Amrita Pritam
Amrita Pritam was a prominent Indian poet, novelist, and essayist who made significant contributions to Indian literature. Her writing dealt with themes of love, loss, and the human condition, and she became a voice for women in India during a time when their voices were often silenced. This article will explore her early life, education, achievements, and legacy.
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Early Life of Amrita Pritam
Amrita Pritam, born on August 31, 1919, in Gujranwala, Punjab, under British India, was initially named Amrit Kaur. She was the only child of Raj Bibi, a school teacher, and Kartar Singh Hitkari, a poet and a scholar of the Braj Bhasha language. Her father was also the editor of a literary journal and a preacher of the Sikh faith. The demise of her mother when she was only eleven had a profound impact on her, pushing her towards writing at an early age. At the tender age of sixteen, she had her first anthology of poems, Amrit Lehran (“Immortal Waves”), published in 1936. This period also marked her marriage to Pritam Singh, resulting in her name change from Amrit Kaur to Amrita Pritam.
Professional Life
Amrita Pritam is a celebrated figure in Punjabi literature, with her literary contributions spanning across various genres – poetry, fiction, biographies, essays, and more. She is best known for her moving poem, Ajj aakhaan Waris Shah nu, written during the partition of India, and her iconic novel, Pinjar (“The Skeleton”). Her works have been translated into multiple languages and have inspired award-winning films. She also had a stint working at a radio station in Lahore before the partition of India. She contributed significantly to the Progressive Writers’ Movement, and her later works reflected a shift towards more feminist themes.
Personal Life of Amrita Pritam
Amrita Pritam married Pritam Singh in 1935, with whom she had two children. However, in 1960, she decided to leave her husband. It’s said that she harbored an unrequited love for poet Sahir Ludhianvi, a story she recounts in her autobiography, Rasidi Ticket (“Revenue Stamp”). When singer Sudha Malhotra entered Sahir’s life, Amrita found companionship with the artist and writer Inderjeet Imroz. The last forty years of her life were spent with Imroz, who often designed her book covers and made her the subject of his paintings. Their life together is captured in the book, Amrita Imroz: A Love Story. Amrita Pritam passed away in her sleep on October 31, 2005, after a long illness, leaving behind her partner Imroz, her children, and grandchildren.
Awards and Recognitions
Over her lifetime, Amrita Pritam received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to literature. She was the first woman to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1956 for Sunehade. She was honored with one of India’s highest literary awards, the Bhartiya Jnanpith, in 1982 for Kagaz Te Canvas (“The Paper and the Canvas”). She received the Padma Shri in 1969, followed by the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, in 2004. The same year, she was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship for lifetime achievement. She also held honorary degrees from several universities, including Delhi University and Vishwa Bharati.
Age
Amrita Pritam passed away on October 31, 2005. She was 86 years old at the time of her demise.
Parents’ Name and Family
Amrita Pritam was born to Raj Bibi and Kartar Singh Hitkari. She was their only child. After her marriage to Pritam Singh, she had two children, a son and a daughter.
