A primary School teacher of Punjab wins $25,000 Dhahan Prize for his Novel. The Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature has announced the 2017 winners awarded for excellence in the Punjabi literary community.
The first prize has been awarded to a Primary school teacher of Punjab for his Punjabi novel.The first prize has been awarded to Punjabi writer Pargat Singh Stauj who belongs to Village Satauj of Sangrur Distrcit. He is working as a teacher in the Primary School in his own village.
First Prize ~ $25,000: Khabar Ik Pind Di , novel by Pargat Singh Satoj (Punjab, India)
Finalist ~ $5,000: Shahmukhi Script Tand Tand Maili Chaadar, short story collection by Ali Anwar Ahmad (Punjab, Pakistan)
Finalist ~ $5,000: Gurmukhi script Paper Marriage, novel by Nachhattar Singh Brar (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada)
The Dhahan Prize promotes Punjabi literature on a global scale by awarding $25,000 annually to the best book of fiction published in either Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi scripts, along with two additional finalist prizes of $5,000 CDN. “The 2017 Dhahan Prize recipients are impressive and influential personalities in the world of Punjabi literature.
Their stories and characters are colorful and captivating. Each book is an excellent contribution to Punjabi literature, language and culture.”, said Barj S. Dhahan, Founder of the Prize.
The Dhahan Prize is the largest literary award celebrating the rich history of the Punjabi language. The Prize aims to inspire the creation of Punjabi literature across borders, bridging Punjabi communities around the world, and promoting Punjabi literature on a global scale.
The awards garner critical acclaim and significant exposure for aspiring writers, setting the stage for its select winners to secure international projects that will also reach broader multilingual audiences.
The Dhahan Prize was established in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Punjabi people, language, and culture have a rich history. Punjabi is now the 3rd most spoken language in Canada and is a strong thread in the multicultural fabric of the nation.
The prize has been established by the Canada India Education Society in partnership with the Department of Asian Studies in the Faculty of Arts at University of British Columbia, and is currently funded by an endowment from Barj and Rita Dhahan, and family and friends.
