Shri Surjit Patar: Renowned Punjabi poet Surjit Patar, 79, who was awarded the Padma Shri, passed away morning on Saturday morning at his residence close to Barewal Colony.
According to Patar’s relatives, he died quietly while sleeping, as reported by PTI. Political leaders have expressed sadness over his passing, Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann calling it a “significant loss for the Punjabi literary world.”
Surjit Patar, acclaimed for his literary prowess, penned notable works including ‘Hawa Vich Likhe Harf’, ‘Hanere Vich Sulagdi Varanmala’, ‘Patjhar Di Pazeb’, ‘Lafzaan Di Dargah’, and ‘Surzameen’.
In recognition of his remarkable contributions to literature and education, Surjit Patar was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2012. He held esteemed positions such as the president of the Punjab Arts Council and previously served as the president of the Punjabi Sahit Akademi. Throughout his distinguished career, Patar was honored with prestigious accolades including the Sahitya Akademi Award, Panchnad Puruskar, Saraswati Samman, and the Kusumagraj Literary Award.
He graduated from Randhir College in Kapurthala after attending Patar Village in the Jalandhar district. At Guru Nanak Dev University, he worked toward his PhD in “Transformation of Folklore in Guru Nanak Vani.”
From Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, he retired as a professor of Punjabi.
In addition, Patar has translated into Punjabi the three tragedies of Federico Garcia Lorca, the play Nagmandala by Girish Karnad, and poems by Pablo Neruda and Bertolt Brecht.
Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the Punjab Congress chief, described it as an irreparable setback for Punjabi literature. He expressed, “We have lost our beloved Padma Shri S. Surjit Patar ji, who dedicatedly served the cause of the Punjabi language and elevated its presence on the global stage. The demise of Surjit Patar ji is profoundly sorrowful, marking an irreplaceable void in Punjabi literature. My sincere sympathies are with the deceased family during this trying time. May the divine grant solace to the noble soul.”
“End of an era, as renowned Punjabi writer and poet Padma Shri Surjit Patar Sahib has passed away today,” Amarinder Singh stated on X. My deepest sympathies go out to his family and his countless fans across the globe. Today, Punjab lost an icon.”
Sukhbir Singh Badal, the leader of Shiromani Akali Dal, stated that Patar’s passing has created a gap in the literary world.
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Patar Sahib was the most well-liked and well-known poet among Punjabis, second only to Shiv Batalvi. I offer his family and well-wishers my sincere sympathies,” Badal remarked.