World Punjabi conference Toronto 2011

World Punjabi conference 2011 was held on 5, 6, & 7 August 2011. The two days sessions was in Oakville (Toronto) and one day session was in Ottawa. The bi-annual conference which is an event that brings the Punjabi Diaspora together for mutual literary & cultural exchange, education and inspiration. The Canadian Punjabi community which has grown over the years felt there was a need for such an exchange program. At the second bi-annual international gathering of the Punjabis attendances of more than 200 intellectuals from across the globe are expected. The main purpose of the conference is to reflect upon the prediction of the UNESCO that the Punjabi language shall disappear during the next fifty years. The invited international scholars will be presenting their papers which will focus on the future of the language and suggest solutions for the preservation and promotion of Punjabi language in India and abroad. As always the conference is striving to bring Punjabi consciousness together. The World Punjabi Conference is an effort to showcase and to promote the Punjabi literature, culture and values. The last conference which was held in 2009 was attended and inaugurated by the Hon. Minister of Immigration & Citizenship Jason Kenny. The last conference was well attended by the known scholars and intellectuals from various countries.

On this occasion the Board of Punjabi Heritage Foundation of Canada- Ottawa have decided to honor three prominent Punjabis living in Ottawa. They include Mr. Kailash Mital a well known face in the community and a philanthropist, Mr. Daljit Nirman – a known lawyer and a social activist and Ms. Ajitpal Kaur Tiwana – the first South Asian and Punjabi RCMP officer. Punjabi Heritage Foundation of Canada organized the closing session of the three day ‘World Punjabi Conference 2011′ in Ottawa. Several delegates and intellectuals who had assembled in Canada for this conference read their respective papers on different issues.

The main topic of discussion in Ottawa was ‘How to save Punjabi language and Culture’. Renowned writer & journalist – Dr. Maheep Singh who came especially for this conference from New Delhi – India was the chair of the presidium. The other members of the presidium were well known intellectuals & scholars from India and other countries. The four papers which were read were well discussed and debated among the audiences and the writers. In his closing remarks Dr. Maheep Singh laid down the road map for saving the language and the Punjabi culture. The Kavi Darbar (Poetry recital) added the much glitter to the function which witnessed huge audience. In a separate evening function – Punjabi Heritage Foundation of Canada honored three prominent Punjabis of Ottawa for making significant contribution in the community. They included well known philanthropist Kailash Mital, who was honored by Hon. Deepak Obhrai – MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the minister of Foreign Affairs. A known lawyer and barrister Daljit Nirman for his unstinted social activism by Dr. Deepak Mamnmohan Singh- Director education, Punjabi University- India and Ajitpal Kaur Tiwana for being the first Punjabi female officer in RCMP for her compassion and sense of justice by the Dy. Commissioner of RCMP – Mr. Doug Lang. Such literary and intellectual conferences make a vital contribution in stirring the debates for saving the languages and the cultures across the globe. Though it is not an easy job to organize such an event on the international level – the credit must be given to the organizers for making it a big success.