Seminar on ‘Burning Snow’ short story collection held at Panjab University
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, April 18, 2026: A seminar on the short story collection Burning Snow by Nirmal Jaswal was held under the theme “One Book: One Dialogue” at Panjab University. The event was jointly organised by the Punjabi Sahit Sabha, School of Punjabi Studies, in collaboration with the Punjabi Sahit Academy.
The seminar began with a welcome address by Dr. Sarabjit Singh, who highlighted the academy’s literary initiatives. Conducting the session, Dr. Paramjit Kaur Sidhu introduced Jaswal’s work, describing her as a significant voice in Punjabi literature whose writing goes beyond themes of women’s identity to reflect broader social realities with clarity and boldness.
Two research papers on the collection were presented during the seminar. Dr. Jatinder Singh examined the place of contemporary Punjabi short fiction within its literary tradition, focusing on the social and historical layers in Jaswal’s stories. Writer Jasvir Rana offered a detailed critique of the collection, noting its strong engagement with present-day human concerns and political awareness.
The discussion was initiated by noted writer Jatinder Hans, who spoke about the creative strengths of the stories. Dr. Baljit Kaur presented a sociolinguistic reading of one of the stories, highlighting its thematic depth.
Presiding over the seminar, Prof. Yograj described Jaswal as a mature representative of the third generation of Punjabi short story writers, adding that her narratives are deeply shaped by lived experiences.
The event saw participation from faculty members, writers, and a large number of students and research scholars, reflecting strong engagement with contemporary Punjabi literature.