Much-feted Punjabi writer Gurdial Singh passes away at 83 - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Much-feted Punjabi writer Gurdial Singh passes away at 83

Hindustan Times | By, Bathinda
Aug 16, 2016 08:34 PM IST

Padma Shri awardee eminent Punjabi writer Gurdial Singh passed away on Tuesday after prolonged illness.

Padma Shri awardee Punjabi writer Gurdial Singh, 83, breathed his last after a prolonged illness at a private hospital in Bathinda on Tuesday.

Singh had been on ventilator support since August 13 after he had reportedly fell unconscious at his residence in Jaitu town of Faridkot district.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

OBIT | Gurdial Singh (1924-2016): Man who gave Punjabi fiction its first Dalit hero

An author of many memorable novels in which he exploited his local Malwai dialect to full advantage, his 1976 novel ‘Anhey Ghore Da Daan’ was made into a feature film by Gurvinder Singh; something for which the younger generation and a wider audience know him today. The film won four national awards, besides the Golden Peacock Award at the International Film Festival of India and the Black Pearl Trophy at the Abu Dhabi film festival.

Gurdial Singh. (HT File Photo)
Gurdial Singh. (HT File Photo)

He was one of the most celebrated Punjabi writers who focused on the economically and socially marginalised people in rural Punjab in his short stories and novels. Gurdial remained rooted in his hometown and did not move beyond Bathinda where he taught in the regional centre of Punjabi University.

He made a startling entry from short stories to his classic 1964 novel ‘Marhi da Deeva’ (The Last Flicker) which was adapted into a Punjabi film starring Deepti Naval, Raj Babbar and Parikshit Sahni in 1989. The widely-acclaimed film went on win a National Award. Marhi da Deeva had a Dalit sharecropper as the protagonist for the first time.

He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975, followed by the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1986, Shiromani Sahitkar award in 1992, Paash Award in 1995, Padma Shri in 1998 and Jnanpith Literary Award (shared with Hindi writer Nirmal Verma) in 2000, among many others.

Professor Gurmeet Singh, a family friend, who was also accompanying Gurdial’s family at hospital, said the ventilator support was removed on Tuesday morning after his body had stopped showing any signs of recovery. According to family members, Gurdial had cardiac arrest early this year and then complained of paralyses in other parts of body.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On