Balbir Parwana wins Dhahan Prize for novel ‘Rauleyan Wele’

Jalandhar-based author and journalist Balbir Parwana has been announced the winner of the Dhahan Literary Award for Punjabi fiction, one of the world’s most prestigious honours for Punjabi literature.

At a ceremony held at the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, British Columbia, the award’s 12th edition honoured Parwana with a prize of 25,000 Canadian dollars for his Gurmukhi-script novel Rauleyan Wele.

Two finalists were also recognised: Mudassar Bashir (Lahore) for his Shahmukhi novel Goyal and Bhagwant Rasoolpuri (Jalandhar) for his Gurmukhi short-story collection Delivery Man. Each finalist received 10,000 Canadian dollars, along with special handmade certificates of appreciation. An additional 6,000 Canadian dollars was awarded for the transliteration of the three winning books into both Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi.

Speaking at the ceremony, Parwana said, “This award has given my novel a new world of readers. When I heard my name announced, I was filled with joy and excitement. This award has encouraged me to continue creating my works of literature to share with countless Punjabis across the world.”

Addressing the audience, both Bashir—who travelled from West Punjab—and Rasoolpuri expressed immense joy at being named finalists for the Dhahan Award.

Founder of the award, Barjinder Singh Dhahan, said, “Our mission is to elevate Punjabi literature to a global level. By identifying powerful new stories in Punjabi fiction, we aim to inspire readers, encourage writers and strengthen cultural community ties across borders.” He added that the aim was also to ensure the finest works of Punjabi fiction published worldwide reached the general public every year.

BC award-winning writer Gurjinder Basran, Senator Baltej Singh Dhillon, Vijay Yamla—grandson of legendary folk singer Yamla Jatt—and other dignitaries lauded the initiative. A “Punjabi Literature Week” has also been announced in Vancouver and Surrey, dedicated to the Dhahan Award. Numerous writers, political leaders, social activists and Punjabi literary enthusiasts attended the event.

Parwana, a noted chronicler of the Partition, has long engaged with the lingering socio-political impacts of 1947 across the two Punjabs. His work reflects on the losses suffered by people and the lessons the subcontinent must draw from one of its greatest human tragedies.

Rasoolpuri is known for his deep engagement with issues confronting the Dalit community, offering an internal, critical perspective on its struggles.

The critically acclaimed Dhahan Literary Award, established in 2013 in Vancouver, celebrates excellence in Punjabi fiction. Punjabi, the third most spoken language in Canada, is promoted globally through this award, launched by Barjinder Singh Dhahan and Rita Dhahan in collaboration with the Canada India Education Society and the University of British Columbia.