Singh ‘Kanwal’, Jaswant was born at village Dhudike (Tehsil Moga and district Ferozepur) in 1919 in the family of S. Mahia Singh. Jaswant Singh is a well-known novelist in Punjabi literature. He did not complete his schooling and went to Malaysia, where he stayed for three years and took to employment. He returned to India with a developed literary taste. He took to his parental profession of farming and gained wide experience of life. He is a well-known novelist in Punjabi.
Though he has written short stories, he has excelled only in novel-writing. His important novels are: Puranmashi, Raat baqi hai. Civil Lines, Roop dhara, Haani, Mittar piare nun, Tarikh vekhdi hai, Jaira Bhawani, Laho di loe, Anean chon uthe soorma. His short story collections are Kande, Sandhoor, Zindgi door nahin, Ruh da haan, Roop de rakhe, Gora mukh sajna da, Mayi da lal. He has been a committed Marxist who developed a progressive point of view towards his life-problems.
He specializes in the delineation of realistic, rural and rustic life (Malwa region) with sufficient use of Malwai dialect. This brings in the element of local colour in abundance in his writings. He satirises the misdeeds of unscrupulous rich people and inspires the downtrodden to rise in strength and unity. He propagates a socialistic pattern of society with a fair use of sentimentality. Kanwal is considered to be the real successor of Nanak Singh in many respects.
References :
1. Amarjit Singh, Punjabi saint da itihas ”Qissa kal, Amritsar, 1981.
2. Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature, 6 Vols., Delhi, 1995.
3. Kohli, S.S., Punjabi Sahit da Itihas, Ludhiana, 1955.
4. Mohan Singh, A History of Punjabi Literature, Amritsar, 1956.
5. Ramdev, Jaginder Singh (ed.), Punjabi Likhari Kosh, Jullundur, 1964.
6. Sekhon, S.S. and K.S. Duggal, A History of Punjabi Literature, Delhi, 1992.
7. Singh, N.K., Encyclopaedia of Indian Biography, Delhi, 2000.
Jaswant Singh Kanwal stands tall as one of the most inspiring voices in modern Punjabi literature. Renowned for his bold narrative style and uncompromising social critique, his novels not only capture the rustic essence of rural Punjab but also serve as a clarion call for social reform. His works deftly expose the complex interplay of tradition and modernity, using compelling characters and realistic settings to create a literary space where the struggles and aspirations of marginalized communities find resonance.
A hallmark of Kanwal’s writing is his willingness to challenge established norms. Novels such as Sach Nu Phansi (The Execution of Truth) and Raat Baaki Hai (The Night Is Still Young) are celebrated for their gritty realism and political poignancy. Perhaps most controversially, his novel Lahoo Di Loa (Dawn of the Blood) delves deep into the socio-political unrest of its time, reflecting the intensity of movements like the Naxalite surge in Punjab. Through such works, Kanwal masterfully blends historical context with personal narratives, offering readers both a reflective mirror and a transformative blueprint for societal change. His left-leaning perspectives are evident throughout his oeuvre, where themes of gender equality, caste discrimination, and the fight against oppression commonly emerge.
Kanwal’s inspiring novels have not only enriched Punjabi literature but have also influenced generations of writers and intellectuals, prompting vibrant discussions on social justice and cultural identity. His narrative techniques—marked by lyrical yet direct prose—help bridge the gap between raw regional experiences and universal themes of human resilience and hope .
- Punjabio Marna Hai Ke Jina (O Punjabi! Do you wish to die or live?)
- Khoon Ke Sohile Gavee-aih Nanak (Nanak! Sing Sonnets of Blood)(Two volumes) Novel
- Mukati Maarag (Freedom Way) Novel
- Lahu Di Lo (Dawn of the Blood)
- Haani (Soul-mate)
- Roop Dhaara (Layers of Beauty)
- Manukhata (Humanity)
- Morha (The Turn)
- Civil Lines
- Jera (Guts)
- Jungle De Sher (Tigers of the Jungle)
- Raat Baaki Hai (The Night is Unfinished)
- Puranmaashi (Full Moon Night)
- Mittar Piyaare Nu (To Friend Beloved)
- Gora Mukh Sajna Da (Handsome is the face of friend)
- Pali
- Sach Nu Phansi (Death to the Truth)
- Rooh Da Haan (Friendship with the Soul)
- Dev Dass
- Chikar De Kanwal (Lotuses of Mud)
- Zindagi Door Nahin (Life is not Afar)
- Kande (Thorns)
- Sandhoor (Colour of Marriage)
- Hal Muridan Da (Tale of a Disciple) (Political Diary)
- Apna Quami Ghar (Our National Home Land)
- Ainion Chon Utho Surma (From the Masses Will Rise the Valorous)
- Jittnama (Tale of Victory)
- Juhu Da Moti
- Navan Sanias
- Sundraan
- Soormain
- Barf Di Agg
- Aradhna (worship)
- Hawka Te Muskaan
- Bhavana
- Jeevan Kahanian (Stories of Life)
- Sikh Jaddo Jehad (Sikh Struggle)
- Ainian Chon Utho Soorma
- Maran mitran de age
- Lamme Walan Di Peer
- Jand Panjab da
- Gwachi Pug (Lost honour)
- Tarikh vekhdi hai (Time is a Witness)
- Taushali di hanso
- Ahesas
- Roopmati
