Ludhiana: Beyond the celebrated poet and his verse was a man remembered for his simplicity, sensitivity and warmth. A literary discussion at Punjab Agricultural University offered a glimpse into this lesser-known side of Padma Shri Dr Surjit Patar through Punjabi writer Ninder Ghugyanvi’s ‘Panj Saal Patar Naal’.Organised by the Dr Surjit Patar Chair, the discussion centred on Ghugyanvi’s prose work chronicling his five-year association with Patar during the latter’s tenure at the Punjab Kala Parishad. The book captures not just the literary figure, but also his everyday interactions, personality and experiences away from the public gaze.Discussing the book, folk scholar Prof Jalaur Singh Khiva said Ghugyanvi had meticulously documented his experiences and interactions with Patar. He said the work brought out the poet’s multifaceted personality, warmth and simplicity while also shedding light on lesser-known aspects of his life, including the nuances of office culture.Sharing his memories, Ghugyanvi said his years with Patar gave him an opportunity to observe, listen to and understand the poet from different perspectives. He described Patar as not merely a great poet but a multifaceted personality marked by simplicity, sensitivity, seriousness and warmth.Ghugyanvi said the book was an attempt to preserve memories of their association and introduce
