Gurdial Singh
| Gurdial Singh Rahi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 January 1933 Bhaini Fateh (near Jaitu), British Punjab |
| Occupation | Writer, Novelist |
| Known for | Marhi Da Deeva (1964) |
Gurdial Singh (Punjabi: ਗੁਰਦਿਆਲ ਸਿੰਘ) is a Punjabi writer, novelist[1] and story-writer from East Punjab (India). He started his literary career in 1957 with a short-story, Bhaganwale.[1] He became known as a novelist when he published the novel Marhi Da Deeva[2] in 1964. Surinder Singh directed a film, Marhi Da Deeva (1989), based on the novel.
Early life and career
Gurdial Singh was born on 10 January 1933 to father Jagat Singh and mother Nihal Kaur,[1] in the village of Bhaini Fateh (near Jaitu)[2] in British Punjab. He had to work hard because of his house's poverty. He started his literary career in 1957 with a short story, Bhaganwale,[1] which was published in Panj Darya, a magazine edited by Mohan Singh. His later stories were published in Preetlari, edited by Gurbaksh Singh. In 1964, his major work, Marhi Da Deeva, established him as a novelist. He has published 10 novels including Anhoe (1966), Addh Chanani Raat (1972), Anhe Ghore Da Daan (1976) and Parsa (1991), 12 collections of short stories including Saggi Phull (1962), Kutta Te Aadmi (1971), Begana Pind (1985) and Kareer Di Dhingri (1991) and translated more than 30 books. His novels Marhi Da Deeva and Addh Chanani Raat have been translated into English as The Last Flicker (by Sahitya Akademi) and Night Of The Half Moon (by Macmillan) respectively. National Book Trust has also published an English translation of his novel Parsa. Apart from novels and short stories he has also authored three plays, two prose works and nine books for children. Gurdial Singh is a former college professor.
Awards and honours
He have received about 17 awards including Gianpith award (in 1999),[1]Padma Shri, Shiromani Sahitkar Award, Punjab Sahitya Akademi Award (1979), the Soviet Land Nehru Award (1986), Bhai Veer Singh Fiction Award (1992)[1] and more.
- Best Fiction Book Award (Four times, in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972)
- Nanak Singh Novelist Award, 1975
- Sahitya Akademi Award, 1975
- Punjab Sahitya Akademy Award, 1979
- Soviet Land Nehru Award, 1986
- Punjabi Sahitya Akademy Award, 1989
- Shiromani Sahitkar Award, 1992
- Bhai Veer Singh Galap Puraskar, 1992
- Pash Award, 1995
- Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sahitya Samellan Samman, 1997
- Padam Shri, 1998
- Jnanpith Literary Award 2000
Novels
- (1964) Marhi Da Deeva; English translation: The Last Flicker
- (1966) Anhoe
- (1967) Rete Di Ikk Mutthi
- (1968) Kuwela
- (1972) Adh Chanini Raat; English translation: Night of the Half-Moon (1996)
- (1974) Aathan Uggan
- (1976) Anhe Ghore Da Daan
- (1982) Pauh Phutale Ton Pehlan
- (1999) Parsa; English translation" Parsa (1999)[1]
Short story collections
- (1962) Saggi Phul
- (1964) Chan Da Boota
- (1966) Upra Ghar
- (1971) Kutta Te Aadmi
- (1982) Masti Bota
- (1984) Rukhe Misse Bande
- (1985) Begana Pindh
- (1988) Chonvian Kahanian
- (1990) Pakka Tikana
- (1991) Kareer Di Dhingri
- (1992) Meri Pratinidhi Rachna[1]
Plays
- (1982) Farida, Ratin Wadian
- (1982) Vidayagi De Pichhon
- (1982) Nikki Moti Gal[1]
Prose
- (1988) Punjab De Mele Te Teohaar
- Lekhak Da Anubhav Te Sirjan Parkiriya
- (1999) Neean Mattiyan (Autobiography) Part-I, 1999
- (2000) Dojee Dehi (Autobiography) Part II[1]
Books for children
- (1960) Bakalam Khud
- (1963) Tuk Kho Laye Kawan
- (1971) Likhtam Baba Khema
- (1988) Baba Khema
- (1989) Gappian Da Pio
- (1990) Mahabharat
- Dharat Suhavi
- (1993) Tin Kadam Dharti
- (1993) Khate Mithe Lok[1]
