Name Dhani Chatrik Role Writer | Died December 18, 1954 | |
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Visakhi da mela lala dhani ram chatrik
Dhani Ram Chatrik or Dhaniram Chatrik (October 4, 1876 – December 18, 1954) was a Punjabi poet and typographer.
Contents
- Visakhi da mela lala dhani ram chatrik
- Mele vich jatt lala dhani ram chatrik
- Early life
- Career
- Legacy
- References
He is considered one of the pioneers of modern Punjabi poetry. He is known for having actively promoted Punjabi culture, language and publications through his life's works. In 1926, he became the President of Punjabi Sahit Sabha, a Punjabi Literary Society.
He was the first person to standardize the typeset for Gurmukhi script, publish Guru Granth Sahib and Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha’s Mahan Kosh (the first Punjabi dictionary) by using modern technique at his Sudarshan Printing Press.
Mele vich jatt lala dhani ram chatrik
Early life
He was born in village Pasian-wala, district Sheikhupura (now in Pakistan). His father Pohu Lal, was an ordinary shopkeeper. His father moved to village Lopoke in search for work. His father taught him Gurmukhi and Urdu scripts. Dhaniram grew fond of calligraphy and went to Bombay to learn Gurmukhi typography. Though a Hindu by birth, he became an admirer of the Sikh faith after he came in contact with the major Punjabi poet of that era Bhai Vir Singh. It was after this meeting that he was inspired to write verses in the Punjabi Language.
Career
He was a highly creative writer. He used his composing skills to experiment with different genres of Punjabi. He used simple and fresh vocabulary. His use of metaphor, tone, and style were easy to understand by the masses. It was more a descriptive or Qissa style. This style is evident from the following lines depicting peasantry written in narrative style:
Toorhi tand saamb haarhi vech watt keLambrhaan ‘te shaahaan da hisaab katt keKachhe maar vanjhli anand chhaa gyaMaarda damaame jatt mele aa gyaHis creations Himala, Ganga, Rat are well known. Another one of his poems, Kora Qadir, where we hear his passionate cry against the divisions of humanity through diversity of creed is as follows:
Let us bury caste and creed,Let us erase this sorrow indeed,You a Sayyid, I a Brahmin,Let us finish this foolish din.We have to bear each other, sayWe are not here for eternal stay,Let there be laughter in our meeting,Let our hearts be one this eveningLegacy
He has been called "Punjab’s greatest lyricist and poet". In 1985, Surinder Singh Narula published a book in his honour called "Dhani Ram Chatrik, Publisher: Sahitya-Akademi". Punjabi University Patyala honoured Chatrik by dedicating their annual diary to him.