Kartar Singh Duggal
Famous Writers

Kartar Singh Duggal (b. 1917) is a brilliant Punjabi writer. A master craftsman, Duggal has penned several novels, short stories, plays and poems. He remains unparalleled in Punjabi literature for having fictionalised landmark events in the contemporary history of India.

Among his works is the celebrated trilogy covering a volatile period of Punjab, starting with the freedom struggle and ending with the declaration of general elections by Mrs. Indira Gandhi after the Emergency. The first novel is called Haal Mureedan Da (The Plight of the Devotees), the second Ab Na Bason Eh Gaon (No More Will I Live in This Village), and the last Jal Ki Pyaas Na Jaaye (The Thirst for Water Never Dies).

Kartar Singh Duggal was born in 1917, in Dhamal, Rawalpindi District, Pakistan. He writes with equal ease in Panjabi, Urdu, Hindi, and English and excels in all genres of writings. His works have been translated into several Indian and foreign languages. He has received many honors and awards including the Padma Bhushan, Sahitya Akademi Award, Ghalib Award, Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Award, Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid Award, and Soviet Land Award.

He has served as Director, All India Radio and Director, National Book Trust. He has also been Advisor (Information), Planning Commission of India. The Library of Congress has approximately 118 of his works.