Former President Pratibha Patil presenting the Padma Shri award to Punjabi poet Surjit Singh Patar. file. , Photo Credit: RV Murthy
Padma Shri recipient Punjabi poet Surjit Patar died on Saturday morning at his residence near Barewal Colony here. He was 79 years old.
His family members said that Patar died in his sleep.
At around 6.30 in the morning, his wife Bhupinder Kaur tried to wake him up but he did not respond. He told that the doctor declared him dead.
Patar is survived by his wife and two sons – one of whom lives in Australia.
Patar’s close aide Gurbhajan Gill said the last rites are likely to be performed on Monday after Patar’s son arrives from Australia.
Several political leaders, actors and singers, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, expressed grief over Patar’s demise and said it was a great loss to the Punjabi literary community.
Patar’s poetic works include ‘Hawa Vich Likhe Harf’, ‘Hanere Vich Sulgadi Varanmala’, ‘Patjhar Di Pajeb’, ‘Lafjaan Di Dargah’ and ‘Surzameen’.
He received the Padma Shri in the field of literature and education in 2012. Patar was the president of Punjab Arts Council. He was also the President of Punjabi Sahitya Academy.
The poet and writer has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, Panchanad Award, Saraswati Samman and Kusumagraja Sahitya Award.
Hailing from Patar village in Jalandhar district, he graduated from Randhir College, Kapurthala and did his PhD on “Transformations of Folktales in Guru Nanak Vani” from Guru Nanak Dev University.
He retired as Professor of Punjabi from Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana.
Patar has also translated Federico Garcia Lorca’s three tragedies, Girish Karnad’s play Nagamandala and poems by Bertolt Brecht and Pablo Neruda into Punjabi.
In a post on Twitter, Chief Minister Mann said he was deeply saddened by Patar’s demise.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Waring called it an irreparable loss to Punjabi literature.
He said he was saddened by the demise of Patar who served the Punjabi language and put it on the world map.
Former Punjab Chief Minister and BJP leader Amarinder Singh said on Twitter, “End of an era, renowned Punjabi writer and poet Padma Shri Surjit Patar Sahab passed away today. My heartfelt condolences to his family and millions of fans around the world. Punjab has lost an icon today.” Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said that Patar’s demise has left a void in the world of literature.
“After Shiv Batalvi, Patar Saheb was the most popular and loved poet of Punjabis. I express my heartfelt condolences to his family and his well-wishers,” Badal said.
Punjabi actor Gurpreet Ghuggi expressed grief over Patar’s demise, saying, “Goodbye: Padma Shri Surjit Patar ji you will always be in our hearts.” Singer Harbhajan Mann said, “The world of Punjabi literature has lost a gem today. May your soul rest in peace Surjit Patar ji.
