Amrita Pritam (1919-2005)
Amrita Pritam was an Indian novelist, essayist and poet in Punjabi and Hindi Literature. She was one of the prominent figures in Indian literature. She authored hundreds of books in Punjabi and Hindi literature including collections of biography, poetry, novels and essays. She is well known for writing themes like love, loss, identity, feminism and the pain of partition of India.
Education
Amrita Pritam was as Amrit Kaur born on 31 August 1919 in Gujranwala ( now in Pakistan). She belonged to a Sikh family her father Kartar Singh Hitkari was a scholar and a poet and her mother Raj Bibi was a teacher. When her mother died she was just 11 years old then she and her father moved to Lahore where she began writing at a very young age.When she was only sixteen, her first collection of poems was published in 1936, named Amrit Lehran("Immortal Waves").
Personal Life
Amrita Pritam was married at a young age to Pritam Singh , but unluckily they were seperated . She kept his name Pritam as her last name. Her love for poet Sahir Ludhianvi is among the most well-known aspects of her life. The story of her love is expressed in her autobiography, Rasidi Ticket(Revenue Stamp). When another women came into Sahir's life, Amrita found comfort with Imroz, a artist and writer. She stayed with him more then 40 years. Imroz supporting her by his creative skills.
On 31 October 2005, she passed away at the age of 86 in New Delhi. She continued to write until her final years. Her legacy lives on through her poetry, novels and essays, leaving a lasting mark Indian literature.
Famous Poems
- Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu
- Main Tenu Phir Milangi
- Sunehade
- Kuch Bhi To Nahin
- Ik Si Anita
Famous Novels
- Pinjar(The Skeleton)
- Adalat
- Paar Padi
- Mira
- The Revenue Stamp (Rasidi Ticket)- Autobiography
Awards
- Sahitya Akademi Award (1956)
- Padam Shri (1969)
- Jnanpith Award (1981)
- Pdam Vibhusan (2004)
- Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
1."अकाल सिर्फ खेतों-खलिहानों में नहीं पड़ता, लोगों की आत्माओं में भी पड़ता है।"
3."तेरहवाँ-चौदहवाँ वर्ष, पता नहीं, कैसा होता है! यह शायद एक देहलीज़ होती है बचपन और जवानी के बीच|"
13."नारीवादी सिर्फ महिला नहीं है; वह कोई भी व्यक्ति है जो मन और हृदय की मुक्ति में विश्वास रखता है।"
15"मेरी कलम मेरी तलवार है, मेरे शब्द मेरी ढाल हैं।"
17."कभी-कभी मौन सबसे सार्थक बातचीत होती है।"
20."जब कोई पुरुष महिलाओं की शक्ति को नकारता है, तो वह अपने अवचेतन को नकार रहा होता है।"
21."जब औरत जागती है, तो इतिहास करवट लेता है।"