Shiv Kumar Batalvi
Shiv Kumar Batalvi (1936–1973) was born in a Saraswat Brahmin
family in village Bara Pind Lohtian, Shakargarh Tehsil, Sialkot
District (Punjab province, Pakistan). His father Pandit Krishan
Gopal was a village tehsildar and his mother Shanti Devi, a housewife.
In 1947, his family moved to Batala Gurdaspur district where his father
worked as a patwari and young Shiv received his primary education.
He is known for his romantic poetry. His poetry recitations, and
singing his own verse, made him and his work very popular amongst
the masses. He became the youngest recipient of the Sahitya Akademi
award in 1967 for his epic verse play Loona. His poetical works are
Peeran Da Paraga (1960), Lajwanti (1961), Aate Dian Chirian (1962),
Mainu Vida Karo (1963), Birha Toon Sultan (1964, a selection),
Dardmandan Deean Aaheen (1964), Loonan (1965), Main Te Main
(1970), and Aarti (1971).
