Vancouver, BC, September 12, 2019 (Yes Punjab News)
The Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature proudly announces the 2019 winners awarded for excellence in the Punjabi literary community. 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 $10,000 CDN.
In addition, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union as presenting sponsor for the Dhahan Youth Awards together with the Dhahan Prize in partnership with BC secondary schools, announces that the 2019 Youth Awardees have been selected. The contest was open to all British Columbia grade 11 & 12 high school students for short stories written in Punjabi and English.
2019 Winners of the Dhahan Prize in Punjabi Literature are:
• First Prize ~ $25,000:
Jyona Sach Baki Jhooth (Living is Truth, All Else a Lie), short stories by Jatinder Singh Haans (Aloona Tola, Punjab, India)
• Finalist ~ $10,000: Shahmukhi Script
Kaun (Who), novelette by Mudassoar Bashir (Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan)
• Finalist ~ $10,000: Gurmukhi script
Aam Khaas (Ordinary Extraordinary), short stories by Gurdev Singh Rupana (Punjab, India)
“The 2019 Dhahan Prize winning works challenge us to grapple with three questions – what is truth, what is ordinary and extraordinary in peoples’ daily lives and who are we if we don’t know our history?” said Barj S. Dhahan, Founder of the Prize. “These stories are outstanding examples of the depth and breadth of the literary talent of the three authors.”
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 and established writers, setting the stage for its select winners to reach broader multilingual audiences.
The Dhahan Prize Youth Award is a unique initiative to encourage the youth of B.C. to embrace the rich Punjabi culture of the generations of families who have immigrated to Canada, specifically in British Columbia, through creative writing in the Punjabi language. Through the writings of the participants, in Punjabi & English, a greater understanding is being created among the youth of British Columbia; thus building bridges between people and communities of various identities.
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 Barj and Rita Dhahan, and family and friends.
Dhahan Youth Prize 2019 Winning Submissions
| Level | Student Name | English Title | School Name |
| Advanced | Harkirt Kaur Buttar | Only If… | Dasmesh Punjabi School, Abbotsford |
| Advanced | Kamalvir Brar | The Outcome of Differentiating | Dasmesh Punjabi School, Abbotsford |
| Advanced | Harmeen Grewal | The Terrifying Dream | Panorama Ridge Secondary, Surrey |
| Advanced | Harveen Rode | Bapu Ji | Queen Elizabeth Secondary, Surrey |
| Intermediate | Prabhveer Khakh | Respecting Your Elders | Dasmesh Punjabi School, Abbotsford |
| Intermediate | Tejal Badesha | A Mother’s Womb | Princess Margaret Secondary, Surrey |
| Intermediate | Mantoj Grewal | Light From the Darkness | Princess Margaret Secondary, Surrey |
| Intermediate | Ishpreet Dhaliwal | Life: A Challenge | Princess Margaret Secondary, Surrey |
| Level | ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿਰਲੇਖ | ਸਕੂਲ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ |
| Advanced | ਹਰਕਿਰਤ ਕੌਰ ਬੁੱਟਰ | ਕਾਸ਼ . . . | ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਕੂਲ, ਐਬਟਸਫੋਰਡ |
| Advanced | ਕਮਲਵੀਰ ਬਰਾੜ | ਫਰਕ | ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਕੂਲ, ਐਬਟਸਫੋਰਡ |
| Advanced | ਹਰਮੀਨ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ | ਭਿਆਨਕ ਸੁਪਨਾ | ਪੈਨੋਰੈਮਾ ਰਿੱਜ ਸੈਕੰਡਰੀ, ਸਰੀ |
| Advanced | ਹਰਵੀਨ ਰੋਡੇ | ਬਾਪੂ ਜੀ | ਕੁਈਨ ਇਲਿਜ਼ਬੈੱਥ ਸੈਕੰਡਰੀ, ਸਰੀ |
| Intermediate | ਪ੍ਰਭਵੀਰ ਖੱਖ | ਵੱਡਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਕਦਰ | ਦਸਮੇਸ਼ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਕੂਲ, ਐਬਟਸਫੋਰਡ |
| Intermediate | ਤੇਜਲ ਬਦੇਸ਼ਾ | ਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਕੁੱਖ | ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸੈੱਸ ਮਾਰਗ੍ਰਟ ਸੈਕੰਡਰੀ, ਸਰੀ |
| Intermediate | ਮਨਤੋਜ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ | ਹਨੇਰੇ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਰੌਸ਼ਨੀ | ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸੈੱਸ ਮਾਰਗ੍ਰਟ ਸੈਕੰਡਰੀ, ਸਰੀ |
| Intermediate | ਇਸ਼ਪਰੀਤ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ | ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਇਕ ਣੁਣੌਤੀ | ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸੈੱਸ ਮਾਰਗ੍ਰਟ ਸੈਕੰਡਰੀ, ਸਰੀ |
| Level | ودیارتھی دا ناں | پنجابی سرلیکھ | سکول دا نام |
| Advanced | ہرکرت کور بُٹر | کاش | دسمیش پنجابی سکول،ایبٹسفورڈ |
| Advanced | کمل ویر براڑ | فرق | دسمیش پنجابی سکول ایبٹسفورڈ |
| Advanced | ہرمین گریوال | بھیانک سُپنا | پینوریما راج سیکنڈری،ایبٹسفورڈ |
| Advanced | ہروین روڈے | باپو جی | کوئین ایلزبیتھ سیکنڈری سری |
| Intermediate | پربھویرکھکھ | وڈیاں دی قدر | دسمیش پنجابی سکول ایبٹسفورڈ |
| Intermediate | تجل بدیشا | ماں دی کُکھ | پرنسیس مارگریٹ سیکنڈری،سری |
| Intermediate | منتوج گریوال | ہنیرے وچوں روشنی | پرنسیس مارگریٹ سیکنڈری،سری |
| Intermediate | اشپریت دھالیوال | زندگی اک چنوتی | پرنسیس مارگریٹ سیکنڈری،سری |
