Amrita Pritam

Amrita Pritam (31 August 1919-October 31, 2005) is a household name in the Punjab, being the first most prominent woman Punjabi poet and fiction writer. After partition she made Delhi her second home. She was the first woman recipient of th Sahitya Akademi Award, the first Punjabi woman to receive the Padma Shree from the President of India in 1969. Though critical of the socialist camp, her works were translated in all the east European languages including French, Japanese and Danish. Mehfil, a quarterly from Michigan State University published an issue on her works. She got Jananpeeth award in 1982 for her lifetime contribution to Punjabi literature. She received three D Lit degrees from Delhi, Jabalpur and Vishva Bharti Universities in 1973 and 1983 respectively. Inspite of her poor health, she is still active writing and editing a monthly magazine in Punjabi Nagmani.

“Rasidi Ticket”, her autobiography, was one of her most controversial books. they also received three D Lit degrees from Delhi, Jabalpur and Vishva Bharti Universities. She continued writing and editing a monthly magazine in Punjabi, “Nagmani”, for years despite her failing health. Author of over a 100 books, some of which have been translated into several languages, including French, Japanese and Danish, Pritam’s accounts of Partition became the theme for the Hindi film “Pinjar”. A former member of the Rajya Sabha and recipient of the Padma Shri in 1969, she was awarded Sahitya Akademi award for her book “Sunedeh” and Jnanpeeth Award for her contribution to Punjabi literature.