Parkash Singh Badal

The following is the message by Sardar Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab which has been included in the book Giani Gurdit Singh: 1923-2007:

MESSAGE

Giani Gurdit Singh enriched Punjab and the Punjabi language all his life. His “Mera Pind” is a classic which unfolds the life of rural Punjab with precision, sympathy and tremendous earthly wit. I empathise with the way in which the Punjabis see the humorous side of things and reading the book I often see the depth of this humour. While “Mera Pind” is justifiably the one book because of which Giani Gurdit Singh will be known forever, it is far from being his only contribution.
As a journalist, Giani Gurdit Singh’s Parkash newspaper was the only daily newspaper of PEPSU and it had a major impact on the region. His “Rajneetak Kundliye” or poetic satires were biting and incisive in dissecting politics of the day.
As a member of the Punjab Legislative Council (1956 to 1962), he contributed to the debates at that time and in the creation of Punjabi University, Patiala and in the recognition of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, as the 5th Takht of the Sikhs.  He also served on various committees of the House, including the Public Accounts Committee.
Gianiji was General Secretary of the Singh Sabha Shatabadi Committee, Amritsar, which became Kendriya Sri Guru Singh Sabha later. His contribution as the Editor of the Singh Sabha Patrika magazine and in editing various books for the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee is also indeed laudatory.  Gianiji also established two Guru Granth Vidya Kendras, one in Chandigarh and another in Mehrauli, Delhi.
Gianiji also wrote many books on Sikh religion and was the most prominent religious scholar of his time. Punjab and Punjabi are both proud of this son of the land of five rivers.
It gives me immense pleasure that eminent scholars from India and abroad have contributed to this volume on Giani Gurdit Singh and his work.

Sd/-
Parkash Singh Badal

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