INTRODUCTION
During the British rule over India the Indian literature did not get so much space to build it up. In 1856 when the Education Department was organised by the company the Punjabi literature got ignored. After Punjab got annexed the new ideas and techniques were introduced in Punjabi Literature. With many scholars on board the new literature flourished in different fields of Poetry, drama and prose.
CONTRIBUTION OF BHAI VIR SINGH :-
- FIRST PUNJABI EPIC :- In 1905, Bhai Vir Singh serialised the tracts of Rana Surat Singh , the first Punjabi Epic written in blank verse of Sirkhand variety. The long narration of 14,000 lines depicts the imaginative situation of sikhs through a symbolic tale of a widowed queen in quest of her lost paradise.
- POEMS :- Apart from publication of books he looked forward to the field of poetry. His major poetic works include: Matak Hulare. Billion De Har, Tarel Tupke, Legrand De Har etc.
- NOVELS :- He wrote romantic novels. His major work includes; Sundari Bijay Singh, Satvant Kaur, which aimed at reciting heroic periods of sikh history.
- AWARDS AND HONOURS :- He was honoured by the degree of 'Doctor of Oriental Learning' by Panjab University, nominated as Vidhan Sabha Parishad by the government, honoured by 'Padma Bhushan Award' .
CONTRIBUTION OF AMRITA PRITAM :
- SOCIAL ISSUE :- she wrote about evil practices like dowry, bigamy and exploitation of women. She also criticised British rule in her work 'Lok Peeran'.
- MAJOR WORKS :- Her major work as novelist includes; Pinjore, Puro, an epitome of violence against women, Kaal Chetna, Kala Gulab, Aksharon Kay Saaye and Agyat Ka Nimantran, etc.
- JOURNALS :- Nagami was her monthly magazine in Punjabi. It also helped in establishing careers of various writers including Shiv Kumar Batalvi, Manjit Tiwana and more.
- AWARDS :- She was the first woman to win the Sahitya Akademi Award, she received the Bhartiya Jnanpith and also Padma Shri Award and Padma Bhushan Award.
CONTRIBUTION OF SHIV KUMAR BATALVI :-
- WORKS :- his major works include; Peeran da paraga, Kandhari tho Har, Lajwanti, Mainu Vida Karo, Garbhvati, and Atte dian chirian etc. .
- IMPORTANT MASTERPIECES :- His one of the great works published in 1965 was "Luna" . In this he portrays the tragedy of helplessness of the Indian women who remained at the mercy of her men folk. Another great work was Main Te Main was published in 1970 which is a long seventy five pages of unique Punjabi poetry. Another section of the poem was published in 1971 titled aa Arti .
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it is concluded that there were various great scholars who by their works made great progress in literature. Three of them contributed a lot in Punjabi Literature and were honoured by great awards. They wrote different poems, novels in a variety of styles and themes which made their efforts highly appreciable.
BOOK REFERENCE ( CLICK TO BUY )
The Sikhs of the Punjab (The New Cambridge History of India)