Shiv Kumar Batalvi
Encyclopedia
Shiv Kumar 'Batalvi' (1936–1973) was a noted Punjabi language
poet, who was most known for his romantic poetry, noted for its heightened passion, pathos, separation and lover's agony
His love for punjabi is shown in his poems.He became the youngest recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award
in 1967, given by Sahitya Akademi
(India's National Academy of Letters), for his epic verse play based on the ancient legend of Puran Bhagat, Loona (1965), now considered a masterpiece in modern Punjabi literature
, and which also created a new genre, of modern Punjabi kissa
. Today, his poetry stands in equal footing, amongst that by stalwarts of modern Punjabi poetry
, like Mohan Singh and Amrita Pritam
, all of whom are popular on both sides of India-Pakistan border.
family on 23 July 1936 (though a few documents related to him state October 7th, 1937 as his DOB), in village Bara Pind Lohtian
, Shakargarh Tehsil
, Sialkot
District (now in Punjab
province, Pakistan
), to Pandit Krishan Gopal, village tehsildar
in the revenue department, and Shanti Devi, a housewife.
In 1947, when he was just 11, his family moved to Batala
Gurdaspur district
after partition of India
, where his father continued his work as a patwari and young Shiv received his primary education. Allegedly, he was a dreamy child, often vanishing for the duration of the day, to be found lying under trees by the riverbank close to the Mandir or Hindu temple outside the village, lost in a brown reverie. He appears to have been fascinated by local renditions of the Hindu Epic Ramayana
, as well as wandering Minstrel
singers, Snake Charmers & the like - which feature as metaphors in his poetry, giving it a uniquely rural flavor.
, and enrolled in the F.Sc. program at Baring Union Christian College, Batala
, though before completing his degree he moved to S.N. College, Qadian
, where he joined the Arts program more suited to his persona, though he left that too in the second year. Thereafter he joined a school at Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh
to do a diploma in Civil Engineering, here again he left it in the middle. Next he studied for sometime at Govt. Ripudaman College, Nabha
.
who was married off to a UK citizen because of caste differences between the two. It was during this time that he turned increasingly to alcohol for solace, allegedly writing the poem :"Ajj Din Chhadeya Tere Rang Varga" [ "Today dawned colored like your complexion..."] while standing outside a "Theka Sharab Desi" [Liquor Vend], waiting for it to open so he could buy his booze. He remained unlucky in love, and bereavement for love loss reflected intensely in his poetry.In early 1967, he got married, to a Brahmin girl, Aruna, of his parents & family's choosing. According to friends, he only agreed because she had a striking resemblance to his youthful love.
of poems was published in 1960, titled Piran da Paraga (The Scarf of Sorrows), which became an instant success. In 1965, he became the youngest recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award
in 1967, for his magnum opus
, a verse play Loona (1965). His poetry recitations, and singing his own verse, made him and his work even more popular amongst the masses.
Soon after his marriage, in 1968, he shifted to Chandigarh
, where he joined the State Bank of India, as a PRO. In the following years, bad health plagued him, though he continued to write prolifically.
, due to liver cirrhosis, a result of chronic alcoholism
, at a young age of 35 years.
, Gurdaspur district
, and later the couple had two children, Meharban (1968) and Puja (1969).
, Amritsar
. 'Shiv Kumar Batalvi Award' for Best Writer, is given each year.
, and Surinder Kaur, have also sung many of his poems. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's rendition of one of his poem "Maye ni Maye" is known for its soulfulness and imagery. In a recent album, Rabbi
(2004), by Rabbi Shergill
features, his poem, "Ishtihar". Punjabi
folk singer, Hans Raj Hans
also did a popular album, ‘Gham’, on the poetry of Shiv Kumar. In 2005, a compilation album was released, titled, Ek Kudi Jida Naa Mohabbat... 'Shiv Kumar Batalvi, with numbers sung by Mahendra Kapoor
, Jagjit Singh and Asa Singh Mastana.
In 2004, Punjabi play titled Dardaan Da Darya based on the life of Shiv Kumar was performed at 'Punjab Kala Bhavan', Chandigarh
.
Mainu Vida Karo (Bid Me Farewell)
Assan Taan Joban Rutte Marna
Mur Jana Assan Bhare Bharaye
Hijar Tere di kar Parkarma
Assan Taan Joban Rutte Marna
I am going to die in the season of youth,
I am going to depart without emptying my contents,
After completing a cycle of separation from you,
I am going to die in the season of youth.
