Kulwant Singh Virk
Encyclopedia
Kulwant Singh Virk is considered a pioneer of contemporary literature. He wrote mostly in Punjabi
but extensively in English
as well. His short stories were translated into several other languages including Russian
by Leo Tolstoy's granddaughter Natasha Tolstoy and in Japanese
by Dr Tomio Mizokami, Professor of Indian Languages at the Osaka University
. He was born in the village of Phullarwan in the Sheikhupura
district of Punjab
in India
. His father Asa Singh was a landlord and mother Ishar Kaur was a home maker. After receiving his two M.A. degrees, he graduated from law school but never practiced. He married a daughter of prominent orthopedic surgeon Dr. Karam Singh Grewal in 1949.
Virk served as a second lieutenant with the British Army during the Second World War. He joined the Punjab civil services as a public relations officer in 1949. During his tenure with the civil service he also edited two magazines "Advance" and "Jagriti". He later joined the Indian government's federal civil service and worked in the ministry of information and broadcasting. Later, he was appointed as the press secretary to the premier of Punjab
province. Prior to and after his tenure as press secretary, he was the joint director of communications for the Punjab Agricultural University
.
His writings won several awards. In 1958 he won his first award for his short story compilation titled ‘Dudh Da Chappar’ (A Pond of Milk). He won the Indian National Sahitya Academy Award in 1968 for his short story compilation ‘Nave Lok’ (New folks). It was presented to him by then Indian president Dr. Zakir Hussain. He was also recognized by the Literary Forum of Canada in 1984 and acclaimed for his contribution to literature by the Punjab Sahitya Academy in 1986.
After his retirement he temporarily moved to Canada
but returned to his beloved Punjab after a few months. He died in Toronto, Canada on 24 December 1986. Mr. K. S. Virk's wife Mrs. Harbans Kaur Virk died on 21 June 2010.
A memorial function was held in his honour on 4 November 2007 in Chandigarh
, India. A website, called "www.ksvirk.in" was also launched on that day to make his contribution to literature more accessible world wide.
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
but extensively in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as well. His short stories were translated into several other languages including Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
by Leo Tolstoy's granddaughter Natasha Tolstoy and in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
by Dr Tomio Mizokami, Professor of Indian Languages at the Osaka University
Osaka University
, or , is a major national university located in Osaka, Japan. It is the sixth oldest university in Japan as the Osaka Prefectural Medical College, and formerly one of the Imperial Universities of Japan...
. He was born in the village of Phullarwan in the Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura or Shekhupur , formerly Kot Dayal Das or Singhpuria or Virkgarh , is an industrial city in the province of Punjab slightly northwest to Lahore in Pakistan. It is known for its historical places, and is commonly known locally as Qila Shaikhupura, because of the fort in the city,...
district of Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. His father Asa Singh was a landlord and mother Ishar Kaur was a home maker. After receiving his two M.A. degrees, he graduated from law school but never practiced. He married a daughter of prominent orthopedic surgeon Dr. Karam Singh Grewal in 1949.
Virk served as a second lieutenant with the British Army during the Second World War. He joined the Punjab civil services as a public relations officer in 1949. During his tenure with the civil service he also edited two magazines "Advance" and "Jagriti". He later joined the Indian government's federal civil service and worked in the ministry of information and broadcasting. Later, he was appointed as the press secretary to the premier of Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
province. Prior to and after his tenure as press secretary, he was the joint director of communications for the Punjab Agricultural University
Punjab Agricultural University
The Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana, Punjab is one of the State Agricultural Universities in India. It was established in 1962 and is the nation's oldest agricultural university in India, after Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar. It has an...
.
His writings won several awards. In 1958 he won his first award for his short story compilation titled ‘Dudh Da Chappar’ (A Pond of Milk). He won the Indian National Sahitya Academy Award in 1968 for his short story compilation ‘Nave Lok’ (New folks). It was presented to him by then Indian president Dr. Zakir Hussain. He was also recognized by the Literary Forum of Canada in 1984 and acclaimed for his contribution to literature by the Punjab Sahitya Academy in 1986.
After his retirement he temporarily moved to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
but returned to his beloved Punjab after a few months. He died in Toronto, Canada on 24 December 1986. Mr. K. S. Virk's wife Mrs. Harbans Kaur Virk died on 21 June 2010.
A memorial function was held in his honour on 4 November 2007 in Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
, India. A website, called "www.ksvirk.in" was also launched on that day to make his contribution to literature more accessible world wide.