Humanistic Concerns in Punjabi Literature presents a selection of Punjabi writings in English translation that explores articulations on humaneness, justice and social issues. These poems, songs, stories, essays and plays span a vast historical period, from the twelfth century to the present. The questions they raise continue to preoccupy us today.
The book is part of the ‘Dakshinayan Indian Thought’ series of books curated by G N Devy, showcasing the plurality and diversity of Indian traditions.
The texts cover a range of themes and concerns, from the relationship between siblings to interactions within and between communities. The authors in this selection are some of the best-known in Punjabi literature, including winners of the Sahitya Akademi and Jnanpith awards (see Contents).
The brief biographical notes that introduce each author make evident the connections between literature and its social and political context.
The editors: Atamjit renowned playwright, has penned 38 plays. Harbhajan Singh Bhatia, Head and Professor, Punjabi Department, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
The translators: Vivek Sachdeva, Professor of English Literature and Film Studies, Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi
Pushpinder Syal, former Professor, Department of English and Cultural Studies, Punjab University, Chandigarh
Swaraj Raj, former Professor, Department of English, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib
Madhvi Kataria, retired officer of Indian Administrative Service
Publisher’s Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. Folklore
3. Medieval Poetry Sheikh Farid Shah Hussain Sultan Bahu Bulleh Shah Wajeed Bhagat Namdev Dhanna Bhagat Bhagat Pipa Bhagat Kabir Bhagat Beni Bhagat Ravidas Guru Nanak Guru Arjan Dev Guru Gobind Singh Bhai Gurdas Waris Shah Hashim Shah Shah Mohammad
4. Modern Poetry Bhai Veer Singh Dhani Ram Chatrik Prof. Puran Singh Heera Singh ‘Dard’ Babu Rajab Ali Diwan Singh ‘Kalepani’ Firoz Deen Sharaf Prof. Mohan Singh Nand Lal Nurpuri Ustaad Daaman Ishwar Chitarkar Sharif Kunjahi Bawa Balwant Pritam Singh Safir Amrita Pritam Harbhajan Singh Ahmed Rahi Jaswant Singh Neki Tara Singh Gurcharan Rampuri Mannu Bhai Rauf Sheikh Sohan Singh Meesha Jagtar Harbhajan Hundal Shiv Kumar Batalvi Ravinder Ravi Navtej Bharti Mohanjit Sant Ram Udaasi Ajaib Singh Hundal Ajmer Rode Gurumel Satinder Singh Noor Dr. S. Tarsem Harbhajan Halwarvi Ravinder Bhathal Fakhar Zamaan Lal Singh Dil Ahmed Salim Surjit Patar Beeba Balwant Sain Akhtar Lahori Iqbal Ramoowalia Parminderjeet Sulakhan Sarhadi Dev Amitoj Shaista Habib Jagtar Dhaa Baba Najmi Devinder Kaur Amar Jyoti Paash Surinder Dhanjal Dr Ravinder Manjit Indra Darshan Bulandwi Ambrish Sukhwinder Kamboj Gurbhajan Singh Gill Vanita Darshan Buttar Hardial Sagar Jaswant Deed Nirupama Dutt Sant Sandhu Lakhwinder Johal Paul Kaur Jaswinder Varinder Parihar Vijay Vivek Surjit Jajj Swaranjit Savi Sukhpal Gurmeet Kallarmajri Parminder Sodhi Barjinder Chauhan Gurtej Koharwala Satish Gulati Manmohan Sukhwinder Amrit Amarjeet Kaunke Jaswant Zafar Neeru Aseem Tariq Gujjar Swami Antar Nirav Neetu Arora Sabir Ali Sabir
5. Fiction Nanak Singh Gurmukh Singh Musafir Sant Singh Sekhon Jaswant Singh Kanwal Sujaan Singh Kartar Singh Duggal Santokh Singh Dheer Kulwant Singh Virk Ram Saroop Ankhi Manmohan Bawa Gurdial Singh Ajeet Kaur Raghubir Dhand Gulzar Singh Sandhu Dalip Kaur Tiwana Gurbachan Singh Bhullar Afzal Ahsan Randhawa Mohan Bhandari Jasbir Bhullar Kirpal Kazak Baldev Singh Moga Waryam Singh Sandhu Khalid Hussain Mitter Sen Meet
6. Drama I. C. Nanda Harcharan Singh Balwant Gargi Harsaran Singh Gursharan Singh Charan Das Sidhu Ajmer Singh Aulakh Atamjit Swaraj Bir Pali Bhupinder Singh Kewal Dhaliwal
7. Prose Teja Singh Gurbax Singh Preetlarhi Bhagat Singh Harinder Singh Roop Balraj Sahni Pritam Singh Giani Gurdit Singh Gurbachan Narinder Singh Kapoor Harpal Singh Pannu Balbir Madhopuri
Glossary