Land of Five Rivers (21 page)

n
otes on the authors

1. A
   JEET
   C
   AUR
   : (1934-) She is one of the better known Punjabi writers. Some of her important collection of short stories are
   Gulbano, Mahik Di Maut, But Shikan, Saviyan
   and
   Churiyan.
   And among her novelettes are
   Postmortem, Dhup Wala Sheher, Khana Badosh
   and
   Kachche Ranga De Sheher.
   She is the recipient of Punjabi Academy Award, 1984 and Sahitya Academy Award, 1986 for
   Khana Badosh.
   
2. A
   MRITA
   P
   RITAM
   : (1919-2005) Widely acknowledged as the doyen of Punjabi litterateurs, she was a distinguished Punjabi poet and a writer with more than 70 published books to her credit.
   Kagaz Te Canvas
   (poetry),
   Pinjar
   (novel),
   Yatri
   (novel),
   Ih Sach Hai
   (novel),
   Kore Kagaz
   (novel) are some of her famous works. Her autobiography
   Rasidi Tikat
   received rave reviews.
   Kagaz Te Canvas
   earned her the covetous Jnanpith Award for 1982. She received !he Sahitya Academy Award in 1956. She held D. Litt. of four Indian Universities. Her works have been translated into 34 Indian and foreign languages.
   
3. B
   ALWANT
   G
   ARGI
   : (1916-2003) He was a Punjabi playwright, a director and a film maker. He founded the Department of Indian Theatre at the Punjab University. His first play
   Loha Kut
   published in 1944 established him as a popular playwright. His powerful dramas include
   Kwari Teesi, Dhooni Di Agg, Sultan Razia
   and
   Nimm De Pattee.
   His controversial autobiography
   The Naked Triangle
   propelled him to the forefront of the Indian literary and cultural scene. He was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award in 1962 and the Padma Shri in 1973.
   
4. B
   ALWANT
   S
   INGH
   : (1926-) A Punjabi creative writer who has published
   Rat, Chor Aur Chand
   (novels),
   Punjab Ki Kahaniah
   (short stories),
   Jagga
   (stories and plays).
   
5. G
   ULZAR
   S
   INGH
   S
   ANDHU
   : (1935-) He is a journalist by profession. His literary and creative writings include a translation of
   Tess of the D’Urbervilles
   into Punjabi and
   Sade Har Shringar
   (a novel).
   
6. G
   URMUKH
   S
   INGH
   J
   EET
   : (1922-) Apart from being a widely respected critic of Punjabi literature, he is an author equally at ease in Punjabi and Hindi. Amongst his better known works are
   Kaala Aadmi, Dharti Son Sunehari, Mrig Trishna, Vekho Kaun Aaye
   (all in Punjabi) and
   Thandi Deewaren, Shikhar Aur Shunya
   and
   Ek Din Ka Sultan
   (in Hindi). He has also been a member of the Executive Board of Punjabi Sahitya Academy.
   
7. K
   ARTAR
   S
   INGH
   D
   UGGAL
   : (1917-) He writes both in Urdu and Punjabi and has published 21 collections of short stories, eight novels, seven full-length plays and two collections of poems. He received the Sahitya Academy Award in 1965 and the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1981. He was honoured by Delhi Administration as a distinguished Punjabi Litterateur in 1976 and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1988. In addition to his literary contribution, he has served with distinction as Station Director of All India Radio and as Director of the National Book Trust.
   
8. K
   HWAJA
   A
   HMED
   A
   BBAS
   : (1914-1989) He was a journalist, novelist and a film producer-director of international repute. A writer with leftist leanings, he published over 40 books in Urdu including
   Diya Jale Sari Raat
   (novel),
   Main Kaun Hun, Ek Ladki
   and
   Zafran Ke Phul
   (all collections of short stories). His other important works include
   When Night Falls, Face to Face with Khrushchev,
   a 2-part biography of Mrs. Indira Gandhi
   — Indira Gandhi: Return of the Red Rose
   and its sequel
   That Woman.
   
9. K
   ISHEN
   S
   INGH
   D
   HODI
   : This is his first story to be translated into English. He has also written other Punjabi short stories. He runs a motor business in Delhi.
   
