Dr Surjit Patar: The torchbearer of Punjabiat
The renowned Punjabi writer-poet, who has died at the age of 79, always remained connected to the times and struggles of his land
Another Dr Surjit Patar will not be easy to come by. For almost four decades, he endeared Punjabis to poetry—a connection that will not fade away easily. Dr Patar was a torchbearer of Punjabiat, but he always maintained a sacred distance from the ‘loudness’ that some associate the community with.
Dr Patar could make this possible because he was inspired by the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, especially the verses of Guru Nanak Dev ji and the Sufi saints. It’s refreshing to read Dr Patar’s poem about aarti (prayer) by Guru Nanak. In this poem, he emphasises that Baba Nanak was not disowning the traditional prayers written or performed by people; rather he gave a universal perspective to the prayer. Dr Patar, thus, came to the conclusion that gaining a fresh perspective was more important than rejecting the ‘old’ outright.
That’s why Dr Patar did not waste his intellectual and creative energies in rejecting things; rather he chose the environment—trees, leaves, flowers—and the five elements—earth, water, fire, wind and space—to make his poetry more eternal and believable. He talked about human struggles using these metaphors.
That’s why Dr Patar’s poetry has been equally popular with students taking part in competitions and singers, who are commercial. He had the wisdom to understand Punjabi ethos and use his vast knowledge to describe the world of a Punjabi person with very delicate prose. It’s worth mentioning how he mixed two contrasting emotions in one poem:
Agan ch bal ke hawa ch ral ke
Na auna dekhan asan ne bhalke
Asaade magron tu naam saade
Paak rakhi maleen rakhi
Till this point, the poem reflects carefreeness beyond all materialism. But as it progresses, the poem invokes belief and high spirits:
Je ayi patjhad tan fer ki e
Tu agli rutt ch yakeen rakhi
Main labh ke liauna kiteo kalman
Tu phullan jogi zameen rakhi
As a person, Dr Patar was humble, kind and ever accessible, no matter where he was or the circumstances in. He was a keen listener and an amazing speaker. I have seen him attend lengthy literary functions as a chief guest or head of the presidium. He would move to the dais with all his delicacy intact, start his speech with an innocent smile, gather words without haste, and flow like a river. No walls between him and the audience. Dr Patar believed in inner vision. As he says:
Pata na lagge eh chan tare
Badan hai ya hai libaas tera
Tu apni kudrat te apne vichla
Eh parda ion hi maheen rakhi
As a poet, Dr Patar was sensitive to the political and social issues around him but did not dilute his creative deftness to comment on turbulent affairs. When Punjab was scorched by terrorism, he narrated the truth most subtly:
Matam
Hinsa
Khauf
Bebasi te
Anian
Eh ne ajkal
Mere Punj dareavan de naa
Or
Jinda kunda maar k
Booha dhoya si
Ute ji ayian nu
Likhia hoya si
Dr Patar was a true son of Punjabi language and culture. He was never disconnected from the times and struggles of the land. Some of his famous works are Hawa Vich Likhe Harf , Birkh Arz Kre, Lafzan Di Dargah and Hanere Vich Sulagdi Varnmala.
Several prestigious awards were conferred on him, such as the Padma Shri, Jnanpith Award and Sahitya Akademi Award. Dr Patar enriched the literary world with his eternal poetry. The onus is now on us to appreciate and preserve his works. He is physically no more, but his words and thoughts will stay with us forever. And he shall remain above any judgmental debate:
Agg da safa ha
Us te main phullan di satar han
Oh behas kar rahe ne
Galat ha ya theek ha
Mai ta nhi rahaga
Mere geet rehnge
Paani ne mere geet
Mai paani te leek ha
—The writer is a well-known Punjab-based thespian