Dr. Pal Kaur, a prominent Punjabi poet and writer, has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for her book Sun Gunvanta Sun Budhivanta. The award, given by the Sahitya Akademi in Delhi, recognizes outstanding works in 24 Indian languages, including Punjabi. The award ceremony will take place in March 2025.
Dr. Kaur’s book presents Punjab’s history through poetic expression. It highlights the region’s Nath tradition, Bhakti, Sufi, and Gurmat heritage, exploring the lives of yogis, Naths, pirs, and Sufi fakirs, and tracing Punjab’s journey from the Guru era to the Sikh struggles under the Mughals, culminating in the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Born on May 15, 1956, in Kalomajra village, Patiala district, Dr. Pal Kaur was the youngest of eight children. Her father, Surain Singh, was also a poet. Despite the cultural norms of her time, Pal Kaur was the only one of her six sisters to attend school. However, her educational path was not easy.
“My brothers started going to school, and I got the chance to study. But every year, I had to fight to continue. After fifth grade, I was told to drop out, but I insisted on studying. This struggle continued year after year. I saw firsthand the discrimination women face,” Dr. Kaur shared in an interview with The Indian Express.
Despite these obstacles, Dr. Kaur pursued her education and earned a doctorate in Punjabi from Kurukshetra University. She chose not to marry and instead dedicated her life to teaching and writing.
Dr. Kaur’s literary career spans decades, beginning with her first poetry collection, Khalaawasi, published in 1986. Her work is celebrated for its deep understanding of the female psyche. She has published seven poetry collections, a book of literary criticism, two edited volumes, and a book focused on portraits of single women.
She has received several prestigious awards, including the Shiromani Kavi Award from the Punjab government and the Baba Farid and Bhai Santokh Singh awards from the Haryana government. After retiring in 2016 from her position as a professor of Punjabi at S.A. Jain College in Ambala City, Dr. Kaur continues her literary work.
