Nand Lal Noorpuri

Nand Lal Noorpuri Biography

Nand Lal Noorpuri was a popular poet and lyricist of Punjabi language. He spent 35 years giving a lot of contributions to Punjabi literature. Yet throughout his life, he got only poverty in return and heartbroken with his own poverty and lack of support and recognition from the government, he jumped into a well and committed suicide on May 13, 1966. He was aged 60 then. Now his poems are regarded as valuable gems of Punjabi literature years after his death, and an annual award is being given to one singer or poet every year, given by Nand Lal Noorpuri Society. Its aim is to promote the works written by Noorpuri. Most recently, Sarbjit Cheema received this award for his song on female feticide.

Noorpuri was born in June 1906 in Noorpur of Layallpur district of British Punjab. His parents were Bishan Singh and Hukman Devi. His studies were done at Khalsa high school and Khalsa College in Layallpur. Before completing college studies, he started his career as a teacher. Later he did the job of assistant sub-inspector in Bikaner of Rajasthan. He has received bravery award while at service. He married Sumittra Devi and had 6 children. After partition, he settled at Jalandhar. In 1940, he left police job and started his career as a lyricist. Punjabi film Mangti is his most noted work and it made him a popular lyricist of Punjab as well.

Partition changed his life and destiny. He lost everything, job and possessions with the partition. He settled at Jalandhar. Later he attended poetic concerts and worked in radio station to earn a living. He wrote songs for many leading singers of the industry like Mohammad Rafi, Surinder Kaur, Narinder Biba, Asa Singh Mastana and Parkash Kaur. But throughout his life he strived with his poverty that resulted in his suicide. His creations Himala, Ganga and Rat are very popular. He has been called "Punjab’s greatest lyricist and poet". Bharthri Hari Bikramajit, Nal Damaayanti, Kesar Kiari and Noor Jahan Badshahbe are among his noted works.

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Updated: January 02, 2014