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
poet, who was most known for his romantic poetry, noted for its heightened passion, pathos, separation and lover's agony
His love for punjabi is shown in his poems.He became the youngest recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
in 1967, given by Sahitya Akademi
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
(India's National Academy of Letters), for his epic verse play based on the ancient legend of Puran Bhagat, Loona (1965), now considered a masterpiece in modern Punjabi literature
Punjabi Literature
Punjabi literature refers to literary works written in the Punjabi language particularly by peoples from the historical Punjab region of India and Pakistan including the Punjabi diaspora. The Punjabi language is written in several different scripts, of which the Shahmukhi, the Gurmukhī scripts are...
, and which also created a new genre, of modern Punjabi kissa
Punjabi Kisse
A Punjabi Qissa is a tradition of Punjabi language oral story-telling that came to South Asia with migrants from the Arabian peninsula and contemporary Iran and Afghanistan....
. Today, his poetry stands in equal footing, amongst that by stalwarts of modern Punjabi poetry
Punjabi Literature
Punjabi literature refers to literary works written in the Punjabi language particularly by peoples from the historical Punjab region of India and Pakistan including the Punjabi diaspora. The Punjabi language is written in several different scripts, of which the Shahmukhi, the Gurmukhī scripts are...
, like Mohan Singh and Amrita Pritam
Amrita Pritam
Amrita Pritam was a Punjabi writer and poet, considered the first prominent woman Punjabi poet, novelist, and essayist, and the leading 20th-century poet of the Punjabi language, who is equally loved on both the sides of the India-Pakistan border, with a career spanning over six decades, she...
, all of whom are popular on both sides of India-Pakistan border.
Biography
Shiv Kumar was born in a Saraswat BrahminSaraswat Brahmin
The Saraswats are a Brahmin caste of India.- History :According to the legend, Saraswat Brahmins are Brahmins who lived on the banks of the former Saraswati River that once flowed in northern India. Although it is said that at Prayag the three rivers meet or met.the fact is that the Saraswati never...
family on 23 July 1936 (though a few documents related to him state October 7th, 1937 as his DOB), in village Bara Pind Lohtian
Barapind
Barapind some time spell Bara Pind , is a village of Shakargarh Tehsil, Narowal District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the northeastern corner of punjab...
, Shakargarh Tehsil
Shakargarh Tehsil
Shakargarh Tehsil of Narowal District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The tehsil is administratively subdivided into 35 Union Councils, three of which form the tehsil capital Shakargarh.-History:...
, Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
District (now in Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
province, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
), to Pandit Krishan Gopal, village tehsildar
Tehsildar
A tehsildar is a revenue administrative officer in Pakistan and India in charge of obtaining taxation from a tehsil. The term is of imperial Mughal origin made of "tahsil", an Islamic administrative derived from Arabic, meaning "revenue generating; collection" and "dar", Persian for "holder of a...
in the revenue department, and Shanti Devi, a housewife.
In 1947, when he was just 11, his family moved to Batala
Batala
Batala is a municipal council in Gurdaspur district in the state of Punjab, India. It is located about 30 km from Gurdaspur, the headquarters of the district....
Gurdaspur district
Gurdaspur District
Gurdaspur district is a district in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. Gurdaspur is the district headquarters. It internationally borders Narowal District of the Pakistani Punjab, Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir, the Punjab districts of Amritsar and...
after partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, where his father continued his work as a patwari and young Shiv received his primary education. Allegedly, he was a dreamy child, often vanishing for the duration of the day, to be found lying under trees by the riverbank close to the Mandir or Hindu temple outside the village, lost in a brown reverie. He appears to have been fascinated by local renditions of the Hindu Epic Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, as well as wandering Minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
singers, Snake Charmers & the like - which feature as metaphors in his poetry, giving it a uniquely rural flavor.
Education
He completed his matriculation in 1953, from Punjab UniversityPunjab University
Punjab University may refer to:In India:*Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana*Punjab Technical University*Punjabi University, Patiala*Panjab University, ChandigarhIn Pakistan:*University of the Punjab, Lahore...
, and enrolled in the F.Sc. program at Baring Union Christian College, Batala
Batala
Batala is a municipal council in Gurdaspur district in the state of Punjab, India. It is located about 30 km from Gurdaspur, the headquarters of the district....
