Wordsworth of Punjabi literature

Ludhiana, Punjab: The birth anniversary of Punjabi poet Bhai Veer Singh was celebrated in the city today. A programme was organised at Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle to commemorate the occasion.

Prof Baljinder Pal Singh from the language and literature wing of the organisation said, “The poet is considered Wordsworth of Punjabi literature.”

“He has written on world peace and communal harmony, need for saving time and interpretation of Gurbani,” he said. There is a need to promote such rich and lively literature to curtail songs and literature of violence and vulgarity prevalent these days. Young writers, including school and college students, were honoured. The event was attended by Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh, litterateur and researcher Anurag Singh. Anurag Singh shared memories of the association of his father Tarlochan Singh with Bhai Veer Singh.

Flower lover

The birth anniversary of Bhai Veer Singh coincides with the season of chrysanthemums, the flowers he profoundly loved. Bhai Veer Singh was the lover of nature and he particularly had a penchant for chrysanthemum (guldoudi). He wrote poems, especially dedicated to the flowers. The poems reflect the elation and delight he felt seeing chrysanthemums. His poem ‘Guldoudian Aayian’ reflects the joy that these flowers brought with them. “Khirde khirde matthe aayiyan, Khera naal liayian” (the flowers have come with happiness on their brow and brought happiness with them).

“Ethe vekho daal daal te hai, chand chand chabe denda” (Look here on every branch, moons radiate). Melancholy is reflected in the poem when the flowers didn’t bloom in a year and he wrote ‘Aetki Guldoudiyan Nahin Aayian’. Another poem bidding farewell to the flowers ‘Meriyan Guldoudiyan Di Vidaigi’ bidding farewell to the short-lived flowers, in which he addresses the flowers as his friends and feels sad that these were there only for 20 days.

Source: The Tribune