[Presented by: Rajinder Singh Mago, President, Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago] CHICAGO: The Punjabi community of metropolitan Chicago celebrated Vaisakhi festival, part of its cultural heritage on Saturday March 23, 1996 at Centre East ‘An audience of over 1300 attended the colorful Punjabi cultural and variety entertainment program show casing Bhangra, Gidha, Punjabi songs, music and skits. The songs and dance presentations were simply superb and exceeded expectations of the local community talent.

“’Rangla Punjab ’96” seemed like a classic text book example of developing the next generation to get closer to their cultural heritage and roots, where 150 young artists took part in performances on the stage.

“Rajinder Singh Mago, the president of P.C.S. welcomed the audience. The program was inaugurated by Dr. Gurbachan Singh Kapoor, Director Dept. of Radiation oncology Methodist Hospitals, in diara, who is also the president of Sikh Religious Society of Indiana. The program started with a prayer Shabad by the children, the masters of ceremonies were Mohinderjit Singh Saini, Thakar Singh Basati and Manjit Singh.

‘A socially satirical skit “Pakhandi Sadhu” written and directed by Jasvir Gill, who has an audio cassette “Lutcrian Di Mandi” recording to his credit, was presented by the local artists and Gill himself. Another skit “Lambardar” was also played by Multani family.

‘The annual P.C.S. youth Scholarship for Punjabi culture was won this year by Ms. Mini Basati, a student of North Western University and an accomplished Punjabi singer. The scholarship was sponsored by Dr. Surjit Singh Patheja and presented by Dr. Kuldip Singh Lal.

Mr. K.P. Singh of Indiana, the International Citizen of the Year of 1995, of Indianapolis, was the guest of honor, who strongly encouraged participation in the celebration of our cultural heritage but at ‘the same time not to be isolated from the mainstream of our adopted homeland.

Congratulations to. NAVREET (Mini) BASATL the proud recipient of this Year’s jabi Cultural Society’s scholarship of $500.00. Punjabi Cultural Society has been spite his school amp for last two years ‘0 be eligible you have to have good grades and have helped Promote Punjabi culture. Navreet has been performing on Punjabi stages since she was 5 yrs. She has produced a Punjabi audiotape “HETH BAROTE DE” along with her younger sister” NAVRAAZ (BIND), Navreet is a 3rd year Student in Bachelor’s program at Northwestern University in Chicago, one of the top 10 universities in America. She has coached Bhangra team at Northwest ‘Em University in which people from other countries participated.

Navreet has been singing in Canada, America and India on stage. She also plays violin with university orchestra, Navreet ‘was also awarded $500.00 scholarship by Children Gurdwara committee for her work with the children of Sikh Religious Society of Chicago.

‘Thaker Saba Palatine, IL

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 17, 1996