Anik Bisthar by Pritam Singh ‘Safir’ is a collection of forty-eight poems. Safir is a major modem Punjabi poet who has eleven books of poetry to his credit. Safir is a romantic as well as a mystic poet. With romantic wings the lover-poet wants to fly to spiritual and mystic heights. His main source of inspiration is Gurbani and Guru-history. Even the title of this book has been chosen from Sukhmani by Guru Arjan Dev. The influence of Guru Gobind Singh\’s personality on his poetic sensibility is very deep. The artistic admixture of romanticism and mysticism has made him a philosopher poet by bringing depth in his thought and pithiness in his expression.
According to Coleridge a sense of philosophy is a pre-requisite for a good poet and Safir fully lives up to this dictum. Safir is also a patriotic and revolutionary poet. He exhibits national pride for the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives at Chhamb (Punjab) in Indo-Pak war, for defending the freedom and dignity of the country. His international outlook also inspires him to express deep respect for those countries (Palestine and Tashkent, U.S.S.R.) which have been, at times, the victims of injustice and barbarity and have stood firmly like a rock, for their high ideals. Safir has his sincere sympathy for the laborer and the tiller of the soil. He is a poet of revolt and valor.
He has all the praise at his command for those dignified personalities of high spirits, who have aspired to usher in new revolutions in this world, because it is the blood’s unwithering colour alone, with which the golden history of a nation can be properly written. He dreams of a socialistic pattern of society for conferring equality to all, as the only solution to the vexed and complex problems of the present day world. He selects appropriate and varied symbols to properly convey his thought and fully expresses his attitude to the objects for which these have been chosen. For him the brave soldiers are like hawks who have the guts to fly high over the border of their country.
These martyrs are like musical instruments, from whom the music of sacrifice comforts their countrymen by bringing solace to them. They are flowers whose fragrance of sacrifice soothes the remaining population of their country. The tears have been symbolised as candle-drops and human beings as playing cards with different fortunes embossed on them. His imagery is fresh, natural and befitting. Universe is described as flowing out of the unseen almighty, as water-fall gushes out of the mountain. Anik Bisthar (1980) fully represents his rich poetic sensibility and specialised poetic diction. Even in this book he has been able to maintain consistency in his intensity of emotion, and lyricism. This book got the Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 1983.
References :
1. Sekhon, S.S. and K.S Duggal, A History of Punjabi Literature, Delhi 1992.
Exploring Anik Bisthar: A Panoramic Journey Through Romanticism, Mysticism, and Patriotism
Anik Bisthar—also rendered as Anik Bistar (Panoramic Creation)—is a collection of 48 poems by the major Punjabi poet Pritam Singh, known by his pen name Safir. This awardwinning work (celebrated with the Sahitya Akademi Award) stands as a vibrant expression of modern Punjabi literature, where the interweaving of romantic longing, mystical transcendence, and fierce patriotism creates a uniquely layered poetic landscape.
Romanticism and Mysticism Interlaced in Verse
At the heart of Anik Bisthar lies a dual spirit of romanticism and mysticism. Safir’s verses are imbued with the passionate zeal of a loverpoet whose quest is not only for earthly love but also for a higher, spiritual union. His romanticism isn’t merely a celebration of personal desire—it is a gateway to exploring the ineffable depths of the soul. Drawing significant inspiration from Gurbani and the illustrious history of the Sikh Gurus, the poet elevates his language to approach the mystical. Indeed, the very title of the collection is chosen from the Sukhmani Sahib by Guru Arjan Dev, underscoring the work’s deep spiritual and philosophical resonance. This integration of mystical elements with a lyrical romanticism has often been credited with giving Safir’s poetry a reflective quality that traverses time and emotion, positioning him within the tradition of the visionary poetphilosopher .
A Patriotic Voice in a Transforming World
While the poetry of Anik Bisthar ascends to transcendent realms through its romantic and mystic imagery, it is equally marked by an earthy, vigorous patriotism. Safir’s commitment to his nation and its ideals surfaces powerfully within his work. His verses pay homage to the sacrifices of brave soldiers (for instance, commemorating the valor of those who fought at Chhamb) and extend solidarity to global struggles against injustice—be it for the people of Palestine, or those resisting oppression in distant lands. In this way, Safir bridges the personal with the political, reflecting a revolutionary consciousness that yearns for social equality and justice. His images—comparing martyrs to soaring hawks, musical instruments whose melodies comfort a grieving nation, and even tears reimagined as candledrops—speak not only to the beauty of sacrifice but also to the deepseated national pride and empathy for the oppressed .
Literary Technique and Cultural Resonance
Safir’s craftsmanship lies in his ability to blend varied symbolic layers seamlessly. His romantic language, combined with mystic allusions, creates an evocative dialogue between the divine and the mundane. The poetic form becomes a crucible where historical narratives—rooted in Sikh cultural ethos—are not static relics but living, breathing elements of presentday life. Critics have noted that his very approach resonates with the idea, famously expressed by Coleridge, that a good poet must possess a profound philosophical vision. Safir’s work, therefore, is not only a repository of emotion but also an intellectual excursion, urging its readers to contemplate the broader human condition through a localized, culturally rich lens .
Recognition and Impact
The receipt of the Sahitya Akademi Award further underscores the collection’s importance in the pantheon of Punjabi literature. Such recognition is a testament not only to the aesthetic and thematic power of Safir’s verses but also to the significant impact his work has had on contemporary literary sensibilities in Punjab and beyond. The award affirms that Anik Bisthar is much more than a collection of poems; it is a cultural artifact—a curated panorama of a people’s hopes, struggles, and spiritual aspirations.
