On Saturday night the 4th annual Awards Gala was held at the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre at the University of British Columbia campus.
The $25,000 Grand Prize winner was Pargat Singh Sartoj of Punjab, India for his novel Khabar Ik Pind Di (News from a Village).
Finalist Prizes of $5,000 were also awarded to Ali Anwar Ahmad for Tand Tand Maili Chaadar (Filthy Chador (Sheet)) in Shahmukhi script, and Paper Marriage from Nachattar Singh Brar in Gurmukhi script.
Eight BC Students in new Dhahan Prize Youth Award for Creative Writing
The Dhahan Prize, with support from Coast Capital Savings, awarded 8 Punjabi language students in BC with $500 for their creative work in Punjabi.
The eight winners of the 2017 Youth Prizes are:
- Banpreet Kaur Athwal – Khud Te Vishvaas Karo (Believe in Yourself)
o School: Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Surrey B.C.
o Teacher: Sarbdeep Johal
- Gursimar Kaur Buttar – Karta Karay So Hoye (Suffering is Medicine)
o School: Dasmesh Punjabi School, Abbotsford B.C.
o Teacher: Kuldeep K. Brar
- Navkiran Baath – Ik Chhoti Sikhya (A Small Lesson)
o School: Panorama Ridge Secondary, Surrey B.C.
o Teacher: Gurinder Bhatti
- Ramneet Kalkett – Sheeshay Vich Ik Nazar (A Look in the Mirror)
o School: Princess Margaret Secondary, Surrey B.C.
o Teacher: Amandeep K. Chhina
- Chiragroop Singh Kahlon – School Da Darr (School Phobia)
o School: Dasmesh Punjabi School, Abbotsford B.C.
o Teacher: Kuldeep K. Brar
- Karndeep Kaur Kular – Aakhri Saffar (The Last Journey)
o School: LA Matheson Secondary, Surrey B.C.
o Teacher: Gurpreet Kaur Bains
- Sukhraman Kaur Lidder – Afsos (Repentence)
o School: LA Matheson Secondary, Surrey B.C.
o Teacher: Gurpreet Kaur Bains
- Vikesh Sharma – Zindagi Layee Ik Saffar (A Journey of Life Times)
o School: Burnaby South Secondary, Burnaby B.C.
o Teacher: Dilpreet Ghtaura
Congratulations to all the winners!
Leah