10. K
    RISHEN
    C
    HANDER
    : (1914-1977) Widely acclaimed as one of the finest short story writers in Urdu after Premchand, Krishen Chander reached the height of his fame with
    Ek Gadhe Ki Sarguzasht (Autobiography of a Donkey),
    published in 1957 which sold over 2,00,000 copies. His works, which comprised nearly 80 volumes, covered a wide range of themes. His works reflected his protest against exploitation of man by man and showed deep sympathy and understanding of the suffering of the downtrodden. His concern for humanity ran through his stories
    Hum Vaishi Hain, Kalu Bhangi, Mahalakshmi Bridge, Tai Eesri, Nai Ghulami
    and
    Jab Khat Jage.
    His books have been translated into many Indian, European and Chinese languages.
    
11. K
    ULWANT
    S
    INGH
    V
    IRK
    : (1920-) A journalist and a Punjabi creative writer, he has been the Joint Director, Communication Centre, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana. He wrote six volumes of short stories in Punjabi:
    Chhah Wela,
    1950;
    Dharti Te Akash,
    1951;
    Tun Di Paud,
    1954;
    Dudh Da Chhapper,
    1958;
    Gohlan,
    1961 and
    Naven Lok,
    1968. He received The Sahitya Academy Award for
    Naven Lok
    in 1968.
    
12. R
    AJINDER
    S
    INGH
    B
    EDI
    : (1915-1984) Starting his career as a clerk in the Postal Department he rose to become Station Director, AIR, Jammu in 1948. Then he took to writing and making films. As a powerful Urdu writer he published novels
    Ek Chadar Maili Si
    in 1962,
    Apna Dukh Mujhe De Do
    in 1965; short stories
    Dana 0 Dam,
    1938,
    Grehan,
    1941 and
    Haath Hamare Kalam Hue,
    1974; and plays
    Bejan Chizen,
    1943,
    Sat Khel,
    1981. He was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award for
    Ek Chadar Maili Si
    in 1965.
    
13. S
    AADAT
    H
    ASAN
    M
    ANTO
    : (1912-1955) He is widely regarded as one of the best Urdu writers. In a literary and journalistic career spanning more than two decades, he wrote over 200 stories, apart from plays, film scripts, novels and essays.
    Toba Tek Singh, Mozail
    and
    Mummy
    are some of his powerful stories. He lived in Amritsar, Bombay and Lahore.
    
14. S
    ANTOKH
    S
    INGH
    D
    HIR
    : (1922-) He is a journalist and a Punjabi creative writer.
    Gudian Patole
    and
    Poh Phutala
    (both poetry) are among his important published works.
    
15. S
    ATINDRA
    S
    INGH
    : (1924- ) He is a political journalist and a short story writer.
    Muk Di Gal
    is his published collection of short stories.
    
16. U
    PENDRA
    N
    ATH
    A
    SHK
    : (1910-1996) He began his career as a radio and a print journalist before he took to creative writing. He wrote more than 75 books, including 12 novels, 13 full length plays and 13 collection of short stories. He wrote in both Hindi and Urdu. Some of his important works include
    Bargad Ki Beti
    (poetry), 1947;
    Girti Deewaren,
    1947;
    Shehar Mein Ghoomta Aina,
    1962;
    Ek Nanhi Kindeel,
    1969;
    Bandho Na Nav Is Thanv,
    1974 (all novels);
    Toofan Se Pahle
    (play); and
    Ek Udaseen Sham, Kale Saheb, Jab Santram Ne Balna Uthaya, Kankra Ka Teli, Dachi, Nasoor
    and
    Ajgar
    (all short stories). He was the recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Best Playwright Award, 1965 and Soviet Land Nehru Award 1972.
    
17. U
    SHA
    M
    AHAJAN
    : (1948-) She is a journalist and a Hindi short story writer whose works have frequently appeared in
    Sarika, Dharamyug, Ravivar, Hans, Navbharat Times
    and
    Jansatta.
    She has translated Khushwant Singh’s
    Train to Pakistan
    into Hindi.
    
18. Y
    ASHPAL
    : (1903-1976) He was a Hindi novelist with leftist and revolutionary convictions. Among his famous novels are
    Dada Comrade, Desh Drohi, Do Duniya, Amita, Jhutha Sach, Chhattis Ghante
    and
    Phulo Ka Kurta.
    He wrote in all about 200 short stories. Important among them are
    Sag, Admi Ka Bachcha, Parlok, Pavitrata
    and
    Kala Admi.
    

f
ootnote

*
Lajwanti
— the touch-me-not plant whose leaves fold up if touched.