By Tribune

Date:29-03-06

Source: Tribune News Service

At a ceremony at the House of Commons of the UK last evening, organisations and individuals, who have made outstanding contribution to Punjabi art, literature, sports and values were honoured by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Punjabis.

The ceremony, the first of its kind in the history of the House of Commons, began amid the beating of drums. It was organised by John McDonnell, MP, Chair of the House of Commons' All-Party Parliamentary Group on Punjabis in Britain. Mr Pritam Singh, a Punjabi writer [economist] in an email to The Tribune said among the honoured were Amarjit Chandan , an eminent Punjabi writer, Fauja Singh, an old man famed world over for his marathon runs and Malkiat Singh, Punjabi singer.

The organisations that were honoured included: The Punjab Research Group; the Maharajah Duleep Singh Centenary Trust, Des Pradesh, a Punjabi weekly; The Punjabi Theatre Academy, UK, for promoting Punjabi theatre and drama; Punjabi Centre and Desi Radio.

The Vaisakhi Da Mela Committee, Glasgow, was also honoured for promoting Punjabi culture in Scotland.

Others among the honoured individuals were: Dr Joyce Pettigrew for her imaginative and scholarly research on the culture and politics of resistance of the Punjabi people against centres of power; Amarjit Chandan for his rich contribution to Punjabi poetry and literature; Ms Susan Stronge for her contribution to promote Punjabi arts history; Harbans Singh Jandu Litteranwala for writing Punjabi songs; Mahzar Tirmzi for his contribution to Punjabi poetry and short plays; Navdeep Kandola for his contribution in creating awareness about environment, Gurinder Singh Sacha for contribution to teaching of Punjabi; Chaman Lal Chaman for promotion of Punjabi poetry and music; Sody Singh Kahlon, for Punjabi comedy; Dominic Rai for contribution to Punjabi theatre; and Gurcharan Mall for popularising Dhol beats.

A joint award was given to Paramjit Singh and Amandeep Madra for contribution towards research in artistic and cultural heritage of Punjab and Sikhs. Mangat Rai Bharadwaj, was honoured for his contribution to Punjabi grammar; Suki Dhanda for her creative use of the medium of photography to promote culture of Punjabi people; Ajit Singh Kalirai, for his achievements in sports; Gurpal Virdi for fighting against racism in the police; Makand Singh for projecting a positive image of the Sikhs in the British Army; Mohni Grewal, for contribution towards projecting a positive and ethical image of the Punjabi/Asian community by launching environment friendly housing schemes for culturally disadvantaged communities and groups.

The awards were conferred by John McDonnell, John Spellar, Grieve Dominic, Paramjit Dhanda and Rob Marriss (all MPs).