Our Events
"Udham Singh Shaheed" Book Launch Event at Polo Cafe
We, at One Panjab (Art Council), in collaboration with Nihal Foundation, organised a book launch event at Polo Cafe on 25th February 2023. It was a small gathering of our esteemed members and supporters. Prof. Sarab Nihal Singh Nagra, Mr. Pankaj Rakesh and Mrs. Balwinder Kaur were the key speakers of the event.
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On 25th February 2023 at Polo Café Gurgaon, One Panjab and Nihal Foundation Press organized the fourth event of talk on Bhai Veer Singh & Allah Bakhsh and book launch on Shaheed Udham Singh published by Nihal Foundation Press (Gurgaon | U.K. | Lahore) and Dr. Asif Raza from Pakistan has translated the book in Shahmukhi script. Talk and Book launch event was sponsored and hosted by Polo Café with logistics support and technology sponsorship from Nihal Foundation Press.​
Prof Nagra (Editorial Director, Nihal Foundation Press) shared his experiences learning Shahmukhi which was inspired by his late Father – Sardar Nau Nihal Singh (who had come from kotnihal village near Gojra across Indo Pak border). Prof. Nagra also urged everyone to master both Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi scripts in order to develop the bridge across borders and foster love and peace through understanding of culture. The inauguration of Nihal Foundation Press was announced, and its first book UDHAM SINGH SHAHEED was launched. Book was written by Mr. Rakesh Kumar and translated into Shahmukhi by Mr. Asif Raza.
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Dr. Balwinder Khurana, a veteran writer and popular poet sang a poem related to Shaheed Udham Singh and narrated the biography of Bhai Veer Singh who was an eminent Sikh writer and intellectual. Dr Khurana sang different phrases depicting the life of Shaheed Udham Singh and explained how his teachings have impacted lives in the current era.
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Mr. Pankaj Rakesh, An Independent Filmmaker, Photographer & Media Educator and right now is a professor in university. He described us in very well-mannered about Allah Bakhsh and who was a Pakistani painter and calligrapher and was actively involved in aesthetics and classical landscape paintings throughout his life. Allah Bakhsh made very beautiful landscape paintings of Lord Krishna, despite of being a Muslim. He produced his work in British India before partition and in Pakistan after split of Indian subcontinent. Most of his work revolves around traditional tales of Persian and Hindu mythology. He also depicted rural life, particularly culture of Punjab, Pakistan in his paintings. Mr. Pankaj showed us most of the paintings of Allah bakhsh and described to us the hidden concept and beauty of paintings.
Jashan-E-Waris Event at Polo Cafe
On 19th December 2022 at Polo Café Gurugram, One Panjab and Nihal Foundation organized the third event of Jashn-E-Waris to commemorate and celebrate 300th birth anniversary of Waris Shah a well known Punjabi Sufi poet of the Chishti order and the author of Heer Ranjha and a great contributor to Punjabi literature.
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We, at One Panjab, organised a book launch event at Polo Cafe on 19th December 2022. The book "Nirmohey" was translated into shahmukhi script by Asif Zara, a prominent supporter of Punjabi culture and heritage. It was a small and cosy event with supporters of the One Panjab concept. Nirmohey’ a book having a collection of poems written by Dr. Balwinder Kaur Khurana a veteran writer and popular poet was released in this event. Aif Raza Shaib from Pakistan has translated the book in Shamukhi script.
S. Gurbhajan Singh Gill, a famous gazal writer, leader, and a promoter of Panjabi book culture was the keynote speaker of the event. Mr. Gill shared his views and recited verses that were dedicated to the great Waris Shah.
Dr. Guneeta Singh Bhalla, who is the founder and executive director of the 1947 Partition Archive, shared interesting facts and unfolded events that took place during the partition. She also spoke about her book, '10,000 Memories of Partition.' The book talks about how people were affected by the partition and what impact it had on them. The survivors share their experience of what they went through during this event.
Shaam -e- Panjab - II
One Panjab and Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, collaborated to knit together an evening where eminent people from Punjab expressed their views.
The “One Panjab” project aims to understand the history and culture of the undivided Panjab from both sides of the border and share it with a global audience. On this auspicious occasion the 'Sanjha Panjab Award' 2022 was presented by One Panjab to Mr. Khushi Mohammad and his team from Charda Panjab for keeping alive and preserving the 'Naklia' tradition, and to the Baba Fareed Book Foundation, Lahore from Lehnda Panjab for their work in preserving the Punjabi language and culture of undivided Panjab.
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Our Chief Guest, prominent writer, and journalist Prof. Gulzar Singh Sandhu, along with Punjabi writer Dr. Davinder Saifi and veteran journalist S. Kanwar Sandhu, were kind enough to grace this occasion with their presence. The guests were escorted to the hall where the event was organised after a lite tea and snacks.
