SD Sharma
None of the Punjabi poets have elicited the love, affection and admiration of the poetry lovers in the world as relished by the indomitable Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi. Born in Barapind Lohtian (Pakistan), raised at Batala, Shiv Kumar Batalvi had sculpted about a dozen classics which took the Punjabi poetry to a spectacular level. He gave a truthful and new dimension to Punjabi literature with Loona which was apex of his literary genius and made him the youngest ever recipient of the coveted Sahitya Akademi Award.
The admiration for the Batalvi’s poetry among youngsters is only increasing by every passing year even after forty six years of his demise. Youngsters share their take on the 46th death anniversary of the legend, falling on May 6.
Ik Kudi became the connect
Strange though it might seem how does Shiv fit into this fast-paced social-media driven, a validation seeking life? How do you define love out of Shiv’s poetry in the era where Tinder exists? In this context, it is an enigma that Shiv’s poetry showed its impact when his Ishtehaar branded as Ik Kudi captivated my friends who actually loved the song for the simplicity of the thought and expression. My moment of of glory, explaining the verses to my non-Punjabi friends. The idea of being in love has changed, the complexities of dealing with separation and sorrow have changed. Separating infatuation from love is too confusing for a quintessential ‘youth’ but one thing that does not change is the naivety of being in love. Shiv’s writings as Maye ni maye, main ik shikra yaar banaya or perhaps in one of his greats — Loona — are quite a testimony to the fact that how amazingly he captured the essence of being naïve in love. Today poetry might pose more questions than provide answers, but yet it continues to exist in readers who still find it relevant. — Arvinder Malik (25) Software Engineer
Classic call
Ornate verses of Shiv Batalvi have a classic feel and have become hits in Bollywood. Besides Ajj din chadeya, Ikk kudi, Haal faqiran da that are already popular, many more are in the offing. — Mitika Kanwar, academician, artist
Unrequited love
The strains of pathos dominant in the poetry of Shiv Batalvi represented his pain of unrequited love that every listener/reader relates with. But Shiv lamented that while people sing and relish his poetry but none shared his sorrows as he said, ‘Lakhan mera sees chum gye per mukhda kisey na pachhaneya’. His poetry is my life line. — Onkar Walia, research scholar
No love lost
Born and raised at Chandigarh I had a knack for music and poetry but during my five years study stint at Bhatinda, I came across students from Punjab most of them loved, sang and relished poetry of great Shiv Batalvi over filmy or pop music. There I found verses of Shiv Batalvi who has visualized and observed aspects of life with diverse points of view. Basically a poet of romance, he had the honour of being the king of pathos too with Loona, the apex of his literary genius. Now I am a devout listener of his songs. — Dr Akshita Rattan, MD student
Immortal poems
As a singer and scholar, I feel that Batalvi sahib had been true to his observations about love, life, longing and relationships which found expressions in his poetry making it immortal. He had never compromised and whatever he experienced in life just put it in suitable paradigm of words without caring for restrictions. — Gurjant Handa, research scholar
True understanding
Since my father is a well known Sufi singer and music or poetry was part of our daily life. As a teenager I grew listening and singing to Sufiana kalaams of Sufi mystics as also Shiv Kumar Batalvi. Now that I realize the metaphoric meanings of his verses I love to sing with same desired feelings. — Aman Lata, research scholar
Depth of meaning
While I was too young to appreciate the in depth meaning and nuances of Shiv’s poetry, I anyway heard it as my fatherloved it. Gradually when I learnt to understand the metaphors like shikra yaar, adhura geet and more, it had a mesmerizing effect on my mind and relish every bit of his poetry. — Paras Sharma
Old and gold
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 that made his poetry a classic. — Snobar Rupal, student, physiotherapy, PGI
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2J1cXJ1
via Today’s News Headlines
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