Surjit Patar
The passing of Punjabi poet Surjit Patar has left a deep void in the world of Punjabi literature. The “ poet of the personal and political”, he mirrored in his writings, the harsh realities of existence as also the finer human emotions that give meaning to our lives. His poem, Hanera Jarega Kiven, and several other compositions attest his intense personal and political sensitivities in pursuit of a life of high purpose. As a “philosopher of the heart”, he kept alive in his writings our deepest yearnings, ensuring that private and social realities were not kept outside the language of our heart. At a time when public and personal sensitivities have coarsened, the loss of a gentle voice as society’s conscience keeper is irreparable. The eminent son of Punjab has enriched our cultural heritage and has done the nation proud.
Ashwani Kumar,
