A call from within

While in Amritsar, I got to meet someone who is carrying on a mission which could only be a conceived by a divine soul. “Punarjyot”- The New Light is an initiative for our future generations to remember our culture. An effort to pass on the stories of our common heritage to our children. This is the effort of a visionary couple who believed in holistic integration of school education with heritage studies and cultural renaissance. Punarjyot signifies “rebirth”. It asserts that the path of brotherhood and peace can be kept alive with a common tradition of verse and music in spite of a turbulent history of the land. It is a movement to identify and research dying art forms and ethnic cultural symbols committed to the cause of preservation and promotion of heritage of Punjab.
They organise performances, workshops and training programs of dying art forms. The artists from both the sides of Punjab (Pakistan and Indian territory) come together and perform at various levels. “Saanjh” is one of the platforms that has taken Indian local artists to cities of Pakistan and have brought their folk artists to perform at various places in India. Some of these artists are Arif Lohar (folk singer), Surraiya Khanum- a very famous classical singer from Pakistan with speciality in traditional folk and sufi singing, Arieb Azhar and Lakhwinder Wadali whose singing has a blend of classical and contemporary music. Sai Zahoor one of the last wandering minstrels, who sang in the movie “Khuda Ke Liye”, has been performing in “Saanjh” since its inception. By now “Saanjh” and Sai are inseparable. “Saanjh” was first performed in historical Khalsa College in the year 2004 followed by performances in Dussehra Ground Chhehrta and Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Summer Palace known as company garden.
Punarjyot has been actively researching and hosting events in India and Pakistan since 1993. Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop International Festivals are one big success story in Lahore. These events range from theatre and puppet shows to music and dance concerts. Since its inception, these cultural festivals have seen more than 3900 international delegates representing 76 countries come into Pakistan from all across the globe. Such initiatives provide a global audience to performers from India and Pakistan, thereby, helping them to get recognised across all borders and human barriers.
“Whoever comes here to attend “Saanjh” festival either in Lahore or in Amritsar, he or she doesn’t come here just to be a part of one such programme or a seminar. He rather comes to spread the message of peace and harmony. Everyone wants peace and I have been seeing this since the past five years that so many people have come and become a part of it.” said Ms. Manveen Sandhu.
Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu said, “Saanjh is a noble effort because it helped people from both the countries to connect with and understand each other better. It shall grow in years to come and will bring people from entire South Asia on one platform. A platform of love, peace, brotherhood and harmony.” Unfortunately, today Dr. Shivinder Singh Sandhu and Mrs. Manveen Sandhu, who pioneered this novel idea, are no longer with us but their work continues. Their children Dr. Kirat Sandhu and Mr. Sahiljit Singh Sandhu are carrying on their humble effort forward.
To know more details about the workshops, performances conducted by their team, you could get in touch with Punarjyot Volunteer Mr. Sameer Arora (mobile: +91 9876107103) ( email- sameer.arora@springdaleeducation.com) .