Release of lyricist’s book on Punjabis’ close ties to Lahore

Hi there! Renowned lyricist and actor Gurvinder Singh Gill Raunta’s book Mai Lahore Toh Bolda was launched at a function hosted by Khalsa College’s Punjabi Department. Gill Raunta, a well-known figure on social media, described the process of creating the book while also penning music and movies.

“I made my first call from Lahore in 2022 when I was there. When I called my mother on the phone, I greeted her automatically. Mai Bolda Lahore Toh Mai. Speaking to book lovers, college students, and teachers, he stated, “These five words have stuck with me ever since and forced me to write the book, which is basically about how similar the people on both sides of the border are.”

“In times when writers of Punjabi complain of a shortage of readers and often say that nobody buys a book, nearly 10,000 copies of Gill Raunta’s book have been sold even before it was officially released,” said Aatam Singh Randhawa, Head, Punjabi Department. Since the book’s publication in the first week of April, according to Randhawa, it has been in great demand.

“The book is unique in the way it is written, in the everyday language that we use,” said Principal Mehal Singh. Unlike other writers, this one has not attempted to wow the readers by stuffing their writing with fancy, technical vocabulary. Singh also gave the audience an update on the close ties that exist between Punjabis and Lahore.

He continued by saying that Lahore was once the hub of Punjabi culture. Punjabis used to sometimes oppose Lahore since it was the seat of the repressive Mughal empire. Additionally, Punjabis still enjoy this same location today, having begun to do so during Maharaja Ranjit Singh.