Writer Jarnail Singh was ecstatic and gracious as he received the prestigious $25,000 Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature. The 3rd annual Awards Gala was held at the UBC Museum of Anthropology on Saturday Night.
"Jarnail Singh’s collection of short stories is powerful, as it explores the lived experience of immigrant Punjabis in North America. It was selected by the jurors to receive the Dhahan Prize from an impressive list of submissions”, said Barj S. Dhahan, Founder of the Prize.
Jarnail Singh won the annual Dhahan Prize for Kaale Varke (Black Pages), which deals with global issues and problems related with capitalism.
Second Prizes of $5,000 were also awarded to Zahid Hassan for Tassi Dharti (Thirsty Land) in Shahmukhi script, and Us Pal (That Moment) from Simran Dhaliwal in Gurmukhi script.
Province of BC proclaims Punjabi Literature Week
For the first time, the Province of BC has proclaimed October 30th to November 5, 2016 as “Punjabi Literature Week”. MLA Scott Hamilton was on hand to announce the proclamation, thus creating a new milestone in the promotion of the Punjabi language. (VIDEO: BC Government Proclaims Punjabi Literature Week) (VIDEO: Interview with Delta North MLA Scott Hamilton)
New Youth Punjabi Literature Prize announced
The Dhahan Prize, with support from Coast Capital Savings, will be offering a Youth Prize for students in Grade 11 and 12 enrolled in Punjabi language classes.
“There will be at least 3 new $750 prizes for the best essay or story written in Punjabi”, says Barj S. Dhahan. “With the support of Coast Capital Savings, we now have a prize dedicated to Punjabi literacy amongst Punjabi youth. This is an incredible opportunity to strengthen the Punjabi language amongst the second-generation, born and raised in Canada.”
Beginning in 2017, the Youth prizes will be awarded along with the Dhahan Punjabi Literature Grand Prize of $25,000 at the annual Awards Gala.
About the Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature
The Dhahan Prize celebrates the rich culture and transnational heritage of Punjabi language and literature by awarding a yearly prize for excellence in Punjabi fiction. The Prize’s mission is to inspire the creation of Punjabi literature across borders, bridging Punjabi communities around the world and promoting Punjabi literature on a global scale.
