Singh, Karanjit, a University teacher, has authored two collections of poems. These are Rishte (Relations) and Phul Vi Angare Vi (Both Blossoms and Sparks) besides a collection of sketches called Kalam di Akh (Pen Portraits) a critique of Mohan Singh\’s poetry ”Mohan Singh Kavya Adhyan (A Study of Mohan Singh\’s Verse), Punjabi Jiwan (Life in the Punjab) and Punjabi Lok Dhara (Punjab Folklore). He has also translated into Punjabi such eminent Soviet authors as Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. It is a fact that Dr. Singh is gaining better recognition.
Prof. Mohan Singh, the renowned Punjabi poet while writing about Dr. Karanjit Singh remarked, “the essential ingredient of a poem is its thought-content… In order to preserve or project it one requires diction. Reading, these poems, I am assured that Karanjit Singh has both.” Karanjit Singh has been in the soviet Union for several years engaged mainly in translating Soviet writing into Punjabi. Therefore, what he writes about the USSR is no formal tribute to a friendly country, it is genuine, soulful verse inspired by understanding and deep appreciation of the socialist way of life.
In a longer poem entitled “Awan Ruttan Jawan Ruttan” (Seasons Come and Go) in the section “Nighi Baraf de Chehre” (Face of the Warm Snow) running into over 500 lines, the poet describes the four seasons in Moscow throwing vivid sidelights on the people of the Soviet Union, their loves and longings. Writing about the legendary Kremlin he says: The red stars sparkle On the pinnacles of Kremlin at night Those who sleep in their shadow Their eternal sleep, Were the purveyors of fragrance They spread happiness all over. He who rules over everyone\’s heart Whom I, too, adore, They stand in biting cold To have a glimpse of him. What is more remarkable in these poems is the undisguised influence of Soviet thinking and their manner of stating the truth of life: It is true That man doesn\’t live by bread alone; It is a greater truth That man can never live without bread.
Where is truth? Come, I\’ll show you Its abode Seeing which It quenches one\’s thirst. Come I\’ll show you my beloved Seeing whom The mind is at rest. Yes, on one condition That you pull your eyes from your back And put them on your face. There are some fascinating specimens of poetry in this volume. What one admires in Karanjit is his not depending entirely on rhyme and metre for the essential music in his verse but on the selection and the arrangement of his words and phrases. He seems to jingle them in his palm and then throws them on the page with the immaculate flourish of a master, making his verse glow with colour and resound with musicality. T.S. Gill
References :
1. Amarjit Singh, Punjabi sahit da itihas ”Qissa kal, Amritsar, 1981.
2. Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature, 6 Vols., Delhi, 1995.
3. Sekhon, S.S. and K.S. Duggal, A History of Punjabi Literature, Delhi, 1992.
4. Singh, N.K., Encyclopaedia of Indian Biography, Delhi, 2000.
Karanjit Singh is a luminary in modern Punjabi literature whose poetic journey intricately weaves together the influences of Soviet thought and Punjabi cultural traditions. Born in 1930, this distinguished poet and university teacher has etched a unique path by not only authoring evocative collections of verse but also by bridging two seemingly disparate literary worlds. His celebrated collections—Rishte (Relations) and Phul Vi Angare Vi (Both Blossoms and Sparks)—offer a vivid tapestry of human emotions, social consciousness, and refined aesthetic sensibilities. Moreover, through works like Kalam di Akh (Pen Portraits), which critiques the poetry of Mohan Singh, as well as studies such as Punjabi Jiwan (Life in the Punjab) and Punjabi Lok Dhara (Punjab Folklore), Karanjit Singh deepens the connection between literary art and the lived experiences of Punjabi society .
A significant facet of his legacy is rooted in his profound engagement with Soviet literature. Spending several years in the Soviet Union, Karanjit Singh dedicated himself to translating the works of literary giants like Pushkin, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky into Punjabi. However, his translations are far more than mere renderings of texts from one language to another—they are soulful, impassioned compositions that reflect a genuine appreciation of the socialist way of life and its humanistic ideals. For instance, in his expansive poem “Awan Ruttan Jawan Ruttan” (Seasons Come and Go), particularly in the section “Nighi Baraf de Chehre” (Face of the Warm Snow), he paints a lyrical portrait of Moscow across its seasons, capturing not only its climatic rhythms but also the hopes, loves, and existential longings of its people. This synthesis of Soviet realism and Punjabi poetic sensibility underscores his ability to harness a rich, cross-cultural dialogue that remains both intellectually provocative and musically graceful .
Karanjit Singh’s work is lauded for its thoughtful content and the clarity of its diction—a quality summarized by Prof. Mohan Singh when he remarked that the essential ingredient of a poem is its thought-content, and that Karanjit Singh possesses both this depth and the precise language to express it. His poetry and translations have not only enriched Punjabi literature by introducing global dimensions into local artistic expressions but have also inspired future generations to explore new thematic terrains. His journey—from grappling with the vibrant, ideological landscapes of Soviet society to encapsulating the timeless spirit of Punjab—demonstrates how literary art can serve as a bridge between different worlds, forging a lasting impact on the cultural and intellectual fabric of South Asia.
