Jaswant Singh Zafar To Be Honoured with Gaurav Award

by The_unmuteenglish

Chandigarh, 2 February 2025: The Punjab Art Council will present the prestigious Punjab Gaurav Award to renowned Punjabi poet, writer, and artist Jaswant Singh Zafar for his significant contributions to literature.

The Ludhiana-born literary figure will receive the honor at an upcoming literary festival dedicated to the legacy of MS Randhawa. The award includes a ₹1 lakh cash prize.

Zafar, an engineer by profession, has left a lasting mark on Punjabi literature as a poet, prose writer, playwright, editor, and visual artist. Beyond his literary pursuits, he has actively promoted sports, youth welfare, and environmental causes in Punjab.

His career in the power sector spanned decades, culminating in his retirement in 2023 as deputy chief engineer of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).

In June 2024, he took on the role of director at the Punjab Language Department, where he is leading efforts to digitize and republish rare books.

His literary repertoire includes five poetry collections, five prose books, and two plays, with translations available in Hindi, English, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali, and Odia.

His poetry collection Assin Nanak De Ki Lagde Haan is regarded as a cornerstone of modern Punjabi literature, while his recent work, Apna Punjab Hove—Hath Vich Kitab Hove, promotes literacy and drug de-addiction among youth.

Zafar has received over 30 prestigious accolades, including the Shiv Kumar Batalvi Inter-University Gold Medal and the Shiromani Kavi Award.

His alma mater, SCD Government College, Ludhiana, has acknowledged his latest honor, with the alumni association extending congratulations.

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