LAHORE, Nov 14: In these times of mediocrity, Amrita Pretam was a larger-than-life figure and she was an institution which impressed generations. World Punjabi Congress chairman Fakhar Zaman said this while paying tributes to the great poet at the commemorative seminar organized by the WPC on Monday.

He said with the death of Amrita Pretam, a whole literary era had ended.

Mr Zaman said he was very close to Amrita and had been visiting her since 1967.

The WPC would establish a Punjabi university in Lahore in March 2006 and an Amrita Pretam Chair would be constituted in the varsity, he said.

He announced that from 2006 the best Punjabi book would also be given Amrita Pretam award.

Punjab Food Minister Chaudhry Mohammad Iqbal, who was the chief guest of the ceremony, said Amrita Pretam was the pride of sub-continent as she ruled the hearts of the people both in India and Pakistan.

The minister said since he was representing the Punjab chief minister, he was expressing the CM’s personal views and his heart felt sentiments about the poet.

He said such figures were born rarely and he was proud of the fact that Amrita was born in Gujranwala, which was his native city.

Patiyala University registrar Dr Prem Bukhsheesh Singh termed Amrita’s death end of an era, and said she was the conscience of the Punjabi language.

WPC India chapter president Dr S.S Noor presented a critical analysis of Amrita’s poetry and termed her the biggest feminist writer and poet of the subcontinent.

He said Amrita advised him not to cry over her death but to celebrate her works. Amrita belonged to all, he said.

Dr Manmohan Sing read out messages of the Indian leaders and dignitaries on Amrita Pretam, including those from former Indian PM I. K. Gujral, Punjab culture minister Purtab Singh Bajwa, education minister Hurnam Das Johar and Minority Commission chairman Sardar Turlochin Singh. The message from the former prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutoo, was also read on the occasion.