Sheila Bhatia

Sheila Bhatia (1 March 1916 – 17 February 2008) was an Indian poet, playwright, theatre personality and the founder of the Delhi Art Theatre, a forum based in Delhi for the promotion of Indian art forms. She is credited with originating Punjabi opera, an Indian form of dance drama incorporating operatic movements. She was honoured by the Government of India in 1971 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award. A decade later, she received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for theatre direction in 1982 followed by Kalidas Samman in 1997.

Early life and education Sheila Bhatia was born on 1 March 1916 She also worked with the National School of Drama as the head of the acting department. Ghalib Kaun tha and Nadir Shah in Punabi and Qissa yeh aurat ka (1972), Hawa se hippy tak (1972), and Yeh ishq nahin asan (1980) in Urdu. Bhatia also has 10 publications to her credit including the poetry anthology, Parlo Da Jhakkarh (1950).

Death Sheila Bhatia died on 17 February 2008 at the age of 91.