV presenter Yusaf Punjabi introduced Professor Gill to the audience. The chief guest, Rai Azizullah Khan, described Professor Gill’s writings as soaked in humanitarian thoughts and public welfare. Prof Zahid Hassan, a scholar from the University of Management Sciences, said Ravi aired the philosophy of cultural fraternity and pride of Punjabis that had transformed their fate over a period of time. He said Professor Gill tried to present the essence of fraternity from Dera Baba Nanak to the place of Baba Sheikh Farid in his exclusive poetic style.

The former Director General of the Punjab Institute of Language and Culture, Dr Sudra Saddaf, said Ravi included ghazals that reflected benevolence through aptly used words. Famous scholar Dr Ghulam Hussain Saajid presented an elaborate paper on the book and concluded that content of the book connected the reader to the cultural grassroots.

Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh also appreciated Gill’s writings and said the book was earlier presented by him at Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan’s Narowal during a visit there.

Amjad Salim Minhas of Sanjh Publications said the Ravi gave a message of peace and fraternity across the borders. Sarfraaz Shafi of Lahore Press Club also addressed the audience.

Among others present on the occasion were Darshan Butter, Dr Harkesh Sidhu, Sehajpreet Mangat, Dr Jaswinder Kaur Mangat, Dr Narwinder Singh Kaushal, Dr Sunita Dhir and Sushil Dosanjh. The stage was managed by Afzal Sahir, an eminent Punjabi poet.