Compositions in his voice bring 'Birha Da Sultan' alive

LUDHIANA: Litterateurs and fans of renowned Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi remembered him on his 75th birth anniversary on Saturday. As many as 30 writers gathered at Punjabi Bhawan on the occasion to listen to the compositions of the poet, popularly known as 'Birha Da Sultan' (king of tragedy). They were spellbound listening to Batalvi's compositions in his voice.
Gurbhajan Singh Gill, president, Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, said they played seven original songs sung by the poet at a function on Saturday. "Batalvi was a versatile poet with vast knowledge of rural folklore and he depicted it beautifully in his poems. I remember meeting him at GGM Khalsa College in 1972 and how one of the preachers of Gurbani had rewarded him with Rs 100. Batalvi and I belonged to Gurdaspur district that led to a great bonding," he said.
Jagtar Singh Dhiman, a writer, also organized a get-together at his residence. Praising Batalvi, Dhiman said youth must read his works to stay connected with their roots. Director of the academy, Prem Singh Bajaj, displayed various books written by the poet and the research work done on his writings during the function.
Nirmal Joda, a playwright, said they organized a competition for the youth, who sang Batalvi's compositions.