Waryam Singh Sandhu: The village boy who wrote his way to fame
“I was in Class VIII when I sent my write-up to the editor of a newspaper and then I forgot about it. One day, I was called by someone from my village and I saw an elderly holding the newspaper when he pointed to the name where Waryam Singh Sursingh was written,” a renowned and celebrated Punjabi author Waryam Singh Sandhu recalls as he shares his writing journey with The Tribune. The 80-year-old sits in his room where most of the space is occupied by the plethora of books and the awards he has won.
The doyen of the literary world continues the story, “The elderly asked me if I was the same Waryam whose name had appeared. Until then I had no idea that my write-up had got published. I nodded happily and the elderly lifted me with a hearty laughter and pride and said, Pind da naam kadd de (Make our village proud and famous).”
Him (the elderly) saying this to a 13-year-old Waryam Singh, changed the teenager’s life forever. Waryam Singh belongs to Sursingh village which earlier was a part of Amritsar district. “His words encouraged me to write and it was such a proud moment for me that cannot be explained in words,” Singh shared as his eyes shined.
The Sahitya Akademi Award winner has written famous and critically acclaimed books like Chauthi Koot and Jamraud that have been adapted into movies as well. Chauthi koot movie that was based on Waryam Singh Sandhu’s story had also entered the Cannes Film Festival. Until now, above 30 books have been published. His first ever book was Lohe de hath in 1971.
How did he develop his love for writing? — “Growing up I saw my father reading and immersing himself in books,” came a prompt reply. Singh’s father was a farmer but was an avid reader. “I was merely five when I first noticed my father reading books with full concentration. Main dekheya ki ohna kaale akshar vich vakhra sansaar nikal anda si (I noticed that the words written in black were creating an altogether different world), because the one reading it goes through different kinds of emotions like laughter, crying, anger, sadness and what not...” and that is how he developed his love for writing.
He started buying and reading books along with his father. The eminent writer first realised the power of writing when as a shy student in Class VIII, he stood on stage and recited his first ever poem and the teachers, headmaster hugged him, and everyone appreciated him with a big round of applause.
“That day I realised that Waryam Singh aam toh khaas bann gaya si (Waryam Singh was no longer a normal person and had become special.” There was no stopping then. His several write-ups started appearing in the newspapers. He then joined a government school as a master and while he was teaching, he also completed his studies and did his degree in BEd, M Phil and also completed PhD In 2005, he retired from Khalsa College, Jalandhar.
This year he wrote a book on Surjit Patar who breathed his last in 2024 titled, Rang Prasang Surjit Patar de. Now, the literature and poetry lovers will get an opportunity to read his written poems as well. His first poetry book is set to be released titled Warya picho.
What is writing for him? “My wajood (existence) is because of writing. I am nobody without it. Writing is an expression which is not only a habit but it holds a great power to change the world,” the great writer signs off.
