Press Release
December 3, 2011
(English version: December 23, 2011)

For BC’s Punjabi Writers

In 2009, the Department of Asian Studies of the University of British Columbia
established an annual award honoring a B.C.-based Punjabi-language writer, in
honor of Punjabi-Canadian educator and mother, Harjit Kaur Sidhu, on behalf of
her family. According to this tradition, in alternating years a Punjabi writer is
honored for his or her lifetime achievement and contribution to the field of Punjabi
letters, or a writer is honored for with a “Best Book Award” for the prior three
years. A $1000 award accompanies the honor. In 2009 the first award was given
to Gurcharan Rampuri for his lifetome contribution to Punjabi-language literature,
and in this same vein in 2011 the award was given to Ravinder Ravi. In 2010, the
honor was given to Sohan Singh Punni for his book Kaneḍā de gadarī yodhe,
which was deemed the most influential and worthy book published from 2007 to
2009.

The 2012 award will be given to the writer whose book, published in the last
three years (from 2009 to 2011), is chosen as singularly important and influential
by a committee of writers and academics.

Entrance into the competition is secured through the submission of five copies of
a book published from 2009 to 2011 (if needed, one book and four photocopies
can be submitted). Submissions are welcomed by writers themselves, or can be
made by others on writers’ behalf. Five copies of a short C.V. or biography are
also required. Please note that writers must be resident in B.C. to take part in the
competition. Please send all entrance materials to the following address:

Punjabi Writers
Department of Asian Studies
1871 West Mall
UBC Asian Centre
Vancouver BC V6T 1Z2

This honor will be awarded in the evening of Tuesday April 3, 2012 (5-8 p.m.)
during UBC’s annual Celebration of Punjabi language and culture at UBC in
Vancouver (please note the change of date from our earlier announcement). At
this event, writers, scholars, students, and members of the Punjabi community of
greater Vancouver will be present. We will welcome Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh
of Colby College at the event, to deliver a lecture in English. Student winners of a
Punjabi-language essay contest will be honored, and students in UBC’s Punjabi
language program will perform. The event is held on an annual basis in memory
of Harjit Kaur Sidhu (1937-2007), who was a beloved wife, mother, and teacher,
who was committed to education, Punjabi language and culture, and the rights of
women.

The goal of the Celebration and associated activities—including the writer’s
award—is to encourage awareness among the people of BC, and particularly
young people of Punjabi background, of Punjabi language and literature in BC,
and to bring recognition at the Unversity to Punjabi writers for their contributions
to BC and Punjabi intellectual and cultural life. The Punjabi language program at
UBC has been in place for over twenty years and is the most extensive program
of its kind in North America.

For more information, see the UBC Asian Studies website, www.asia.ubc.ca under "events", or call Sukhwant Hundal (in English or Punjabi) at 604-644-2470 or the Asian Studies office (in English) at 604-822-0019.

The deadline has now passed. Thank you for all your submissions.

Punjabi version here.