Batalvi's 75th birth anniversary

LUDHIANA: Some people never die, for they live through their work. Shiv Kumar Batalvi (1936-1973), whose 85th birth anniversary falls on Saturday, was one such personality and poet who continues to live in the heart of his fans, and city fans are not behind. There are many fans of Batalvi in city, who admire and love the poet born in village Bara Pind Lohtian located in the northern part of pre-partition Punjab, and are all set to make his birth anniversary one memorable day.
While some fans will sing his poems, the others will organize seminars of his original recordings, some will plant tress, the others will showcase his collections, including Batalvi's astray, flower pot, earthen pot (diva), the handwritten letters of the poet and his autographed documents and pictures of the things related to the great poet. President of Punjabi Sahitya Academy and resident of Saheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Gurbhajan Singh Gill, who hails from Batalvi's neighbouring village, said he has live recordings of Batalvi poems and will play it on Saturday at Punjabi Bhawan. He plans to put up Batalvi's pictures at the Punjabi Bhawan in his loving memory. ??I will organise a seminar where many distinguished poets will throw light on Batalvi's life. I will also organize an environmental campaign in Sultanpur Lodhi, where Sant Baba Seechewal will also be present.'' Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) additional director of communication, Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, who has studied Batalvi's poetry and life, said he was shocked to see the sad state of Shiv Kumar auditorium in Batala. Dhiman has with him pictures of Hansli bridge where Batalvi used to write his poems. ??I met the principal of Baring Union Christian College, where Batalvi studied, and enquired about his activities. I will listen to the CDs of Batalvi's poems and songs, which are available only in the USA, on Saturday to celebrate his birthday.''
Dr Manu Sharma Sohal, a researcher and fan of the poet, has done 10 years of research on the poet's work. She said her mission is to change Batalvi's public image, as most people think that he was a womanizer and a drunkard. She has preserved the handwritten letters, autographed documents and pictures of the noted poet to keep alive his memory. She said the place where Batalvi used to live in Batala now has a hospital constructed over there. Box Day's event Live recordings of Batalvi poems to be played at Punjabi Bhawan A play based on his life at Punjabi Bhawan A seminar where many distinguished poets will throw light on Batalvi's life An environmental campaign in Sultanpur Lodhi Proud possessions President of Punjabi Sahitya Academy, Gurbhajan Singh Gill, has live recordings of Batalvi poems Dr Manu Sharma Sohal, a researcher, still has Batalvi's astray, flower pot, earthen pot (diva), handwritten letters, autographed documents and pictures Why this apathy? The wife of Shiv Kumar Batalvi's elder brother, Kailash Batalvi, is very ill but nobody from the literary fraternity bothered to visit her or enquire about her health. Raju, the son of Shiv Kumar's elder brother, has started writing poetry and wants to carry forward the legacy of the great poet.