Novelist Nanak Singh’s literary legacy continues to fuel Punjabi prose

Novelist Nanak Singh, widely known as the “Father of the Punjabi Novel” for introducing socialist and reformist narratives into Punjabi short story format, was remembered at the Nanak Singh Literary Centre and Museum, located inside the Bhai Gurdas Library at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU).

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Born on July 4, 1897, in Chak Hameed (now in Pakistan), Nanak Singh rose to prominence during the pre-Partition era for his thought-provoking novels, poems and short stories. His notable work Khooni Vaisakhi, based on his eyewitness account of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, remains a powerful literary testimony of colonial atrocities.

The Nanak Singh Literary Centre, established in collaboration with the Nanak Singh Literary Foundation, Amritsar, and GNDU, paid homage to his literary legacy. GNDU Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Karamjeet Singh described Nanak Singh as a unique writer in Punjabi literature who moved away from conventional religious and poetic forms. Instead, he focused on the experiences and struggles of ordinary people.

While Bhai Vir Singh is credited for shifting Punjabi literature towards modern storytelling, it was Nanak Singh’s pen that brought recognition to the Punjabi novel form. Dr Manjinder Singh, Head of the School of Punjabi Studies, remarked, “Nanak Singh expanded the scope of novel-writing by capturing the entire spectrum of life in his works. Social problems, characters from every religion and class have been brought to life through his novels. If any Punjabi novel is known beyond Punjab, it is most likely the work of Nanak Singh.”

Dr Harinder Kaur Sohal, Coordinator of the Nanak Singh Centre, said Nanak Singh presents literature in a three-dimensional context. “Nanak Singh was a multi-disciplinary, thoughtful, sophisticated and socially aware writer. He needs no introduction as an idealistic novelist who enriched the Punjabi language with six dozen (about 74) books. Alongside his celebrated novels, his poetic work also earned acclaim,” she said.

Although Nanak Singh spent a few years outside Amritsar, it was in this city that he lived the most memorable and impactful years of his life. He passed away on December 28, 1971, at the age of 74. “Though no longer with us physically, Nanak Singh lives on through his works. He fearlessly wrote against colonial rule and social injustice, always advocating for reform,” added Dr Sohal.

Some of his most prominent works include Chitta Lahu, Pavitar Paapi and Khoon De Sohile, a novel based on the Partition of India. His work, rooted in personal experience and the social realities of his time, continues fuel his literary legacy, Dr Sohal said.

Quoting eminent poet Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi (Ahmediyar), Dr Sohal concluded: “Sukhan, whose people are praised, is few in the world.” This, she said, holds especially true for Nanak Singh.