Born in Singapore and receiving early education in India, Amarjit Chahal migrated to Canada in 1968 with his siblings and mother. Unable to continue his education here in Canada due to financial constraints, he started working full-time in the sawmills from a young age. He has also worked as a taxi and truck driver. Despite a demanding work schedule and lack of formal education, he did not let his passion for books and writing die. He has published two books entitled: Oot and Bahro Aya Admi and written a number of other as-yet unpublished works. In this interview, he talks about his experiences of working in the sawmill and as a taxi driver, family life, his passion for books, writing, and Punjabi in Canada.

Short Promotional VIdeo, 1: What do you think about the status of Punjabi in Canada? ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲੀ ਦੇ ਹਾਲ ਬਾਰੇ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕੀ ਖ਼ਿਆਲ ਹੈ? کینڈا دے وچ پنجابی بولی دے حال بارے تہاڈا کی خیال ہے؟

Short Promotional Video 2: What do you think about the importance of Punjabi language for us, now? ਅੱਜ ਦੇ ਦੌਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਜ਼ਬਾਨ ਦੀ ਅਹਿਮੀਅਤ ਦੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕੀ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਹੈ? اج دے دور وچ پنجابی زبان دی اہمیت دے بارے تہاڈا کی وچار ہے؟

Short Promotional Video, 3: What is the importance of reading books? ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ ਪੜ੍ਹਨ ਦਾ ਮਹੱਤਵ ਕੀ ਹੈ? کتاباں پڑھن دی کی اہمیت ہے؟

Full interview

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Explore PUNJABI IN BC, for Interviews with K-12 EDUCATORS, ADVOCATES AND ACTIVISTS, STUDENTS, and WRITERS/JOURNALISTS.