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Gulzar
Singh Sandhu, noted Punjabi author and former Editor, Punjabi
Tribune, has added to the racks of Punjabi literature with his
latest book Meri Saunh. This volume consists of biographical
essays depicting the personalities such as Gurbakhash Singh Preetlari,
Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, Dr M. S. Randhawa, Prem Bhatia, Shiv
Batalvi, Amrita Pritam, Balwant Gargi, S. S. Misha and many more. It
is the first in the series Sargoshian, a column which was well
received by Punjabi Tribune readers in the past. Unlike
Balwant Gargi’s depiction of character sketches in his stingy
writings, Gulzar Singh Sandhu observes these personalities in a
positive manner. That is why he names this series ‘pleasantries’.
He recounts his close association with them in an agreeably light
manner which holds the reader go through the minute details given in
the accounts. This year, Ram Sarup Ankhi of the
Kothe Kharak Singh fame, who has already enriched Punjabi
literature with 14 novels, eight story books and two-volume
autobiography, has added another novel Bhima to his credit. The
story revolves round Bhima, who is Jadav by caste, hails from village
Tilakpur in Darbhanga district of Bihar. He comes to Punjab to work as
a farm labourer. But by virtue of his total commitment to work, he
carves a special place in the hearts of Gurjant Singh and members of
his family. It seems as if activities in Gurjant’s house and in
fields would come to a halt if Bhima were not there. One fine
morning, Bhima finds as if he has become the landlord himself. He
scribbles his name Bhima Jadav in Hindi on the temporary wooden doors
of his small room, called kothri, in one corner of the
house. Only Charno, wife of Gurjant, knows the secret of why Bhima
thought of doing so. The day comes when Bhima is in a position to win
Panchayat election. Together with Saudagar, who is born a few months
after Gurjant’s death, leads the village to a visible
development. Ankhi has handled the issue of migrant labour, that is
being hotly debated in political and social circles in Punjabm well.
While some opine that the presence of migrant labourers has badly
affected the Punjabi youth, other argue that had the migrant labour
not been available to Punjab farmers at cheaper rates, the agriculture
would have suffered irreparable losses. The writer has, however, taken
the issue to more serious levels of perception when he engages the
elderly folk to converse upon the likely ethnic and genetic shift that
is looming large. The writer is a master in mesmerising the
reader. In her latest novel, Tumri Katha Kahi Na Jae, the
celebrated author Dalip Kaur Tiwana has attempted to paint the
life-sketch of a girl born to Bishan Dei, wife of Harjas Rai, a rich
Khattri of Lahore. He names his daughter Ajit believing that none of
the five vices mentioned in Gurbani has victory over her. When Ajit
comes of marriageable age, she is wedded to Gobind Rai, son of Guru
Teg Bahadur. Ajit, who is later popularly known as Jeetan, bravely
fights against the Mughals to her end. The place where she was
consigned to flames is now known as Agampur, adjoining Anandpur Sahib.
It is a historical novel covering the period of the 18th century
Bikrami. Tiwana is known for her skill to depict life-sketches of
women in particular. Here, too, she has tried to do so. But may be due
to lack of suspense in it, the text fails to hold the reader was well
as it does in her other writings. This is probably for two reasons:
One, the reader already knows what is going to be depicted in this
historical account. Two, having read her earlier novel Eh Hamara
Jeewna, which is her masterpiece, readers’ expectations are too
high to be impressed, though it has its own significance. Bhushan
is not known for his books as much as for his wirtings that appeared
from time to time in standard literary Punjabi magazines like Arsi,
Nagmani, Lo, etc. He remained associated with Punjabi
Tribune through his columns such as Bol Kubol, Kavio Wach
(which later appeared in the form of a book, Jaandi Var Da Sach),
and Harf Rasidi, which he could not continue due to his ill
health. He has also to his credit another poetry book Ik Masiha Hor.
His book Sirjandhara, a creative prose, brought out in 1982 by
Neelambar Publications, Amritsar, was widely read and commented upon
in literary circles. Bhushan has the ability and skill to comment on
very serious issue in a lighter vein. Because of his crisp style of
writing, this autobiography really makes an interesting reading.
There are still more books like Potli, a collection of
selected essays by Amarjit Chandan, Pardesi Punjab by Waryam
Sandhu, Mere Khabe Vagdi Hava, literary essays of Sati Kumar
edited by Avtar Jandialvi, and Khamosh Sadhran, a collection of
poems by Malkiat Basra, with a foreword by Surjit Partar, which also
need a thorough look. It has been a good year for Punjabi literature
and its writers.
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THE year 2009 has witnessed a
satisfactory inflow of books published in Punjabi. Books on literary
criticism or analytical appraisal or based on M.Phil dissertations or
Ph.D theses outnumber creative writings in various genres of
literature. The budding writers are enthusiastically coming to the
fore with their publications and seek recognition. Yet, it is a matter
of great satisfaction that our old horses are still stronger. Aahan,
a novel by Jnanapeeth Award winner Gurdial Singh, Zindgi Door
Naheen by Jaswant Singh Kanwal, Nawian Akhan by Santokh
Singh Dhir, Barandari by Mohan Kahlon, Sagal Bhawan Ke
Nayaka by Kartar Singh Duggal, Man Ki Birtha by Chandan
Negi prove that the ink in their pens has not dried up, despite age.
Of the books that came my way, the following need a special mention:
Sandhu is basically a short story writer. His stories
mostly revolve round either a particular character or an event. Though
this volume of pleasantries is a different form of literature, yet his
expertise in weaving round one character or event seems to have made
his present attempt much easier for him. An expert in wisely choosing
and gently placing words to aptly convey his feelings, he makes his
readers believe the exact truth in his writings. There has been a
tremendous response to this book from readers who eagerly wait for the
second volume of Sargoshian.
Now, the villagers hold function on Bhima’s death
anniversary to pay him rich tributes. On Diwali, Charno lights up an
earthen lamp and persuades her daughter-in-law and grandson to bow
before the huge portrait of Bhima to respect him as their Baba
(grandfather).
Bhushan
Dhianpuri’s autobiography Meri Kitab is another title which
hit the stacks this year. Bhushan is no more and he was not fortunate
enough to see his autobiography in its present form which could be
released only a few days after his death. Yet, he wrote its prelude
during his last days. This book gives a detailed account of how
Bhushan, whose real name is Benti Sarup Sharma, lived in his native
village Dhianpur in Gurdaspur district which is his baalbhoomi,
and later moved to Chandigarh, which he terms as his karambhoomi.