On Batalvi’s 47th death anniversary, his family members go down the lanes of nostalgiaVerses from the heart

Sharma

Asan tan joban rutte marna (I am to die young)…

The popular poem by legendary Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi reflects how he had a premonition about his death. As he had written, Batalvi left for his heavenly abode on May 6, 1973, at a young age of 36.

The youngest-ever recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award for his epic verse play Loona in 1967, Batalvi has about 10 publications to his credit besides several articles, some of which were published later by his wife, Aruna Batalvi, and son Dr Meharban Batalvi, who holds a doctorate in Punjabi literature. The extended family of Batalvi has shifted to Calgary, Canada, while his daughter, Dr Pooja Jaidev, a Phd in Economics, is already settled in Chicago, USA.

The family members pour their heart out on his 47th death anniversary.

He is still with me

Aruna Shiv Batalvi (74), wife

After our arranged marriage was solemnised on February 5, 1967, at my village, Kiri Mangyal, Shiv showered his love on me and later our children. He never brought his celebrity status home and was very loving; we were the happiest family even during adversity.

He is not gone, but still with me. It was the strength and force of his love that I always felt proud in sacrificing my comforts to impart the best of education to our children, which was his cherished desire. Both my son and daughter hold doctoral degrees. In fact, Shiv used to write what came to his mind and his wish to educate our children is written on a school notebook of our son. After his demise, his admirers gave us genuine support for which I remain indebted always. I express my gratitude to all literary souls who have kept Shiv Kumar Batalvi alive!

Deep emotion

Dr Meharbaan Batalvi (53), son

At the age of five, I was too young and naïve to understand poetry, but relished his singing; he had a melodious voice. Papa’s friends used to visit us and listened to his recorded poetry; many of them even wept profusely. This really surprised me till I grew up to realise the poignancy in his verses. I am still analysing their philosophical content! I come across many reports regarding making of a film on Shiv Kumar Batalvi, but no offer of merit has come up so far. We would welcome a genuine one.

A loving soul

Pooja Jaidev (50), daughter

I was just three years old, but understand from my mother and relatives that how caring and loving our father was. I am told that once I suffered from a breathing problem and Papa held me in his lap the whole night. We always wondered why many people used to bless us, take us to the canteen for snacks and offer gifts while we were studying at the school of Punjabi University. It was all because of him. Besides his contemporary poets like Mohan Singh and Amrita Pritam, now I relish reading Surjit Patar.