LAHORE: The two-day Sanjh Saahat Mela by Sanjh Publications in collaboration with the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac), concluded on Sunday.

The first session of the second day started over an hour late from its scheduled time of 11am. Timing issues also plagued the festival`s inaugural day as sessions were consistently delayed.

Moderators spoke more than the panelists contributing to further holdups. Attendance was low throughout the event and poor logistical arrangements added to the delays.

Originally planned for the Punjab Auditorium, the first session was shifted to the smaller China Hall due to the sparse audience and the large seating capacity ofthe initial venue.

The opening session, titled Mother Tongue, was meant to feature Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikander, but he failed to attend. Organisers offered no explanation for his absence. Moderated by Saeed Anjum Khokar, the panel included MPA Amjad Ali Javed, Sangat Foundation director Zahid Islam and Pilac director general Beenish Fatima Sahi.

The central question was why Punjabi is not taught in initial classes. MPA Javed said that a bill on mother tongue had been submitted to the Punjab Assembly. He said that regional dialects were previously banned in the Assembly, but efforts had secured permission for members to speak in their own dialects.

He said that Punjabis suffer from a complex about speaking their language, unlike Pathans, Sindhis, and others who proudlyuse their native tongues.

`Punjabis tend to speak Urdu,` he said.

`We need to overcome this mindset-those who speak Punjabi are often labeled as `paindoo`(backward).

Mr Islam said that Punjabi will not be taken seriously by governments until it gains prominence among the bureaucratic and political elite. He suggested it should be a compulsory subject in schools, not merely an optional one.

He said figures like Najam Hussain Syed, despite a high government post, advanced Punjabi through the magazine Rut Lekha, and Hussain Nagi, an Urdu speaker, encouraged the Punjabi newspaper Sajjan.

In politics, Major Muhammad Ishaq also played a key role in promoting Punjabi. He said a Punjabi newspaper and TV channel should be launched to make the languagemore appealing, especially to youth.

Ms Sahi said there is need for fresh Punjabi content tailored for younger audiences. She spoke of Pilac`s efforts, including university theater festivals in Punjabi and colourful children`s books.

The festival also saw the launch of Goel, a novel by Mudassar Bashi. Panelists Ayesha Aslam, Amir Faraz, Dr Muhammad Ali and the author discussed the work.

Dr Ali praised the novel`s uniqueness and its deep connection to Mother Nature, blending history, Lahore, romance, memories and nostalgia.

Mr Faraz summed it up in one line: `Will of the past`, suggesting that characters in a different time seek to correct historical events. He described the novel`s cinematic quality, thanks to its vivid descriptions, a fit story for a film adaptation. While some callit nostalgic, Faraz called it `a sweet bundle of memories` and praised the author`s exploration of Lahore.

Ms Aslam spoke of the characters and their dreams within the story, while Mr Bashi refrained from commenting, saying that once published, the novel belongs to its readers, who should interpret it.

Other engaging discussions covered topics like rural livelihoods, tolerance and intolerance in Punjabi stories, alongside poetry recitations and theater performances. However, attendance remained disappointing even on Sunday.

Visitors faced logistical challenges, with two gates to Qaddafi Stadium locked due to the ICC Women`s World Cup Qualifying Round matches. Only one gate, facing Ferozepur Road, remained open, further dampening turnout.