Punjabi MaNboli Writers

Punjabi MaNboli Likhari

We want to represent as many Punjabi MaNboli writers at Uddari as there are. Please send information for this page to uddari@live.ca

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8. Mazhar Tirmazi
7. Surjeet Kalsey
6. Najm Hosain Syed
5. Roop Dhillon
4. Amrita Pritam
3. Mansha Yaad
2. Nadir Ali
1. Ajmer Rode

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8. Mazhar Tirmazi, London

British Punjabi poet Mazhar Tirmazi is a distinct voice in modern Punjabi literature as he explores the theme of separation from the homeland with persistence, and in all its manifestations till it evolves into a constant longing for the lost/unatainable.

Author of four collections of poetry, Tirmazi’s work is a part of the curriculum in Punjabi language courses at Chandigargh University; his play on partition titled ‘A Lifetime on Tiptoes – Healing the Wounds of Partition’ has been performed/read in English, Wellish and Punjabi in India, Pakistan and UK. He is a recipient of the British parliamentary award ‘Punjabis in Britain’ that recognizes poetic acumen, linguistic ability and promotion of Punjabi culture. And most important, Tirmazi is the author of a beautiful and popular song ‘UmraN LangiaN PabaN Bhaar’ (a lifetime on tiptoes).

His published work includes ‘Jag da Sufna’ (dream of awakening), ‘Thandi Bhubal’ (cold ashes), ‘Kaya Kagad’ (1998) and ‘Dooja Hath Sawali’ (2001). His poetry also features in Kings College anthology ‘Mother Tongues’, and in a collection of underground poems titled ‘Waiting Room’.

Tirmazi has worked as a journalist in London for Urdu-English bilingual daily newspaper Awaaz International and Akbar Wattan, and has organized conferences to promote Punjabi language in Britain and Australia.

Born 1950 in Sahiwal, Tirmazi moved to UK in 1975, and now lives in London with his family. Contact Mazhar Tirmazi at: mazhartirmazi@yahoo.co.uk

More information here:
www.poetrymagazines.org.uk
www.bbc.co.uk
www.ajoka.org.pk
apnaorg.com/Chitrkar/Mazhar/
apnaorg.com/poetry/mazhar/gurmukhi

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7. Surjeet Kalsey, Vancouver

Surjeet Kalsey is an accomplished Punjabi Canadian author of poetry, short fiction and drama. In her writings, Surjeet explores the lives of Punjabi Canadian women and communities from aware ‘immigrant’ perspectives.

Surjeet began her career as a poet in 1979 with a collection of Punjabi poetry titled Paunan Nal Guftagoo (Chandigarh 1979), and has since published six books of poetry with Naam Tiharey (Amritsar 2006) being the latest. From 1994 to now, Surjeet has given us four collections of short fiction in Punjabi and English; has written and staged seven Punjabi plays; produced countless articles and dissertations on history, literature and the status of Punjabi women in Canada.

As well, Surjeet has a passion for healing practices, and has made ongoing contributions in this area of her work. She is most involved with the creation of therapeutic drama by developing scripts and staging plays through interactive and healing group processes.

Surjeet has played pioneering role in developing Punjabi literary and cultural communities in British Columbia and Canada.

In 2005, Surjeet was awarded by Calagry Punjabi Sahit Sabha for her achievements.

Surjeet Kalsey: List of awards and book titles

More photos in Uddari Photo Album

More here

BC author Bank

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6. Najm Hosain Syed, Lahore

Najm Hosain Syed, lahore 1999

Poet, Playwright, Linguist and Literary Critic Najm Hosain Syed is unique for having created the greatest positive impact on Punjabi literature, language, and the movement for the integrity of Punjabi in West Punjab.

The author of over 22 literary titles, Najm Hosain Syed runs weekly ‘Sangat Shah Husain’ since the Seventies, a literary gathering that is may be the highest school of learning that Pakistan can offer. Classic Punjabi poets such as Shah Madhulal Husain, Bulleh Shah, Gurunanak, Waris Shah and Damoodar are read, interpreted and discussed line by line over months and years.

Such schooling has produced most of what we now have in Punjabi writing and publishing. Suchet Kitab Ghar and Monthly Pancham published by Editor Maqsood Saqib and Faiza, Kitab Tarinjan operated by Author Zubair Ahmad, and Rut Lekha are the kind of fine organizations that are supported by Najm Syed. Earlier, he had encouraged the establishment of the first educational institution in Lahore to teach Punjabi at a graduate and post-graduate level, the Shah Husain College.

Below are links to the renderings of some of Najm Hosain Syed’s poetry and plays, and to more information about him.

Read excerpts from ‘Recurrent Patterns of Punjabi Poetry’ by Najm Hosain Syed at APNA

View the Cover Page of 1976 Edition of ‘Recurrent Patterns of Punjabi Poetry’

A Profile of Najm Hosain Syed by Zubair Ahmad (PDF)

Listen to a dramatic rendering of Najm Hosain Syed’s play “Dullae de Var” at Lahore Chitrkar

Hear Ayesha Ali Sing Najm Hosain Syed’s ‘Kuchi Neendrae’ and Va Sah Tainda

More Photos in the Photo Album

‘Najm Hosain Syed: A Portrait’ by Iqbal Rashid at Uddari Art Exhibition

Photo by Amarjit Chandan

View the extended version of this introduction
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5. Roop Dhillon, UK

Author Roop Dhillon

Roop Dhillon, full name Rupinderpal Singh Dhillon, was born and raised in the UK but was influenced by Punjabi language since childhood. However, he was not allowed to learn the language as his father felt it served no purpose or use. Instead Roop was encouraged to focus on English Literature. Roop wrote his first poem, Pater Dominus in 1989. Since then he has written and published several pieces of prose and poetry in English.

