Batalvi lives on…

SD Sharma

Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi is hailed as the John Keats of Punjabi Poetry for taking the genre to a spectacular level. 

Credited with 10 anthologies of his immortal poetry, the youngest ever recipient of Sahitya Akademi award for his epic Loona, Shiv Batalvi left the world on May 7 at the age of 36. 

On her visit to India in February, Arun Batalvi, wife of Shiv Batalvi, said, “Established educational and cultural organizations must institute annual awards in his name and give scholarships to carry forward his rich legacy. Sahitya Akademies should translate his works in various languages.” 

On his 44th death anniversary, we interact with his contemporary writers, artists and admirers and this is what they have to say—

A man of modern sensibility 

A poet of folk consciousness and modern sensibility, Shiv Batalvi excelled with freshness of vocabulary, diction, imagery and rhythmic flow of words which appear to be floating in sea waves or in the air.

Gulzar Singh Sandhu, author and Chairman Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi

Rooted to the soil

Poet and poetry finds space beyond times and Shiv Kumar very much lives in our hearts through his ornate poetry and shall remain etched in the hearts of Punjabi poetry lovers for generations to come. He was undeniably the torch-bearer of main tradition of Punjabi with newer dimensions which is a celebration of love in all manifestations. His poetic idiom represented the ethos of the people and rooted in the soil with language of collective psyche. 

Rana Nayar, litterateur and scholar 

Of fragrance & fire

Poets like Shiv Batalvi descend on this earth once after centuries. He has shared his own personal pain, agony and heartfelt deception in love. I believe that he is a poet of fragrance and fire both. I have grown up singing and eulogizing his poetry. 

Satinder Satti, chairperson, Punjab Arts Council

He empowered women

Shiv Batalvi had visualized and observed aspects of life with diverse angles which influenced his poetic genius. Basically a poet of romance he had the honour of being the king of pathos too. Shiv had empowered the women with a voice and spirit to fight for her rights in his magnum opus Loona.  

Satish Verma, playwright and secretary, Punjab Sahit Akademi