For Prized Moments

“The earlier award was well-received,but it declared that I am a theatre person,a performer. This award establishes me as a playwright. I am not only a Punjabi playwright,but an Indian playwright,and it’s both a huge honour and liability,” says Mohali-based Singh,who recently retired as the principal of ASSM College in Mukandpur.

The celebrations are also on at Pandit Yash Paul’s Sector 37 home. Performer,composer,educationist and musicologist,the Hindustani vocalist who represents the legendary Agra gharana,says,“The award has brought a lot of happiness. It is unique and a great honour,” says Paul,who is a strong supporter of the guru-shishaya parampara. “I am here because of the guidance I got from my teachers,Pt Kasturi Lal Ji Jassara,Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan sahab and the Late Ustad Yunus Hussain Khan. I was blessed to get an opportunity to learn from different gurus,” says Paul,who has composed both Hindi and Punjabi lyrics,and gave his first performance at the age of 11,in 1948,at the Harballabh Sangeet Mela,Jalandhar. The founder and former chairman of the Department of Music at MCM DAV College for Women,in Sector 36,and Panjab University,Paul continues to teach music.

Singh too is still active in the field of theatre and wrote Gadar Express and Mungu Comrade,last year. Mungu,meaning God in Swahili,is representative of the protagonist in the storyline,Mungu,who is a Punjabi person and migrated to Kenya to fight against the colonial rule. “He called himself a comrade. He was behind the bars for 17 years,including five in India. A committed communist,he did not get any position of power when the country became independent. He belongs to our community and is an important person in history,but not many know about him,” says Singh,who has been conducting reading sessions of the play in both India and abroad.

Gadar Express too is a historical,based on the Gadar Party formed by Indians,and largely represented in the US,to fight the British. Over 100 members of the party were hanged during the struggle for Independence. Singh reveals that his work comes close to the first centenary of the party,which is in 2013. For now,he is excited about the award. “Expectations will be higher,but it’s good pressure,” he smiles.