WARIS SHAH (Punjabi: ,

) (17221798) was a Punjabi Sufi poet, renowned for his

contribution to Punjabi literature. He is best known for his seminal work Heer Ranjha, based on the traditional folk tale of Heer and her lover Ranjha. Heer is considered one of the quintessential works of classical Punjabi literature. The story of Heer was also told by several other writersincluding notable versions by Damodar Das, Mukbal, and Ahmed Gujjarbut Waris Shah's version is by far the most popular today. Background Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab, Pakistan into a reputed Syed family who claimed descent from prophet Muhammad. His father's name was Gulshar Shah. Waris Shah acknowledged himself as a disciple of Pir Makhdum of Kasur. Waris Shah's parents are said to have died when he was young, and he probably received his education at the shrine of his preceptor. After completing his education in Kasur, he moved to Malka Hans, a village twelve kilometers north of Pakpattan. Here he resided in a small room, adjacent to a historic masjid, now called Masjid Waris Shah. His mausoleum is a place of pilgrimage today, especially for those in love. Shakespeare of Punjabi language Waris Shah is also called Shakespeare of the Punjabi language because of his great poetic love story, Heer Ranjha. Some critics say that through this story of romantic love, he tried to portray the love of man for God (the quintessential subject of Sufi literature).

SHIV KUMAR 'BATALVI' (Punjabi: ) (19361973) 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] Biography Shiv Kumar was born in a Saraswat Brahmin 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),[7] 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.[8] 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.

SAHIR LUDHIANVI (Urdu: ; Devanagari:

) (8 March 1921 25 October 1980) was a popular Urdu poet and Hindi lyricist and songwriter. Sahir Ludhianvi is his pseudonym. He won the Filmfare Award twice, in 1964 and 1977, and in 1971 was awarded the Padma Shri.[1][2]

Personality It was ironically appropriate; while the poet's heart bled for others, he never paid enough attention to his own life. His friend, Prakash Pandit once recalled how, after the Partition of India, Sahir was unhappy without the company of his Hindu and Sikh friends (they had all fled to India). A secular India was Sahir's preference to an Islamic Pakistan.[12] Sahir Ludhianvi was known to be very egotistic[citation needed], perhaps as a result of his zamindar background; he fought for, and became the first lyricist or songwriter, to get royalties from music companies. Sahir insisted on writing the songs before the song was composed, against the Bollywood norm. However, some of his songs were written after the tunes were ready. For example, (Naya Daur 1957 - music by O.P. Nayyar). At the height of his popularity, Sahir is known to have demanded a rupee more than what was paid to Lata Mangeshkar for singing it. It was on Sahir's insistence that All India Radio started crediting lyricists along with singers and music composers for songs it aired. Famous works

English translations of Sahir's poetry: LUDHIANVI, Sahir (19211980) SHADOWS SPEAK tr. with intro. Khwaja Ahmad Abbas {Abbas, Khwaja Ahmad} pref. Sajjad Zaheer {Zaheer, Sajjad} English text only. P.P.H. Bookstall (Bombay) 129pp (intro. 7-12) 1958 paper only. THE BITTER HARVEST tr. Rifat Hassan {Hassan, Rifat} Urdu & English texts. Aziz Publishers (Lahore) 169pp (pref. i-iii) 1977 cloth only. SORCERY/ (Sahir) tr. with pref. Sain Sucha {Sucha, Sain} Urdu & English texts. Vudya Kitaban Forlag (Sollentuna, Sweden) 114pp (pref. 1-6, essay in Urdu 106-114) 1989 paper only. Gaata jaye Banjara - A Collection of film lyrics

