Zirakpur, jaishree rathore. A rousing reception was accorded to the well known Australia based Punjabi writer Ajit Rahi at Zirakpur today (07/01/2012). The function hosted by Sahit Sangam, Zirakpur running under the patronage of Prof. Phulchand Manav was presided by well known poetess Taran Gujaral. Speaking at the occasion, Ajit Rahi who is currently on a visit to India to revive his ancestral links in Punjab, recalled how in his young age he had participated in the Naxalide movement along with Baba Bujha Singh Chak Hakim, Darshan Dosanjh etc. undergoing police torture and mostly remaining underground. He had the poetic acumen which he utilized for giving vent to his feelings of revolution against the exploitation of the working classes by the capitalist society. He had migrated to Australia under duress in late 1970s. While doing odd jobs to earn his livelihood in Australia, he did not lose contact with his past and continued giving a written shape to his thinking, in turn writing about 40 books including all genres from poetry to novels and travelogue. He said a writer should be fearless while giving written shape to his thinking in whatever language he chooses. He also lavishly coated from the poetry books written by him bringing alive the miseries, troubles, tortures, travails and tribulation undergone by him as a revolutionary who aspired and acted to bring justice to the poor working classes suffering under bourgeoisie system.
Jani Zirakpuria acted as stage secretary and the literature lovers of all ages including Sukhbir Kaur, Gurpreet Singh, Gurpreet Anandi, Naveen Neer, Sukhdev Singh, Simran Singh, Pawan Sama, Ekam, B.S. Pannu, Dr. Gurdarpal Singh, Taran Gujaral, Prof. Yogeshwar Kaur recited their poems and songs in an atmosphere of abandon and literary aura. Madam Sushil Bansal Sheel, a lady of letters, provided the venue as well as refreshments in her family owned �Komfort Banquet� besides reciting her coveted poetic creation dealing with sojourn away from ones near and dears. Prof. Phulchand Manav the prolific writer of repute recalled his 37-year literary association with Ajit Rahi and regaled the audience with the literary encounters of yore when Shiv Kumar Batalvi, the �Poet Immortal� used to trample the roads of Chandigarh in flesh and blood and Ajit Rahi was an underground fugitive.