In 1999, he encountered Punjabi literature and culture in a Sikh exhibition, and began writing The Annexation, an English novel about Sikhs but the research made him learn to read and write Punjabi. “This particularly occurred because Professor Khushwant Singh commented that Punjabi was a weak language with insufficient words to describe things. This annoyed me, and I went on a mission to create new words to describe my modern urban environment. This led me to write my first Punjabi novel, Neela Noor, written as a western style novel with anglicized Punjabi grammar reflecting my peers’ use of the language. It is the first Punjabi novel published in the UK; and, it is also significant in that it is secular, set in Pakistan, India and Europe” Dhillon said in an email interview.

Along with The Annexation, Dhillon is working on a Punjabi Sci-Fi Novel set in Southall. He wants to be involved in the development of Punjabi Literature encouraging his peers and younger western born Punjabis to experiment with Punjabi in reflecting their experiences and beliefs. “This” he believes “will enrich Punjabi Sahit”.

Roop has a Management Degree from Oxford Brookes University and a Masters in Design and Manufacture from De Montfort. He is affiliated to the ACCA, being an Accountant by profession. He lives in England.

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4. Amrita Pritam (Gujranwala 1919 – New Delhi 2005)

Amrita Pritam, Poet Novelist, New Delhi 1948

Amrita Pritam began writing at an early age, and her first collection of poetry was published when she was sixteen. From there she went on to create the most impressive body of work in Punjabi literature through her poetry, novel, short story and autobiography.

Amrita published thirteen books, eight of them novels, and received Sahitya Academy Award for ‘Sunehe‘ in 1956, Bhartiya Jnanpith literary award for ‘Kagaj te Canvas‘ in 1982, Padma Vibhushan and D Litt degrees from the universities of Delhi and Jabalpur, and from Vishva Bharti University.

Amrita’s novel ‘Pinjar‘ has been made into a movie by director Chandra Prakash Dwivedi. The French version of this novel won the La Route des Indes Literary Prize in France while its film was awarded the Screen and Zee Telefilms Award. Amrita also was the founder and editor of a monthly Punjabi literary journal ‘Nagmani’ (1966-2003).

More information:

www.languageinindia.com
Listen to Amrita read ‘Aj aakhaN Waris Shah nooN’

Books by Amrita Pritam

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3. Mansha Yaad, Islamabad

Mansha Yaad, Fiction Writer, Islamabad 1990

Mohammad Mansha Yaad was born in 1937 in Sheikhupura, Punjab Pakistan. He writes short stories, novels and columns in both Punjabi and Urdu. He has contributed to most literary journals in the country, and his screenplays have been produced by Pakistan Television.

Mansha Yaad is the author of twenty one books including award winning novel ‘Tawan TawaN Tara‘ (Masud Khadarposh Award and Waris Shah Award for 1998), and a collection of short fiction ‘Wagda Paani‘ (Waris Shah Award 1987). He also won a Pride of Performance from the Pakistan Government in 2004 for his literary contributions.

Mansha Yaad lives in Islamabad. For more information, visit Yaad’s websites:
www.manshayaad.com
manshayaad.tripod.com
Also view the website of Halqa Arbab-e-Zauq Islamabad, an organization Yaad founded in 1972.
halqa1.tripod.com
Contact Mansha Yaad at: manshayaad@hotmail.com

Tamasha and Other Stories

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2. Nadir Ali, Lahore

Nadir Ali, Writer of Short Fiction, Lahore 2007

Introduction and Photo by Moazam

Retired in the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1974, Nadir Ali has been involved ever since in Punjabi writing and Punjabi language movement. He settled down in Lahore and since 1974 has been a regular member of the Sangat at the residence of Najm Hosain Syed. He started writing for the daily Frontier Post and later, for The News in Lahore on the subject of Punjabi bhakti/sufi poetry. He continues to be a columnist and book reviewer for The News.

He lived in New York from 1984 to 1989 and was a member of the Saahat Sangat in New York. There he mostly read his poetry which was collected and published, Bol Jhutay te Suchay (1989). He writes short stories in Punjabi of which three collections have been published so far.

His last collection Kahani Praga was given the Waris Shah Memorial Award as the best book of the year in Punjabi in 2005 by Pakistan Academy of Letters. A few of his short stories have been translated into English and Urdu. Also, Lahore Television dramatized his story Ik Maani DaaniyaaN Di in 1999.

First published as An Afternoon with Nadir Ali by Moazam.

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1. Ajmer Rode, Vancouver

Ajmer Rode, Poet/Playwright, Vancouver 2008

Ajmer Rode is a Punjabi Canadian author living in Vancouver BC. A poet, playwright, translator and a cultural activist he writes both in English and Punjabi. Rode is one of the poets whose work has been added to Poetryinternationalweb with eight of his poems in English along with Punjabi translations. One of the poems ‘Kalli’ reflecting on the bonding between human and animal life in Punjab, received special attention from editors. The poem was also displayed with a painting Homecoming in a Surrey Arts Gallery exhibition (Jarnail Singh – Discovering the soul of Punjab) in 2004.

Atamjit Singh, a well known writer in India, has written a befitting piece on Rode published in Hindustan Times. View it here: MELTING ‘S’POT – Verse expanse

View Rode’s website at: www.ajmerrode.ca

A fast one here: www.ryerson.ca/

More information: www.geocities.com

Writers Union profile: http://www.writersunion.ca/ww_profile.asp?mem=937&L=

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South Asian Canadian Authors