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PILAAC celebrates Maan Boli Dehar
* Punjabi scholar suggests Chinese Culture Centre should not be
built at PILAAC
* Punjabi writer suggests Punjabi intellectuals should be included
in board of governors
LAHORE: Punjab Institute of Language Art and Culture (PILAAC) turned
into a galaxy of Punjabi literary stars as Punjabi poets, writers,
intellectuals and linguists from across the province gathered there
to celebrate Maan Boli Dehar (International Mother Language Day) on
Saturday.
The participants came up with suggestions for the promotion of
Punjabi and hoped the institute would work to uphold the language.
The literary figures were divided into groups that were given names
of legendary Punjabi Sufi poets like Bullah Shah Group, Waris Shah
Group, and others. These groups compiled their suggestions for the
promotion of the Punjabi culture, literature and language and then
moved to the auditorium where a group leader from every group
presented the suggestions before the participants.
Chinese Culture Centre: Noted Punjabi scholar Shafqat Tanveer Mirza
strongly suggested that the Chinese Culture Centre should not be
built at PILAAC. He said though China was an important friend,
PILAAC was an institute for the promotion of Punjabi and it should
be kept for the same purpose. He said, “The current government
should sustain it instead of giving its resources to some other
projects.” He maintained, “Every government employee should be bound
to have a certificate in Punjabi. Good governance cannot be possible
without knowing the local language.”
Board of governors: Noted Punjabi writer Farkhanda Lodhi said
Punjabis should not indulge themselves in useless debates and should
work for the promotion of their language. Qazi Javed, noted scholar,
said the institute should compile separate literary, political and
cultural histories of Punjab. He said these should be in English and
then be translated into Punjabi. Writer Amjad Tufail, giving
suggestions on behalf of his group, said changes should be made
within the PILAAC board of governors by including Punjabi
intellectuals and writers. He said the institute should be equipped
with audio-visual computer facilities, PILAAC’s FM 95 should be
restored, and empirical research on the language should be
conducted.
Masud Khaddarposh Trust Chairwoman Shireen Masood said the institute
should work on the heroes of Punjab. Mahmoodul Hasan, Saeed Kareem,
Zafar Abbas Luk, Dr Nabeela Omer, Majeed Khawar, Masood Asher, nd
many others also spoke on the occasion.
PILAAC Director Abbas Najmi thanked the literary figures for
participating in the event. He said the institute would try and come
up to everyone’s expectations. PILAAC Director General Liaquat Niazi
agreed to the proposals given by the groups and invited their
suggestions on improving the department.
(Source:By Ali Usman:Daily Times
Sunday, February 22, 2009)
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