Lecture & Kavi Darbar Organised to Celebrate Mother Tongue Day

Chandigarh: To mark the celebration of Mother Tongue Day, the Punjabi Literary Society, School of Punjabi Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, today organised a lecture and Kavi Darbar. The programme featured a special lecture by noted poet Swarnjit Savi, along with poetic presentations by students from various departments, showcasing the richness and emotional depth of their mother tongue. Former Police Chief G. S. Aujla graced the occasion as the special guest.
The programme began with welcome remarks by the department’s Chairperson, Prof. Yog Raj. He warmly welcomed the keynote speaker and the student poets from various departments and shared his views on the importance of the mother tongue. He said it was a matter of pride for the Punjabi language that it has today become the ninth largest language in the world. At the global level, there are approximately 310 million Punjabi speakers across different countries. At the same time, he expressed concern that Punjabi has not yet secured its rightful place in the fields of employment and administration.
The main speaker, Swarnjit Savi, in his lecture stressed that the mother tongue is the foundation of personal identity and cultural belonging. He encouraged students to express their thoughts and emotions through poetry and creative writing in their native language. He also highlighted the responsibility of young writers to address contemporary social issues through their works and keep literature relevant.
As the special guest, former Punjab Police Chief G. S. Aujla congratulated the students on presenting meaningful poems and emphasised the need for them to recognise the strength and power of their mother tongue.
The main attraction of the programme was the Kavi Darbar, in which students from various departments recited their poems in Hindi and Punjabi. The poems reflected social concerns, cultural values, and personal experiences.
Dr Parmjeet Kaur Sidhu, Faculty In-charge of the Punjabi Literary Society and Associate Professor of the department, thanked the student poets and the keynote speaker for their participation and congratulated the Punjabi Literary Society on organising the event. Sharing her views on the cultural, intellectual, and emotional significance of the mother tongue, she said that language is not merely a means of communication but also a carrier of cultural identity and social values.
The stage was conducted by Daya Singh, President of the Punjabi Sahit Sabha, who ensured the smooth conduct of the programme and kept the audience engaged throughout the session.
At the end of the programme, certificates were distributed to all participating students in appreciation of their contributions. A memento was also presented to the guest speaker, Swarnjit Savi, as a token of gratitude.
Punjabi short story writer Harpreet Channu, Punjabi poet Kamaljeet, Prof. Dr Akvinder Kaur Tanvi, Dr Pawan Kumar, Ravi Kumar and Jaspal Singh, along with research scholars and a large number of students, were present on the occasion.
The event concluded on a note of pride and inspiration, reaffirming the importance of nurturing and celebrating one’s mother tongue.