Professor Surinder Dhanjal has earned two Ph.D.s: Computer Science and Punjabi, and two Masters degrees: Electrical Engineering and Computation (ਕੰਪੂਟੇਸ਼ਨ). He has taught Computing Science in Canadian universities for 31 years, and has been honoured with the distinction of PROFESSOR EMERITUS (ਪ੍ਰੋਫ਼ੈਸਰ ਅਮੈਰੀਟਸ) by Thompson Rivers University Kamloops since June 2017. Dr. Dhanjal was the founding Editor of the literary and cultural Canadian Punjabi magazine WATNO DUR (started in July 1973), and Founding General Secretary of several Punjabi literary, cultural, and theatre organizations in Canada including Punjab Cultural Association Vancouver (1972), Punjabi Literary Association (now Writers Forum) Vancouver (1973), and Watno Dur Art Foundation Vancouver (1974). He directed the first Punjabi play of Canada TEEJI PASS (16 Dec 1972), and directed the first local Punjabi play in Alberta INQUILAAB ZINDABAAD (1984). He is the Convenor of the Pash Memorial International Trust (*ਪਾਸ਼ ਯਾਦਗਾਰੀ ਕੌਮਾਂਤਰੀ ਟ੍ਰਸਟ*) since Pash’s assassination in 1988. He has published and edited several books of Punjabi poetry and criticism: his two latest books of original poetry are: ਕਵਿਤਾ ਦੀ ਲਾਟ (2011) and ਦੀਵੇ ਜਗਦੇ ਰਹਿਣਗੇ (2022). He also recently edited: ਖੇਤਾਂ ਦਾ ਪੁੱਤ : ਪਾਸ਼ (Oct. 2021).
[updated on 9 Sept 2023].
Short promotional video (with English subtitles): Who was Pash? ਪਾਸ਼ ਕੌਣ ਸੀ? پاش کون سی؟
Full interview, Part 1:
Full interview, Part 2:
Full interview, Part 3 – Poetry Reading: