2010–2011 — Professor Jaswant Singh Neki
Anād Kāv Sanmān — Archival Record
The Anād Kāv Sanmān 2010–2011 was announced for eminent Punjabi poet Professor Jaswant Singh Neki, whose contribution to Punjabi spiritual poetry, Sikh thought, psychiatry, and public intellectual life remains deeply significant.
This page records the jury decision, preparatory work, correspondence, photographs, and related archival materials connected with the award.
For legal, statutory, banking, tax, audit, CSR, and formal institutional purposes, the Foundation’s legal name is The Anad Foundation. The form Anād is used as the Foundation’s preferred cultural, scholarly, programme, publication, and public-facing style.
Jury Decision
The Anād Kāv Sanmān Jury met on 19 November 2012 at the office of The Anad Foundation, New Delhi, and announced the Anād Kāv Sanmān 2010–2011 for Professor Jaswant Singh Neki.
The jury recognised Professor Neki’s significant contribution to enriching the heritage of spiritual poetry in Punjabi over the long span of his writing. His poetry was noted for its aesthetic articulation of life-death encounters, the subtle beauty of nature, mystical aspects of human existence, dialogue with the inner self, and the manifestation of divinity in human life.
The jury comprised Professor Satya Pal Gautam as Chair, M. K. Raina, Professor Bhagwan Josh, Manglesh Dabral, Professor Renuka Singh, and Dr. Madan Gopal Singh. Bhāī Baldeep Singh, Founder-Chairman of The Anad Foundation, convened the jury. Japna Kaur Tulsi, Coordinator of the Anād Kāv Sanmān, also participated in the proceedings.
Signed Jury Record
The Foundation preserves the signed jury record of the meeting held on 19 November 2012. The document bears the signatures of the jury members and convenor and forms part of the Foundation’s archival record of the Anād Kāv Sanmān.
Caption: Signed jury record announcing the Anād Kāv Sanmān 2010–2011 for Professor Jaswant Singh Neki, dated 19 November 2012, The Anad Foundation, New Delhi.
Preparations for the Award Ceremony
Following the jury decision, the Foundation made efforts over an extended period to hold the award ceremony for Professor Neki.
Records show that in May 2015, the Foundation was still corresponding with India Habitat Centre to schedule the 4th Anād Kāv Sanmān for Professor Neki, planned as an evening of poetry and music. Proposed dates included the end of May 2015 and, subsequently, early October 2015 at Stein Auditorium.
Owing to venue constraints, Professor Neki’s health, travel, and related circumstances, the ceremony was deferred more than once and could not eventually be held during his lifetime.
The Foundation retains the announcement, jury record, correspondence, photographs, and preparatory material as part of the institutional memory of the Anād Kāv Sanmān and as a mark of respect to Professor Neki’s poetic contribution.
Photographs and Calligraphy
During the Foundation’s preparations for the proposed award ceremony, Bhāī Baldeep Singh visited Professor Neki and photographed him in conversation, reflection, and writing.
On one such visit, Professor Neki wrote lines from his poetry by hand using a calligraphy pen, in anticipation of the award ceremony. These photographs are retained as part of the Foundation’s memory of the award process and as a quiet record of the poet’s presence, hand, voice, and affection.
Caption: Professor Jaswant Singh Neki during preparations connected with the Anād Kāv Sanmān, photographed by Bhāī Baldeep Singh.
Caption: Professor Jaswant Singh Neki writing lines from his poetry by hand with a calligraphy pen, during preparations for the proposed Anād Kāv Sanmān ceremony.
Caption: Bhāī Baldeep Singh in conversation with Professor Jaswant Singh Neki during one of the Foundation’s preparatory visits for the Anād Kāv Sanmān.
Caricature Preparation
One of the standing photographs of Professor Neki was taken specifically to support the preparation of a caricature / portrait study for the proposed award ceremony.
The caricature work was to be undertaken by Kamleshwar Singh Batra, caricature artist and graphic-design volunteer associated with Anād since 2004. This detail is retained because it reflects the care with which the Foundation prepared its award ceremonies: not merely as formal presentations, but as occasions of artistic remembrance, visual tribute, and literary honour.
Caption: Professor Jaswant Singh Neki photographed by Bhāī Baldeep Singh for reference in preparing a caricature / portrait study for the proposed Anād Kāv Sanmān ceremony.
The completed caricature / portrait study was prepared in January 2015 and would have been used in the award poster and related event material once the ceremony date, venue, and chief attendees were finalised.
Preparatory Design Material
The Foundation also prepared visual and literary material for the proposed Anād Kāv Sanmān ceremony in honour of Professor Jaswant Singh Neki.
These materials included a poetry card, mailer / event-design drafts, portrait studies, calligraphy images, and related visual material prepared from photographs and handwritten poetry gathered during Bhāī Baldeep Singh’s visits to Professor Neki.
The handwritten poem, the portrait treatment, and the proposed event visuals show that the Foundation’s preparation had moved beyond a formal award announcement. The ceremony was being imagined as a literary and musical tribute, with poetry, image, calligraphy, portraiture, and public remembrance brought together.
Although the award ceremony could not finally be held during Professor Neki’s lifetime, these materials remain part of Anād’s archival record of the honour prepared for him.
Caption: Preparatory mailer / visual material for the proposed Anād Kāv Sanmān ceremony in honour of Professor Jaswant Singh Neki.
Caption: Poetry card prepared from Professor Jaswant Singh Neki’s handwritten lines, written during preparations for the proposed Anād Kāv Sanmān ceremony.
Caption: Portrait study of Professor Jaswant Singh Neki prepared for the proposed Anād Kāv Sanmān event material.
Caption: Professor Jaswant Singh Neki’s handwritten poem, prepared with a calligraphy pen during Bhāī Baldeep Singh’s visit in anticipation of the Anād Kāv Sanmān ceremony.
Historical Note
Although the award ceremony could not be held during Professor Neki’s lifetime, the jury decision, signed record, correspondence, photographs, and preparatory material confirm the seriousness with which the Foundation announced, pursued, and prepared the recognition.This page is retained as an archival record of the Anād Kāv Sanmān 2010–2011 and as part of The Anad Foundation’s literary and institutional memory.