Shiv Kumar Batalvi

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Shiv Kumar 'Batalvi'

Born Shiv Kumar
July 23, 1936(1936-07-23)
Bara Pind Lohtian, Shakargarh Tehsil, Punjab, British India
Died May 7, 1973 (aged 36)
Kir Mangyal, Pathankot, India
Occupation poet, author, playwright
Nationality Indian
Writing period 1960-1973
Genres poetry, prose, play
Subjects pathos, passion, separation
Literary movement romanticism
Notable work(s) Loona (1965)
Official website

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 [1]

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)[2], now considered a masterpiece in modern Punjabi literature [3], and which also created a new genre, of modern Punjabi kissa [4]. Today, his poetry stands in equal footing, amongst that by stalwarts of modern Punjabi poetry, like Mohan Singh and Amrita Pritam [5], all of whom are popular on both sides of India-Pakistan border [6].

Contents

[edit] Biography

Shiv Kumar was born on 23 July 1936, village Bara Pind Lohtian, Shakargarh Tehsil, (now in Punjab province, Pakistan),[7] to Pandit Krishan Gopal, village tehsildar in the revenue department, and Savita Devi, a housewife. 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 [8].

He completed his matriculation in 1953, from Punjab University[disambiguation needed], 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 [9]. Next he studied for sometime at Govt. Ripudaman College, Nabha.He fell in love with the daughter of the noted Punjabi writer Gurbax Singh Preetlari who was married off to a US citizen because of caste differences between the two.He remained unlucky in love, and bereavement for love loss reflected intensely in his poetry.

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 anthology 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)[10]. His poetry recitations, and singing his own verse, made him and his work even more popular amongst the masses.

In early 1967, he got married, and 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. His writings has always been open about his pronounced death wish [11], and on 7 May 1973, he died at his residence of father-in-law, at Kir Mangyal, Pathankot, due to of liver cirrhosis as a result of chronic alcoholism, all of 36 years.

[edit] Personal life

On 5 February 1967 he married, Aruna [12] , a Brahmin girl, from Kir Mangyal, Gurdaspur district, and later the couple had two children, Meharbaan (1968) and Puja (1969).

[edit] Works

  • Piran da Paraga (The Scarf of Sorrows) (1960)
  • Mainu Vida Karo (Bid Me Farewell) (1961)
  • 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 [13], (A selection from Shiv Kumar Betalvi's poems), Selected by Amrita Pritam, Sahitya Akademi, 1993. ISBN 81-7201-417-1.
  • Luna (English), tr. by B.M. Bhatta, Sahitya Akademi, 2005, ISBN 81-260-1873-9.

[edit] Legacy

One of his anthology, Alvida (Farewell) was published posthumously in 1974, by the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. 'Shiv Kumar Batalvi Award' for Best Writer, is given each year [14][15].

[edit] In Media

Many of his poems were sung by Deedar Singh Pardesi. Jagjit Singh-Chitra Singh, and Surinder Kaur, have also sung many of his poems [16]. 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 [17].

In 2004, Punjabi play titled Dardaan Da Darya based on the life of Shiv Kumar was performed at 'Punjab Kala Bhavan', Chandigarh [18].

In 2009, Hindi Film Love Aaj Kal was released with a hit song containing lyrics of Shiv's poem "Aaj din chariya tere rang warga".

[edit] Excerpts

Mainu Vida Karo (Bid Me Farewell)

I am going to not die in the season of youth,
I am going to depart without emptying my contents,
After completing a cycle of separation from you.[9]

[edit] 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

[edit] References

  1. ^ Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India, by Nalini Natarajan, Emmanuel Sampath Nelson. Greenwood Press, 1996. ISBN 0313287783. Page 258.
  2. ^ List of Punjabi language awardees Sahitya Akademi Award Official listings.
  3. ^ World Performing Arts Festival: Art students awed by foreign artists Daily Times (Pakistan), 16 November 2006.
  4. ^ Shiv Kumar The Tribune, 4 May 2003.
  5. ^ Pioneers of modern Punjabi love poetry The Tribune, 11 January 2004.
  6. ^ The Batala phenomenon Daily Times (Pakistan), 19 May 2004.
  7. ^ Shiv Kumar Batalvi's village Barapind, Where He was born - Web site of Barapind
  8. ^ Shiv Kumar Batalvi The Tribune, 30 April 2000.
  9. ^ a b Shiv Kumar Batalvi sikh-heritage.co.uk.
  10. ^ Sahitya Akademi Award – Punjabi 1957-2007 Sahitya Akademi Award Official listings.
  11. ^ Batalvi brought alive on death anniversary Indian Express, 6 May 2003.
  12. ^ Batalvi’s better half comes calling The Tribune, 8 May 2003.
  13. ^ “Birha da Sultan”. The Tribune, 7 May 2005. A name given by Amrita Pritam herself.
  14. ^ 7 Punjabi writers, folk singers honoured Tribune, 21 October 2003.
  15. ^ Shiv Kumar Batalvi Award Tribune, 16 April 2002.
  16. ^ Shiv Kumar Batalvi
  17. ^ Ek Kudi Jida Naa Mohabbat... Amazon.com.
  18. ^ In the deep sea of power, and poetry of pain, pathos Indian Express, 1 June 2004.

[edit] External links

Video links
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