Chatrik’s house still entertains his admirers

Charanjit Singh Teja

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar October 5

Even six decades after the death of eminent Punjabi poet and typographer Dhani Ram Chatrik, the inhabitants at his ancestral house still entertain his guests. The family of Lala Dhani Ram Chatrik sold the house, the printing press and the knife factory near Putaligarh on the GT road years back and moved to Delhi and then Bombay. But literature lovers still visit Chatrik’s home.

Yogesh Kumar, owner of Chirag Place, converted from a poultry farm and a garden in Chatrik’s house, said, “People often visit here to search something about the poet, Chatrik. We don’t have much to entertain them, as the major portion of the house has been converted into a hospital. We have constructed a marriage hall in the garden and use the poultry farm as a godown”.

A portion of the house and the knife factory still exists. Chatrik’s family sold all the property to various tenants, as they were living there for years.

A tenant, who resides in Chatrik’s baithak (drawing room), said, “People often come and ask me about Chatrik. I am not aware about him. But he must be some famous man, as people still want to trace his memories in the house”.

No government or literary organisation during the past six decades made any effort to preserve the house of the legendry poet.

Yogesh Kumar, the owner of Chirag Place, said, “Several years back, some professors from Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) visited here. I offered to them to renovate one of the rooms of the house and develop a memorial of Chatrik. But no one showed interest”.

The property owners are now searching for a buyer to sell the factory area.

Dr Santokh Singh Shehryar, Punjabi writer, said, “Once, I met the grandson of Chatrik. He didn’t respond to my desire to preserve Chatrik’s house for literature lovers”.

A name plate outside the house, which was there till 2009, has now been removed by new owner of the property. Chatrik’s Sudarshan Press building is no more in sight at Kairon Market.

Chatrik (1876-1954) was famous for his poems “Maarda Damaame Jatt Mele Aa Gya“ and “Punjab Karan Ki Sifat Teri”. He penned around 10 books of poetry. Chatrik is known as the people’s poet for his selection of simple words. He was close to Bhai Veer Singh, whose house is preserved in a good fashion and has been converted into a museum.

The Punjab Arts Council led by Surjit Patar organised an exhibition of rare photographs of Chatrik at Government Senior Secondary School, Lopoke, on September 24. It was the only government function in the past several decades to remember Chatrik.

“Who will come forward to preserve the heritage of legendary poet?” questioned Shehryar.