Kartar Singh Duggal

Kartar Singh Duggal Biography

Kartar Singh Duggal was a prominent Indian writer of Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, and English languages. He has contributed to Indian literature in the form of 24 short story collections, 10 novels, 7 plays, seven works of literary criticism, two poetry collections and an autobiography. Many of his works have been translated to several languages. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 1988. In 2007, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship by Sahitya Akademi. Kartar has also served as Director of All India Radio. He has founded many institutions, including Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, Zakir Husain Educational Foundation and Institute of Social and Economic Change at Bangalore.

He was born in Dhamal, Rawalpindi District of British India on 1 March 1917.  Jiwan Singh Duggal and Satwant Kaur were his parents and he was married to Ayesha Jaffri, a physician. He completed M.A. Honours in English at Forman Christian College, Lahore and started his professional career with All India Radio in the year 1942. He worked till 1966 and served different posts including Station Director and writer. He has authored numerous plays for AIR. He joined National Book Trust in 1966 and worked till 1973 and held positions including secretary and director. From 1973 to 1976, he served as an Information Advisor at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Planning Commission).

Birth of a Song, Dangar, Nawan Ghar, Ikk Chhit Chananh Di, Come Back My Master, Tarkalan Vele and Sonar Bangla are his popular short stories. Veehveen Sadi te Hor Kavitaavaan and Kandhe Kandhe are included in his poetry collection. Sarad Poonam Ki Raat and Tere Bhanhe are among his popular novels

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Updated: January 21, 2014