, though before completing his degree he moved to S.N. College, Qadian
Qadian
Qadian is a small town and a municipal council in Gurdaspur District, north-east of Amritsar, situated north-east of Batala city in the state of Punjab, India....
, where he joined the Arts program more suited to his persona, though he left that too in the second year. Thereafter he joined a school at Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh
Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh
Baijnath is a town in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It is roughly fourteen kilometres from the town of Palampur. It is very famous all over the world as it is believed to be one of twelve jyotirlingas according to popular legends.-Geography:...
to do a diploma in Civil Engineering, here again he left it in the middle. Next he studied for sometime at Govt. Ripudaman College, Nabha
Nabha
Nabha is a city and municipal council in the Patiala district to the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. In 1998, the annual income of Nabha state was Rs 1,50,000/-.- Princely State of Nabha :...
.
Struggles With Conventional Matrimony
He fell in love with the daughter of the noted Punjabi writer Gurbaksh Singh PreetlariGurbaksh Singh Preetlari
Gurbaksh Singh Preetlari was a Punjabi novelist and short story writer with more than fifty books to his credit. He is also considered the father of modern Punjabi prose and received Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, New Delhi in 1971....
who was married off to a UK citizen because of caste differences between the two. It was during this time that he turned increasingly to alcohol for solace, allegedly writing the poem :"Ajj Din Chhadeya Tere Rang Varga" [ "Today dawned colored like your complexion..."] while standing outside a "Theka Sharab Desi" [Liquor Vend], waiting for it to open so he could buy his booze. He remained unlucky in love, and bereavement for love loss reflected intensely in his poetry.In early 1967, he got married, to a Brahmin girl, Aruna, of his parents & family's choosing. According to friends, he only agreed because she had a striking resemblance to his youthful love.
Youngest Recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award
Later in life, his father got a job as patwari at Qadian, it was during this period, that he produced some of his best work. His first anthologyAnthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
of poems was published in 1960, titled Piran da Paraga (The Scarf of Sorrows), which became an instant success. In 1965, he became the youngest recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
in 1967, for his magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
, a verse play Loona (1965). His poetry recitations, and singing his own verse, made him and his work even more popular amongst the masses.
Soon after his marriage, in 1968, he shifted to Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
, where he joined the State Bank of India, as a PRO. In the following years, bad health plagued him, though he continued to write prolifically.
Struggles With Conventional Life-Span
His writings have always been open about his pronounced.He was a man of acumen. death wish, and on 7 May 1973, he died at his father-in-law's residence, at Kirri Mangyal PathankotPathankot
Pathankot became 22nd district on 28th July 2011 and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Punjab. It was a part of the Nurpur princely state ruled by the Rajputs prior to 1849 AD. It is a meeting point of the three northern states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir...
, due to liver cirrhosis, a result of chronic alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, at a young age of 35 years.
Personal life
On 5 February 1967 he married, Aruna, a Brahmin girl, from Kirri MangyalKirri Mangyal
Kirri Magyal is an important village just 16 km from Pathankot bus stand of Gurdaspur District, Punjab, India....
, Gurdaspur district
Gurdaspur District
Gurdaspur district is a district in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. Gurdaspur is the district headquarters. It internationally borders Narowal District of the Pakistani Punjab, Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir, the Punjab districts of Amritsar and...
, and later the couple had two children, Meharban (1968) and Puja (1969).
Works
- Piran da Paraga (The Scarf of Sorrows) (1960)
- Mainu Vida Karo (Bid Me Farewell) (1963)
- Gazlan Te Geet
- Aarti (Prayer) (1971)
- Lajwanti (Touch Me Not) (1961)
- Atte Dian Chirian (The Sparrows of Flour) (1962).
- Loona (1965)
- Main Te Main (I and Me) (1970)
- Dardmandan Dian Aahin
- Sog
- Alvida (Farewell) (1974)
- Shiv Kumar: Sampuran Kav Sangreh (Complete Works); Lahore Book Shop, Ludhiana.
- Birha Da Sultan, (A selection from Shiv Kumar Betalvi's poems), Selected by Amrita PritamAmrita PritamAmrita Pritam was a Punjabi writer and poet, considered the first prominent woman Punjabi poet, novelist, and essayist, and the leading 20th-century poet of the Punjabi language, who is equally loved on both the sides of the India-Pakistan border, with a career spanning over six decades, she...
