Language Department Organises Zonal Punjabi Drama Competitions in Ferozepur; ‘Mitti Da Bawa’ Wins First Prize
Deepak Kamboj adjudged Best Director; competitions revived after several years
Ferozepur, November 15, 2026: The Language Department, Punjab, organised zonal-level Punjabi drama competitions at DCM International School, Ferozepur City, under the guidance of the Punjab Government and Director, Language Department, Jaswant Singh Zafar, and under the supervision of District Language Officer, Ferozepur, Dr Jagdeep Sandhu. The event was organised in collaboration with the DCM Group of Schools.
The Ferozepur zone comprised five districts — Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Tarn Taran and Moga. Notably, the Language Department has revived these competitions after several years, an initiative widely appreciated by those associated with Punjabi language and theatre.
The programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by the departmental invocation, ‘Dhan Lekhari Nanaka’. District Language Officer Dr Jagdeep Sandhu and School Principal Anuradha Chandel welcomed the participants and guests. The dramas presented by various schools were of a remarkably high, professional standard, and the entire event was organised on the lines of a college or university youth festival.
In the competition, ‘Mitti Da Bawa’, presented by Government Senior Secondary School (Boys), Abohar, secured first position. ‘Ghar Gumm Hai’, presented by Government Senior Secondary School, Thattha Kishan Singh, won second position, while ‘Apna Apna Hissa’, staged by S.S. Public School, Kassowana, secured third position.
‘Mitti Da Bawa’ poignantly portrayed the shared cultural bonds, human emotions and sensitivities of soldiers belonging to two countries, deployed on either side of an international border. ‘Ghar Gumm Hai’ highlighted the subtle and invisible forms of exploitation faced by daughters within their own homes, while ‘Apna Apna Hissa’ sensitively depicted the tensions and widening rifts in blood relations caused by economic considerations.
Deepak Kamboj, director of ‘Mitti Da Bawa’, was adjudged Best Director, while Armandeep Kaur, a member of the team presenting ‘Minus Zero Zero Zero Zero Zero’, was declared Best Actress.
Consolation awards were presented to Government Senior Secondary School, Faridkot, for its play ‘Minus Zero Zero Zero Zero Zero’, Gurshan Singh, actor in ‘Apna Apna Hissa’, and Malvika, actress in ‘Sirjana’.
The performances of ‘Sirjana’ by CBCC Senior Secondary Smart School and ‘Parat Aaun Tak’ by D.D.B.D.A.V. Public School, Ferozepur Cantonment, were also appreciated. The competitions were judged by experienced and eminent personalities associated with Punjabi theatre and performing arts, including Dr Harpreet Singh, Amit Kumar and Rang Harjinder.
Dr Anirudh Gupta, Chairman of the DCM Group of Schools, attended as the chief guest and appreciated the initiative of the Language Department. He said that encouraging school students to participate in such artistic competitions under the guidance of the government was a significant achievement. Appreciating the high artistic standard of the performances, he observed that reaching such levels required sustained hard work, sincerity and commitment. He assured that the DCM management and its institutions would continue to extend support to such meaningful initiatives.
Prominent personalities from the field of art in Ferozepur, including Gurnam Singh (Gama Sidhu), Gurinder Singh and Zaila Sandhu, attended as special guests. They expressed satisfaction over the activities of the Language Department and emphasised the importance of such initiatives for society.
The smooth and successful organisation of the event was made possible through the efforts of the team led by DCM International School Principal Anuradha Chandel, including General Manager Manreet Singh, Deputy General Manager Gagandeep Kaur, Headmistress Rabia Bajaj, Activity Coordinator Rita and Estate Officer Bhupinder Singh.
Chetan Kumar, clerk at the District Language Office, Ferozepur, was specially honoured for his dedication, commitment and humility in carrying out his responsibilities.
The programme was effectively conducted by writer and artist Dr Satish Thukral Soni, whose engaging and distinctive style of anchoring maintained the flow and enthusiasm of the event. His recently published novel, ‘Kis Hadd Tak’, was also formally released by the guests.
Students who had won prizes in the Punjabi literary creation and poetry recitation competitions organised by the District Language Office, Ferozepur, were also honoured with certificates.
Among those present were Vikram Ditya Sharma, Head of Media and Public Relations, DCM Group of Schools; Kanwarjit Singh Sidhu, Research Officer, District Language Office, Faridkot; Parminder Singh, Research Officer, District Language Office, Fazilka; Navdeep Singh, Senior Assistant, District Language Office, Moga; Dr Surinder Kamboj; Kapil Sethi of Dainik Jagran; Professor Harjinder Singh; and members of the school staff and students.
After honouring the winning teams, students and guests, District Language Officer, Moga, Dr Ajitpal Jatana, proposed the vote of thanks. He particularly thanked Dr Anirudh Gupta and his entire team for their wholehearted cooperation, appreciating the collective efforts that ensured the successful organisation of the large-scale event.