February 2nd week, most sad for writer fraternity

BARNALA: The second week of February is most admired as it is when the chill gives way to pleasant weather conditions but it has proved the most unfortunate for Punjab’ literary fraternity, as the week, over the years, has turned out to be snatcher. It was February second week which snatched at least a Padma Shri award winner writer and at least three Sahitya Akademy award winner writers.
It all started in 2003, when folklorist par excellence and writer Devendra Satyarthi(95), died on February 12. Satyarthi, having taken birth at Bhadaur in Barnala in1908, had won Padma Shri for literature and education in 1977. The song ‘Lak tunu tunu’ had become immortal. The year 2010 and especially its second week of February proved to be most sad for literature lovers as it left big vacuum hard to fill by snatching three Sahitya Akademy award winner writers and the fourth writer passed away in following month of March. Santokh Singh Dhir(90), who had won Sahitya Akademy for his short stories book ‘Pakhi’ in 1996 passed away on February 8.
Ram Sarup Ankhi(78) and Harinder Singh Mehboob(70) died on February 14, that year. Ankhi had won Sahitya Akademy for his novel ‘Kothe Kharak Singh’ in 1987 and Mehboob had won it for his poetry book ‘Jhana di Raat’ in 1991. The fourth Sahitya Akademy award winner writer, who passed away in 2010 was Dr. Jagtar, though he skipped the February week and passed away on March 30. Dr. Jagtar had won the coveted award in 1995 for his work ‘Jugnu diva te dariya’.
Ram Sarup Ankhi, Harinder Singh Mehboob, Dr. Jagtar, Santokh Singh Dhir were all well read writers be it novel writing, storytelling, prose writing.
Ankhi is more known for his short stories and novels written in Malwai dialect of Punjab. His award winning novel Kothe Kharak Singh is translated into many languages including English. Harinder Singh Mehboob, a poet is more known for his religious writings of compiling Sikh Gurus including ‘Sahje Rachyo Khalsa’. Dr. Jagtar, widely read author, had got acclaim for his poem ‘har paer te saleeban, har mor te hanera phir bhi asi ruke na, sada bhi dekho jera’(We never stopped even facing toughest times), the words depicts his indomitable courage fighting against odds. Santokh Singh Dhir’ work Koi ik sawar got much admiration apart from award winning book Pakhi.