, Sahitya AkademiSahitya AkademiThe Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
, 1993. ISBN 81-7201-417-1. - Luna (English), tr. by B.M. Bhatta, Sahitya AkademiSahitya AkademiThe Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
, 2005, ISBN 81-260-1873-9.
Legacy
One of his anthology, Alvida (Farewell) was published posthumously in 1974, by the Guru Nanak Dev UniversityGuru Nanak Dev University
Guru Nanak Dev University was established at Amritsar, India on November 24, 1969 to commemorate Guru Nanak Dev's birth quincentenary celebrations. Guru Nanak Dev University campus is spread over 500 acres near village of Kot Khalsa, nearly 8 km west of the Amritsar City on Amritsar - Lahore...
, Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
. 'Shiv Kumar Batalvi Award' for Best Writer, is given each year.
In Media
Many of his poems were sung by Deedar Singh Pardesi. Jagjit Singh-Chitra SinghChitra Singh
Chitra Singh is a renowned Indian Urdu/Hindi Ghazal singer. She was married to Jagjit Singh, who was a prominent Ghazal singer. Jagjit Singh died on October 10 2011. They formed a highly popular duet team and are considered pioneers of modern Ghazal singing. -Early life:Chitra Dutta was born in a...
, and Surinder Kaur, have also sung many of his poems. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's rendition of one of his poem "Maye ni Maye" is known for its soulfulness and imagery. In a recent album, Rabbi
Rabbi (album)
Rabbi is Rabbi Shergill's debut album released in 2004 by Phat Phish Records. The album was an instant hit and grabbed notable airtime on Indian radio...
(2004), by Rabbi Shergill
Rabbi Shergill
Rabbi Shergill in Jatt Sikh family is an Indian musician well known for his debut album Rabbi and the chart-topper song of 2005, "Bulla Ki Jaana"...
features, his poem, "Ishtihar". Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
folk singer, Hans Raj Hans
Hans Raj Hans
Hans Raj Hans is an Indian Punjabi language singer.Early lifeHans was born in Shafipur, a village near Jalandhar, Punjab, India. He is the second son of Late Sardar Arjan Singh Ji and Mata Ajit Kaur Ji . Hans had no musical history in his family, yet he began singing at a young age. Hans...
also did a popular album, ‘Gham’, on the poetry of Shiv Kumar. In 2005, a compilation album was released, titled, Ek Kudi Jida Naa Mohabbat... 'Shiv Kumar Batalvi, with numbers sung by Mahendra Kapoor
Mahendra Kapoor
Mahendra Kapoor was an Indian playback singer.In a career spanning five decades, his repertoire extended to 25,000 songs in various regional languages, including memorable hits like ‘Chalo ek baar phir se Ajnabi ban jayen hum dono’ Gumrah, ‘Neele gagan ke taale’ Hamraaz, and in various...
, Jagjit Singh and Asa Singh Mastana.
In 2004, Punjabi play titled Dardaan Da Darya based on the life of Shiv Kumar was performed at 'Punjab Kala Bhavan', Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
.
Excerpts
Mainu Vida Karo (Bid Me Farewell)
Assan Taan Joban Rutte Marna
Mur Jana Assan Bhare Bharaye
Hijar Tere di kar Parkarma
Assan Taan Joban Rutte Marna
I am going to die in the season of youth,
I am going to depart without emptying my contents,
After completing a cycle of separation from you,
I am going to die in the season of youth.
Further reading
- Makers of Indian Literature: Shiv Kumar Batalvi, by Prof. S.Soze, Published by Sahitya Akademi, 2001. ISBN 8126009233.
- Shiv Kumar Batalvi : Jeevan Ate Rachna
- Shiv Batalvi: A Solitary and Passionate singer, by Om Prakash Sharma, 1979, Sterling Publishers, New Delhi LCCN: 79-905007.
- Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Jiwan Te Rachna, by Jeet Singh Sitola. LCCN: 83-900413
- Shiv Kumar da Kavi Jagat, by Dharam Pal Singola. LCCN: 79-900386
- Shiv Kumar, Rachna Samsar, by Amarik Singh Punni. LCCN: 90-902390
- Shiv Kumar, Kavi vich Birah; by Surjit Singh Kanwal. LCCN: 88-901976