Shiv Kumar Batalvi

Shiv Kumar Batalvi was a Punjabi Poet, Lyricist, and Playwright. He was born in Barapind, Punjab, India, on 24th July 1936, in the household of Pandit Krishan Gopal, a village tahsildar, and Shanti Devi. After the partition of India in 1947, his family moved to Batala, Gurdaspur District; he was 11 years old at that time. He was a dreamy and imaginative child from the beginning, often found lying under the trees and gazing at the daytime sky. In 1953, he completed his graduation from Panjab University, and then he joined an F. Sc. program at Baring Union Christian College. Afterward, he joined an Arts Program in the S.N College, Qadian but, he left it in the second year.

Shiv Kumar Batalvi was known for his poetry, which portrayed love, passion, separation, and lover's agony. His poems are considered masterpieces of Punjabi Literature. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1965 for 'Loona,' a verse play inspired by the legend Puran Bhagat. His publications have received critical acclaim. Publications like Piran da Paraga (1960), Lajwanti (1961), Mainu Vida Karo (1963), Darmandan Diyan Aahin (1964), Birha Tu Sultan (1964), Main Te Main (1970), Aarti (1971) are the most noteworthy.

He died in 1973 in his village. Even after death, he is still considered one of the greatest poets, and the 'Shiv Kumar Batalbvi Award' for the best writer is bestowed on young writers each year. On the 75th anniversary of the poet of Punjab, the Shiv Kumar Batalvi Auditorium was built in Batala.

Over the years, many of his poems were featured in movies, songs, etc. In 2004, Rabbi Shergill used one of Batalvi's poems, 'Ishtihar.' His poem 'Ajj Din Chhadeya Tere Rang Varga' was adapted into a song featured in Love Aaj Kal Click to look into! >> Read More... (2009). Udta Punjab Click to look into! >> Read More... , a very successful film released in 2016, used Batlava's poem "Ikk Kudi Jihda Naam Mohabbat Ghum Hai" and adapted it to a song named "Ikk Kudi."