Punjab’s tradition of Hindi literature
S.P. Gupta

PUNJAB can be legitimately called a treasure house of Hindi literature. Litterateurs belonging to this part of the country have been writing on a variety of subjects. But a major part of that literature is in the Gurmukhi script and has, thus, remained unpublished and inaccessible to those who don’t know the script. Hence many people have the wrong impression that not much Hindi literature has been produced in Punjab.

In addition to the literary works relating to the Nath, Siddha, Sant and Sufi persuasions and those written on Rama and Krishna, sufficient literature has been produced in Punjab on medicine, logic, Vedanta, yoga, history, geography and the crafts. Short stories and drama have also been written.

About 500 writers and poets of Punjab have produced over 5,000 literary works. Among these, works in Braj Bhasha on Rama, Krishna and romantic topics dominate. There are also excellent translations of Sanskrit, Persian, Urdu, Rajasthani, Bangru and Haryanvi works. Prominent among these are many Smiritis, Upanishads, the Mahabharat, the Valmiki Ramayana, the Puranas, the Yoga Vashishtha, the Tulsi Ramayana, the Hanuman Natak, Zafarnama, the story of Mudrarakshasa, Gulistan, Bostan and Basant Bahar.

Among the original works, five satsais, the story of Heer-Ranjha and the works of Bhai Santokh Singh, Guru Nanak Prakash and Guru Partap Surya occupy a place of pride in Hindi literature. The contribution of the court poets of Guru Gobind Singh is no less significant.

One of the characteristics of this literature is its composite spirit. Poets and writers used a single language, Braj Bhasha, and such words and expressions as could be easily understood in all parts of India. Among the writers of the Siddha and Nath schools, the names of Gorakh Nath, Jalandhar Nath and Charpat Nath deserve special mention.

Punjabi litterateurs created their own representation of the divine personality of Lord Krishna. The story of Lord Krishna’s life is available in the form of fables, ballads, songs, musical tunes and compositions. Prominent among poets who wrote about Lord Krishna is Gulam Nabi Raslin, who in his work Ras Prabodh, wrote about Krishna and Radha. Others who wrote on Lord Krishna are Khushal Rai. Keshav Das, Chandra Shekhar Bajpai, Amir Das and Basant Singh Ritu Raj.

In addition to the poetic compositions on Rama and Krishna, literary works by sants on a formless God are also available. The Sikh Guru played a great role in the creation of such literature.

Poets belonging to the Sufi order presented love stories from the Hindu tradition in Islamic idiom. The Sufis, thus, tried to bring the two major communities together. Among the famous poets of this school are Baba Farid, Shah Hussain, Sheikh Sharf and Bulle Shah. The Patiala state was home to many Sufi poets because the rulers of this state were patrons and connoisseurs of literature. Some of them were men of letters themselves. Many poets and writers were also associated with the courts of Nabha and Kapurthala.

Important literary works produced during that period include Barah Mas by Keshav Das of Patiala, Buddhi Prakash Darpan by Krishna Madhuri Basant, Hamir Hat by Chandra Prakash, Sudhasar compiled by Gopar Singh Naveen, Krishna Bharati and Dash Avatar composed by Kavi Jawala and Bhai Kahan Singh’s Gurmat Prabhakar.

Raja Kanwar Vikram Singh and Maharaja Fateh Singh of Kapurthala and Maharaja Narinder Singh and Maharaja Rajinder Singh of Patiala also produced excellent literary works, rich in thought, content and expression.

The Languages Department of Punjab should take upon itself the responsibility of publishing and preserving these works.

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