Avtar Singh Billing.

Noted novelist and short stories writer.

Born on 13 December, 1952 in Village Seh of Punjab’s Ludhiana district. He became school lecturer after doing MA in English.

Three collections: Maut de saye heth – 1991, Apna khoon – 1994, Niaz – 1998.

First novel : Naranjan Mashalchi, 1997. Khere Sukh Vihre Sukh, 2002. Ihna rahan utte, 2007. Pat kumhla gaye, 2009.

Other books: Tips on school management, (educational) – 2002, Aane di akkal, stories for children – 2007, Sidki Parvane, edited poetry of Jarnail Singh Nirala – 1994.

Naranjan Mashalchi: Woven around a well constructed plot this novel uses the flashback technique, using first person narrative. It is a story of marginal Jat farmers’ joint family headed by Naranjan Singh. Despite working hard in their tiny field he and his wife lead a wretched life. Apart from struggling for economic survival Naranjan becomes suspicious of his wife’s fidelity. He kills her wife before killing himself.  

Khere Sukh Vehre Sukh: This novel is part of a trilogy and is set in the Punjab of 1950s. the novelist’s love for rural Punjab becomes evident in the narrative. Some compare him with Nanak Singh and Pearl S. Buck.

Ihna Rahan Utte: This is the third novel. It depicts a woman Sarbo’s plight whose married life is disturbed dute to her husband’s death in an accident.

Pat kumhla gaye: This novel deals with the miserable life of upper castes in Punjab.

Awards:

1. Nanak Singh Puraskaar, 2003, for Khere Sukh Vehre Sukh.

2. Nanak Singh Puraskaar, 2008, for Ihna Rahan Utte.

3. Bibi Swarn Kaur Award, 2009, for Pat Kumhla Gaye as the best Punjabi book of the year.

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