Harcharan Singh

Dr. Harcharan Singh (1914–2006) was an Indian dramatist and writer in the Punjabi language. He dedicated 69 years of his life to Punjabi theater, in which he authored 51 books and staged numerous plays all over the world.

He was the head of Punjabi Dept., Punjabi University, Patiala, for 10 years, from 1965 to 1975. He held the post of chairman at the Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy from 1982 to 1991 and again from 1994 to 1997. He was then appointed the chairman of Punjab Arts Council, Chandigarh, from 1999 to 2002.

Writing Singh wrote his first play, Kamla Kumari, in 1937, which was first staged in Amritsar on 21 January 1938. He initiated a trend in Punjabi theatre with his wife Dharam Kaur, who dared to act female role in his play Anjorh, staged at YMCA Hall Lahore in 1939. This paved the way for women on Punjabi stage.

Singh authored 51 books in Punjabi. His well-known historical plays are Chamkaur Di Garhi, Punian Da Chan, Miti Dhundh Jag Chanan Hoa, Jafarnama, Sarhand Di Kandh, Hind Di Chadar, Rani Jindan, Kama Gata Maru and Shubh Karman Te Kabh Hoon Na Taron. The play Chamkaur Di Garhi was first staged on the occasion of the tercentenary birth celebration of Shri Guru Gobind Singh at famous Sunmukh Nanda Auditorium, Bombay, in December 1966. For the last 38 years, different theatrical groups have been staging this play in India and abroad. Six of his plays have been translated into Hindi and one into Russian.

About a dozen of his books have won awards. He was given the prestigious Sahitya Academy Award in 1973 for his play Kal Aj Te Bhalak (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow). He was honored by Punjab Govt. as Shromani Sahitkar in 1974. Besides these decorations he was honored by more than a dozen national and international institutions. The feature film Sarbansdani Guru Gobind Singh was based on his famous play Chamkaur Di Garhi. His historical play Rani Jindan was performed by Punjabi Kala Kendra Chandigarh in 20 big cities of Canada and the US in 1981.

Singh wrote the scripts of Bole So Nihal, (a world-famous multimedia Sight & Sound Panorama on 500 years of Sikh History, specially produced for the Birth of Khalsa celebrations,) Sher-e-Punjab (a multimedia Sight & Sound Panorama on 40 glorious years of Khalsa Raj) and Guru Maneo Granth, (another mega multi-media sight & sound panorama dedicated to the 400th centenary of the Prakash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib). These shows have been shown in 50 cities of Punjab and India besides in 54 major cities of the US, Canada and UK since 1999.

List of books No. First published in Book title Publisher ISBN 1 1937 Kamla Kumari Self Published NA 2 1938 Raja Porus Self Published NA 3 1939 Dur Durade Shahron Lahore Book Shop, Ludhiana NA 4 1941 Anjorh NA NA 5 1943 Khedan De Din Chaar NA NA 6 1949 Dosh Punjabi Publisher, New Delhi NA 7 1953 Ratta Sallu Aarsi Publishers, New Delhi NA 8 1954 Tera Ghar So Mera Ghar Sundar Pustak Bhandhar, New Delhi NA 9 1955 Punia Da Chan Punjabi Publishers, New Delhi NA 10 1961 Shobha Shakti Aarsi Publishers, New Delhi NA 11 1966 Chamkaur Di Garhi Singh Brothers, Amritsar NA 12 1969 Mitti Dhundh Jag Chanan Hoa Singh Brothers, Amritsar NA 13 1971 Kal Ajj Te Bhalak Navyug Publishers, New Delhi NA 14 1973 Lehande Da Noor (Poetic Drama) Punjabi Pyare Publisher, Chandigarh NA 15 1974 Samaaj De Tham NA NA 16 1975 Hind Di Chaddar Lahore Book Shop, Ludhiana NA 17 1977 Dekh Kabira Roya Singh Brothers, Amritsar NA 18 1979 Sahit Te Sabhyachar De Ambar Tare Aarsi Publishers, New Delhi NA 19 1980 Maseeha Suli Te Muskuraya Lahore Book Shop, Ludhiana NA 20 1981 Rani Jindhan Aarsi Publishers, New Delhi NA 21 1983 Kamagata Maru Raghbir Rachna Publishers, Chandigarh NA 22 1984 Ambar Kala NA NA 23 1989 Aag Bujao Singh Brothers, Amritsar NA 24 1992 Shubh Karman Te Kabhu Na Tro Singh Brothers, Amritsar 81-7205-090-9 25 1995 Mitti Puche Ghumiar Toh Navyug Publishers, New Delhi 81-86216-70-7 26 2004 Guru Maneo Granth NA NA 27 2005 Jene Lahor Nahin Dekhea (Stories) Tarlochan Publishers, Chandigarh 81-7914-120-9 28 2006 Udhala (Stories) Tarlochan Publishers, Chandigarh 81-7914-135-7 29 1960 Murkhe Di Khusboo (One Act Play) Ludhiana Book Shop, Ludhiana NA 30 NA Marhian Di Puja NA NA 31 NA Khet De Baney NA NA 32 1997 Baapu Di Ghorhi Punjabi University, Patiala 81-7380-262-9 33 NA Kanchan Matti NA NA 34 1972 Zafarnama (One Act Play) Singh Brothers, Amritsar 81-7205-104-2 35 NA Sirhand Di Kand NA NA 36 1940 Jeevan Leela Lahore Book Shop, Ludhiana NA 37 1943 Sipiyan (Stories) Punjabi Publishers, New Delhi NA 38 1957 Meri Chonvi Ikangi Sundar Pustak Bhandar, New Delhi NA 39 1979 Che Rang (Collection of One Act Plays) Singh Brothers, Amritsar NA 40 1944 Panj Geetrha P.S. Datta, Lahore NA 41 1942 Sapt Rishi (Collection of One Act Plays) Lahore Book Shop, Lahore NA 42 1989 Meri Pratinidh Rachna Punjabi University, Patiala NA 43 1988 Meri Sahitik Save-Keevni Punjabi University, Patiala NA 44 1979 Natak Kala Te Mera Anubhav Language Dept. Govt of Punjab NA 45 1964 Punjabi Sahit Dhara Surjit Book Depot, New Delhi NA 46 1977 Meri Chonvi Kahaniyan Lahore Book Shop, Ludhiana NA 47 NA Naat Kala Te Hor Lekh Pepsu Book Depot, Patiala NA 48 1971 Eshwar Chandan Nanda Punjabi University, Patiala NA 49 1972 Punjabi Vartak Da Janam Te Vikas Pepsu Book Depot, Patiala NA 50 1949 Sanjha Raaj (Collection of One Act Plays) Lahore Book Shop, Ludhiana NA 51 1955 Navi Saver Punjabi Publishers, New Delhi NA