Mohan Singh Diwana

Mohan Singh Uberoi Diwana (17 March 1899 – 25 May 1984), more commonly known as Mohan Singh Diwana, was a Punjabi literary scholar and a poet.

Biography

Personal life Diwana was born in Devi village of Rawalpindi district in Punjab Province, British India in 1899. His wife was Devinder Kaur, from whom he separated in 1953. From 1975 onwards, he lived mostly in Chandigarh. His son J. P. S. Uberoi (1934–2024) grew up to become a renowned sociologist.

Education Diwana did his B.A. (Hons) in English from the Government College, Lahore, M.A. in English Literature from Calcutta University (1924), and PhD in Urdu literature from Calcutta University (1931). In 1933, he was awarded a D.Litt. by Punjab University for writing the first-ever systematic history of Punjabi literature.

Teaching Diwana was appointed a lecturer of Punjabi at Panjab University, Lahore, in 1928, a post he held till 1944. From then till his retirement in 1959, he served as Reader and head of the Punjabi department at the same university. Diwana discovered the 'Adi Sakhian' tradition of Janamsakhi when he came across a manuscript dated to 1701 A.D., while teaching at the Panjab University, Lahore. He is regarded as the 'undisputed saviour' of Shah Hussain's 'kafis' in the written form, by having discovered several old manuscripts.