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The program started on a very positive note with young lady cadets (LC) speaking on the role of brave women of not only Punjab, but of India who have proved their mettle. With the guidance of Maj. Gen. IP Singh, the LC’S spoke on the role of inspirational women through the ages like Rani Jind Kaur, Ahilya Bai Holkar and Rani of Jhansi among others. One of the Lady Cadets read a self-composed poem in Punjabi that won the hearts of the audience. One Panjab volunteers gave the audience a swift introduction about the One Panjab project. The message of director was shared with guests.
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Dr. Kanwalpreet Kaur moved the audience by reading an excerpt from her book 'Looking back at the Twinkle' and Poetess Lily Swarn recited her Nazam. Among all these polished talents the show stopper was young writer Sachvir Singh Baidwan, a student at St. John's High School, Chandigarh who read a self-composed poem 'The Turmoil.’
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Shaam -e- Panjab - I
One Panjab team organized Shaam-e-Panjab event on 26th March at Polo Cafe, Gurugram to celebrate 300 years of Waris Shah. It was an open mic event where the participants shared their stories, songs and poetry remembering the Sanjha Panjab and Sanjhi Virasat of Great Sufi poet Waris Shah. It was one of a kind event to remember and cherish the heritage and legacy of Sanjha Panjab. Waris Shah was a prominent Punjabi Poet of Chisti order, the year 2022 marked his 300 Birth Anniversary. He was born in Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab which is in present day Pakistan in 1722.
He is renowned for immortalising the love of Heer-Ranjha in the traditional folk story of Punjab. His qissa 'Heer' is considered one of the quintessential works of classical Punjabi literature. The story has been retold by many writers in different languages through ages but Waris's 'Heer' become a classic.The Sufi poet studied under the famous teacher Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza, although he acknowledged himself as a disciple of Pir Makhdum of Kasur. Waris Shah died in 1798 when he was around 92 years of age. His mausoleum is a place of pilgrimage today especially for those in love, located in his hometown of Jandiala Sher Khan, 14km from Sheikhupura .
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The event was attended by people from all walks of life, there were children, young and elderly present. The show inaugurated with the welcome speech by Prof. Sarab Singh Nagra- the visionary behind One Panjab. The Participants recited the famous poems of Waris Shah, Bulleh Shah and Amrita Pritam. The elderly present also shared their family’s stories and struggles during the Partition of 1947, the great tragedy of Punjabi people as it divided them into two different parts. It created a great divide among the people of land who for centuries lived together and shared their culture, customs and practices with harmony.
The evening was filled with Nostalgia, longing as well as happiness as everyone felt so close to their homeland- Punjab in a Metropolitan city of Gurugram. Two youngsters entertained everyone by Singing Bulleh shah’s Kalaam. The event was graced by the presence of honourable dignitaries - the founder of Nihal foundation, Prof. Asha Jassal , Prof. Vibhas Verma, Prof. Christine, Mr. Irinder Singh Trustee of Hemkunt Foundation, and Gurshahi Team.
One Panjab and Polo cafe team organized for delicacies from West Punjab – Shekhupura Samosas and lahori Channe. It was a memorable evening which filled everyone’s heart with joy and happiness.
Essay Competition
Apply by
31st July 2021
One Panjab is encouraging students to share the stories about the partition of India (Panjab and Bengal) told by their parents and grandparents in the form of an Essay.
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Last date to register - 31st July 2021
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Essay Guidelines:
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Language: English
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Word Limit: 2500 to 3000 words
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Font & Font Size: New Times Roman | 12
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Line Spacing: 1
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Entries should be emailed to onepanjab@nihalfoundation.in with email subject as "Partition Essay competition - Student Name".
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For more details email us at onepanjab@nihalfoundation.in or contact
Navjot Kaur: 9999748496
Sashikant Dewedi: 7210929043
Storytelling Competition
Apply by
31st July 2021
We are holding a storytelling competition for everyone and anyone who has a story to share. The stories should be based on the undivided Panjab or during the partition of India describing their experience, emotions and memories of Panjab that represents oneness.
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Top 25 stories will be published to commemorate 75th anniversary of Partition in 2022 by One Panjab press and each story will given a certificate of merit and appreciation letter. The best submission shall be turned into a form of a video and research topic. We encourage you to send this to people of groups who you think might be interested.
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Last date to register - 31st July 2021
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Essay Guidelines:
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Language: English
-
Word Limit: 2500 to 3000 words
-
Font & Font Size: New Times Roman | 12
-
Line Spacing: 1
-
Entries should be emailed to onepanjab@nihalfoundation.in with email subject as "Partition Essay competition - Name of the writer".
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For more details email us at onepanjab@nihalfoundation.in or contact
Navjot Kaur: 9999748496
Sashikant Dewedi: 7210929043