The Worlds signature prize for punjabi has announced its winner. A writer from Jalandhar, Punjab has been awarded a prize of 25,000 CAD for his short story tittle “Safety Kit”. Shahzad Aslam from Lahore, was also among the winners. Surinder Neer from Jammu was awarded $10, 000 CAD her short story collection named “Taboo”.
Both stories ‘safety kit’ and ‘Taboo’ were written in the Gurmukhi script, another short story named ‘Jungle Rakhey Jag De’ was written in the Shahmukhi script which has its origin from Pakistan.
6000$ CAD was awarded for the transliteration of these 3 books into Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi, said an official from handout. The Dhahan Prize which originated in Richmond, B.C., is the largest international literary award for fiction books in the Punjabi language.
The Awardees were given their awards, along with a hand-crafted trophy, during the ceremonies held November 14, 2024, at Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, B.C., the handout read. Part of the ceremony included MLA Raj Chouhan Carole Richardson, Executive Assistant to Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke were ones presenting the Proclamation of “Punjabi Literature Week” by the Province of British Columbia.
Shahzad Aslam shared, “To be acknowledged as a writer through a prestigious award is to know that the journey is worth traveling. My passion for writing has now turned into euphoria.”
Surinder Neer expressed, “I was so thrilled to be a finalist of the Dhahan Prize that I got goosebumps. It’s a big honour for me. It also recognizes the entire literature of Jammu and Kashmir at the global level.”
During a press conference on Sep 12, 2024 at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey Campus, Zubair Ahmad, Chair of the Dhahan Prize Advisory Board noted, “the shortlisted books encompass current issues relating to Punjabis in several countries. Themes include the environment, women’s empowerment, caste, human relationships between males and females, Punjabi diaspora and more.”
The authors have demonstrated amazing skills in the respective languages and also in translational skills.
Since its launch in 2013 by the Canada India Education Society (CIES) and the University of British Columbia (UBC), the Dhahan Prize has garnered critical acclaim and significant exposure for aspiring and established writers, setting the stage for their books to reach broader, multilingual audiences.
The Dhahan Prize originated in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Punjabi people, language, and culture have a rich history. Punjabiis the third most spoken language in Canada. It has been the key for cultural and communal bonds.