AMRITA PRITAM (Punjabi: , ( ) August 31, 1919 October 31, 2005) was a Punjabi
writer and poet, considered the first prominent woman Punjabi poet, novelist, and essayist, and the leading 20thcentury 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 produced over 100 books, of poetry, fiction, biographies, essays, a collection of Punjabi folk songs and an autobiography that were translated into several Indian and foreign languages.[1][2] She is most remembered for her poignant poem, Aj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu (Today I invoke Waris Shah - "Ode to Waris Shah"), an elegy to the 18th-century Punjabi poet, an expression of her anguish over massacres during the partition of India. As a novelist her most noted work was Pinjar (The Skeleton) (1950), in which she created her memorable character, Puro, an epitome of violence against women, loss of humanity and ultimate surrender to existential fate; the novel was made into an award-winning film, Pinjar in 2003.[3][4] When the former British India was partitioned into the independent states of India and Pakistan in 1947, she migrated from Lahore, to India, though she remained equally popular in Pakistan throughout her life, as compared to her contemporaries like Mohan Singh and Shiv Kumar Batalvi. Known as the most important voice for the women in Punjabi literature, in 1956, she became the first woman to win the Sahitya Akademi Award for her magnum opus, a long poem, Sunehe (Messages),[5] later she received the Bhartiya Jnanpith, one of India's highest literary awards, in 1982 for Kagaz Te Canvas (The Paper and the Canvas). The Padma Shri came her way in 1969 and finally, Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, in 2004, and in the same year she was honoured with India's highest literary award, given by the Sahitya Akademi (India's Academy of Letters), the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship given to the "immortals of literature" for lifetime achievement.[6]

DR. DALIP KAUR TIWANA is a foremost novelist and short-story writer of contemporary Punjabi
literature. Biography She was born at village Rabbon in the Ludhiana district of Punjab in 1935. She did her M.A. and Ph.D. in Punjabi literature from the Panjab University, Chandigarh.[1] She worked as Professor of Punjabi in the Punjabi Department of Punjabi University, Patiala.[2] Collection Tiwana wrote her first, novel, Agni prikhya (The ordeal of fire), which was followed by a chain of novels; Vat hamari (Our path, 1970), Teeli da nishan (Mark of nose-pin, 1971), Suraj te samundar (Sun and ocean, 1972), Doosri Sita (Second Sita, 1975), Sarkandeya de desh (The land of reeds), Dhup, chhan te rukh (Sun shade and trees, 1976), Lammi udari (A long flight), and her latest novel Peele patian di dastan (The tale of yellow leaves). Apart from these novels, Tiwana has written an autobiography entitled Nange peran da safar (Travelling on bare feet).[3] Tiwana has also published six short-story collections: Sadhana (Endeavour), Yatra (Pilgrimage), Kise di dhee (Someone's daughter), Ik kuri (A girl), Tera kamra mera kamra (Your room my room) and Malan (Gardener's wife). Her short-stories have been translated into English, Hindi and Urdu and published in various journals and included in anthologies. The characters in Tiwana's novels and short-stories are the downtrodden and the innocent rural folk with suppressed desires and passions. Tragedy and irony mark the main elements of her fiction. Complex inner duality of the female psyche is the chief theme of Tiwana. Besides her achievement in fiction, Tiwana has written two books on literary criticism too.

PARAMJIT KAUR SIRHIND (Punjabi: , Hindi: ), a Punjabi

writer, was born in town of Dhuri, Punjab, India. She writes poems and articles related to Punjabi culture. In June 2009, her first book of poetry "Kehnu Dard Sunava" was released. Her articles, poems and stories are published in Punjabi periodicals on an almost daily basis. Writings She has published several poems/articles in many reputed Punjabi newspaper; Punjabi Tribune (80 items), Desh Sewak (30 items)and Desh Videsh Times (25 items). Besides these periodicals, her articles, poems, songs and stories have been published in Nawan Jamana, Ajit, Jag Bani and Akali Patrika. Overseas newspapers such as Sikh Virsa, Dastak, Road Times USA, Media Punjab, Chardi Kala (Edmonton), Sant Sipahi, Sant Phulvari, Mehakh Watan Di, Lohmani, Rubaru, Ashiana, Pratimaan, Viishav Ekta, Karumblan, Soo l Surahi and Nirmal Dehi have also published her work. Her first book of poetry Kehnu Dard Sunava was released June 2009.[1] Her next book Channan Di Nanakshak[2] was published by Lokgeet Parkashan, Chandigarh in January 2010.[3] Channan Di Nanakshak gives a detailed description of Punjabi culture and customs. Her forthcoming book, containing her articles, is also ready for publication under title Karrni De Dudh Varge Rishtey. Her next two books "Punjabi Saabhiyachar De Nkash" and "Ambre Tukre" were released by Punjab education minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan at Fatehgarh Sahib on March 13, 2011.