PAU establishes Dr Surjit Patar Chair to honor literary legacy; Dr Patar's first book, spectacles and pen, presented as a tribute

Ludhiana, February 25, 2025: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has taken a momentous step in preserving and celebrating the literary legacy of Dr. Surjit Patar by establishing the Dr. Surjit Patar Chair in the Department of Agricultural Journalism, Languages, and Culture. The chair was formally inaugurated today by Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice Chancellor, PAU, alongside Mrs Bhupinder Patar, who presented Dr Patar’s first book, spectacles, and pen as a symbolic tribute to his enduring influence.

At the inauguration, Dr Gosal expressed his deep appreciation for Dr Patar's contributions, stating, "PAU is Dr Patar’s professional home, a confluence of art and science. His footprints are deeply embedded in this institution, and we are committed to preserving his great literary and cultural legacy through this chair.”

Sharing details, the Head of the Department of Agricultural Journalism, Languages, and Culture, Dr Sheetal Thapar, revealed that the chair's responsibility has been entrusted to Dr Jagdish Kaur, Professor of Punjabi, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity and assured that the chair would serve as a hub for creative and literary initiatives.

“Under its aegis, open mic sessions, 'Meet the Poet' events, poetry workshops, literary seminars, and recognition programmes for young poets will be introduced to inspire students in agricultural sciences and beyond", Dr Thapar highlighted.

Dr Jagdish Kaur announced that a dedicated shelf would be curated to house Dr Patar’s works, providing valuable research resources. Reflecting on her association with Dr. Patar as a mentor and senior colleague, she emphasized continuing his vision for the Punjabi language and youth. She also mentioned that collaborations with national and international institutions would be pursued to extend the reach of this initiative further.

In a heartfelt address, Mrs Bhupinder Patar expressed her gratitude to PAU for honouring her late husband's literary contributions and officially presented Dr Patar's first book, spectacles, and pen to Dr Jagdish Kaur as a legacy of his work.

It is noteworthy that Dr Jagdish Kaur has had a distinguished career at PAU. She was the first female Additional Director of Communication and Head of the Agricultural Journalism, Languages, and Culture Department, where she pioneered initiatives such as the "Kheti Sandesh" ( India's first digital farming newsletter) for farmers and curated the PAU Green Revolution Museum. She has worked on a UGC project titled "Creation of Modern Cultural Infrastructure of Punjab: Role of Dr M.S. Randhawa" and has published and translated nearly 15 books on Punjabi folklore, proverbs, and poetry, including “Guru Granth Sahib Poetry Vision” and “Dariyan Wali Peti”. She is a senior fellow at the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and an associate fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by several distinguished university officials, including Dr Nirmal Jaura, Dr Vishal Bector, Dr Suri, Dr Rupinder Kaur, Dr Sheetal Thapar, Swaranjeet Savi (Chairman, Punjab Arts Council), Dr Balbir Pandher, Jaspreet Gill, and faculty members from the department.