Gurdial Singh

Gurdial Singh Biography

Gurdial Singh is a Punjabi writer, novelist and story-writer from East Punjab. He was awarded Jnanpith award in the year 1999 along with Hindi writer, Nirmal Verma for his overall contributions to Punjabi literature. He started his literary career in 1957 with a short-story, Bhaganwale. In 1964, he published his first novel, Marhi Da Deeva, based on which a Punjabi film was made in the year 1989.

Gurdial Singh was born on 10 January 1933 as the son of Jagat Singh and Nihal Kaur in a poor family in Punjab. He had worked as a college professor. His first short story was published in Panj Darya, a magazine edited by Mohan Singh. Later he published many short stories in Preetlari. However in 1964, he published his first major work in the form of a novel - Marhi Da Deeva. After that he published 9 novels till now. Among those published novels Anhoe (1966), Addh Chanani Raat (1972), Anhe Ghore Da Daan (1976) and Parsa (1991) are most popular. He published 12 collection of short stories of which most popular ones are Saggi Phull (1962), Kutta Te Aadmi (1971), Begana Pind (1985) and Kareer Di Dhingri (1991). He has also translated 30 books in his literary career. Many of his novels including Parsa, Marhi Da Deeva and Addh Chanani Raat have been translated to English by different publications as well. Three plays, two prose works and nine books for children have also been added in his credit.

He has written three plays till now and all were written in the year 1982. Farida Ratin Wadian, Vidayagi De Pichhon and Nikki Moti Gal are those works. His prose collections are equally popular. A few of the best works include - Punjab De Mele Te Teohaar, Lekhak Da Anubhav Te Sirjan Parkiriya, Neean Mattiyan and Dojee Dehi. His latest two works, Neean Mattiyan and Dojee Dehi are autobiography works in two parts.      

Published: N/A

Updated: November 20, 2013