Punjabi Author Amrit Pritam

 Amrit Pritam : - 31 August 1919 – 31 October 2005 was an Indian writer and poet, who wrote in Punjabi and Hindi. She is considered the first prominent woman Punjabi poet, novelist, and essayist, and the leading 20th-century poet of the Punjabi language, who is equally loved on both sides of the India-Pakistan border. With a career spanning over six decades, she produced over 100 books of poetry, fiction, biographies, essays, a collection of Punjabi folk songs and an autobiography that were translated into several Indian and foreign languages.

She is most remembered for her poignant poem, Ajj aakhaan Waris Shah nu (Today I invoke Waris Shah – "Ode to Waris Shah"), anelegy to the 18th-century Punjabi poet, an expression of her anguish over massacres during the partition of India. As a novelist, her most noted work was Pinjar (The Cage) (1950), in which she created her memorable character, Puro, an epitome of violence against women, loss of humanity and ultimate surrender to existential fate; the novel was made into an award-winning film, Pinjar in 2003.

When the former British India was partitioned into the independent states of India and Pakistan in 1947, she migrated from Lahore, to India, though she remained equally popular in Pakistan throughout her life, as compared to her contemporaries like Mohan Singh and Shiv Kumar Batalvi.

Known as the most important voice for the women in Punjabi literature, in 1956, she became the first woman to win the Sahitya Akademi Award for her magnum opus, a long poem, Sunehade (Messages), later she received the Bharatiya Jnanpith, one of India's highest literary awards, in 1982 for Kagaz Te Canvas (The Paper and the Canvas). The Padma Shri came her way in 1969 and finally, Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, in 2004, and in the same year she was honoured with India's highest literary award, given by the Sahitya Akademi (India's Academy of Letters), the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship given to the "immortals of literature" for lifetime achievement.

Famous Novels : - 

Pinjar : -  Punjabi , Urdu ,Hindi , English/Translation: The Skeleton is a 1950 Punjabi novel written by noted poet and novelist Amrita Pritam. It is the story of a Hindu girl, Puro, abducted by a Muslim guy, Rashid  whose parents refuse to recover the defiled girl when she manages a run to her parents from Rashid's home. Pinjar is believed to be one of the best literatures written with backdrop of Partition of India.

Plot Summery : -  Pinjar tells the story of Puro, a young Hindu woman who is betrothed to a young man, Ramchand. A Muslim, Rashid kidnaps her as his family has an ancestral dispute with Puro's family. One night, Puro manages to escape back to her parents, but her parents turn her away, explaining that if she stays, Rashid's Muslim clan would arrive and slaughter everyone. Left with no support, Puro returns to Rashid. Meanwhile, the British colonialists leave India under the effects of partition. Ramchand, his uncle, mother, cousin and sister (Lajo) leave for India after they found Ramchand's father missing in the Hindu-Muslim riots after partition.

Shortly after, Lajo is kidnapped by thugs, Puro meets Ramchand and who tells her about Lajjo. Puro finds Lajo and helps her escape with Rashid's help. They leave with Lajo for Lahore where Puro's brother, Trilok and Ramchand come to receive her. Trilok explains to her that she can start a new life with Ramchand as he is still ready to accept her. Puro refuses to go back to her home, saying that she is where she belongs. Puro seeks Rashid out and tearfully bids Ramchand, Trilok, and Lajo farewell forever.

This novel not only depicts the "Partition of India" but also describes the struggle of a woman and her helplessness very powerfully. As such, the novel is constructed at two levels. One at inner conscious level of Puro where she always fights with her thoughts, between her hatred and gradually developed affection towards Rashid (initially kidnaper, her husband and father of her children), her helplessness and pity on her fate. At other level this novel highlights the situation and status of Indian women living in rural areas.

This is one of the best works By Amrita Pritam.