->TartarTorte at 03:49, 15 November 2021

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{{Multiple issues|
{{Notability|1=Biographies|date=March 2021}}
{{Primary sources|date=March 2021}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox person
|abovestyle = background:#a6cef5;
|name = Jaswant Singh Rahi
|image = Jaswant Singh Rahi.png
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1913|03|16}}
|birth_place = [[Dera Baba Nanak]], [[British Punjab|Punjab]], [[British Raj|British India]] (present-day [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], India)
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1996|4|11|1913|1|16}}
|death_place = [[Dera Baba Nanak]], [[Punjab, India]]
| years_active = 1930–96
| spouse = {{marriage|Satwant Kaur|1932}}
| children = '''Sons:''' Inderjeet Singh Rahi, Sarabjeet Singh Rahi, Rajwant Singh Rahi; <br>
'''Daughters:''' Late Ms. Sukhbir Kaur (Social Activist and Punjabi writer), Santosh, Raj Kumari, Mohanjeet and Kanwaljeet
| occupation = Writer, [[freedom fighter]], communist
}}

'''Jaswant Singh Rahi''' ({{lang-pa|ਜਸਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਹੀ}}; 16 March 1913 – 11 April 1996) was a [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] poet, writer, [[communist]] and [[freedom fighter]].<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://archive.org/stream/DTIC_ADA334265/DTIC_ADA334265_djvu.txt | title = Full text of "DTIC ADA334265: JPRS Report, Near East & South Asia, India." |date = 12 April 2020}}</ref> He was born in and lived his whole life in [[Dera Baba Nanak]] town of [[Gurdaspur]] district of [[Punjab, India]]. Columnist Joginder Singh Bedi<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://scontent.fdel13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s960x960/10680106_722984637766867_3968587292485192063_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_sid=dd9801&_nc_ohc=5dcHI7ajEQoAX_DLOl0&_nc_ht=scontent.fdel13-1.fna&_nc_tp=7&oh=b92e5cb8cc46097af41cc25d0636335b&oe=5EB92BAD | title = Jai Mitarta – Living up to his slogan | publisher = Facebook (The Tribune Clipping)|date = 12 April 2020}}</ref> stated, "Born in the holy town of Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, the Sahit Shiromani Poet Jaswant Singh Rahi's contribution to Punjabi world of letters is no less than that of [[Dhani Ram Chatrik]], Prof [[Mohan Singh (poet)]] and Prof [[Puran Singh]]. Rahi is popularly known for his slogan '''Jai Mitarta'''."<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://scontent.fdel13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s960x960/10680106_722984637766867_3968587292485192063_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_sid=dd9801&_nc_ohc=5dcHI7ajEQoAX_DLOl0&_nc_ht=scontent.fdel13-1.fna&_nc_tp=7&oh=b92e5cb8cc46097af41cc25d0636335b&oe=5EB92BAD | title = Jai Mitarta – Living up to his slogan | publisher = Facebook (The Tribune Clipping)|date = 12 April 2020}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Rahi was born in a Rajput (Jaswal) family. His family had devoted itself to India's struggle for independence from British [[colonial rule]]. He was very close to Baba Pyare Lal Bedi, a [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] [[Sikh]], an author and a philosopher. He married Satwant Kaur, a [[Sikh]] from Fatehgarh Churian of Gurdaspur district in Punjab. They had eight children, including three sons – Rajwant Singh Rahi, Inderjeet Singh Rahi and Sarbjeet Singh Rahi; and five daughters – Late Ms Sukhbir Kaur (social activist and Punjabi writer), Santosh, Raj Kumari, Mohanjeet and Kanwaljeet. His daughters-in-law are Charanjeet Kaur, Ravinder Rahi and Kulwinder Kaur.

His grandchildren include Dr. Baninder Rahi (journalist and media educator who has worked with the ''[[The Indian Express|Indian Express]],<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/columnist/baninder_rahi/ | title = Baninder Rahi | work = The Indian Express|date = 11 April 2020}}</ref> [[The Pioneer (India)|The Pioneer]]'' and ''[[Daily Post India]])''.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://vsjmc.vips.edu/baninder-rahi/ | title = Dr. Baninder Rahi | publisher = VIPS.edu|date = 11 April 2020}}</ref> Other grandchildren are Kavita Rahi, Bikramjeet Singh Rahi, Natasha Rahi, Navkiran Rahi, Prateek Rahi and Sarvnoor Singh Rahi.

He mentored writers including Rajwant Kaur Nagi and [[Shiv Kumar Batalvi]]{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} during his early years. Batalvi spent weeks at Rahi's house in Dera Baba Nanak.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.sikhphilosophy.net/threads/shiv-kumar-batalvi.26380/ | title = Shiv Kumar Batalvi | publisher = Sikh Philosophy Network|date = 12 April 2020}}</ref>

== Works and recognition ==
{{multiple image
| align = center
| header = <big>'''Some of the awards and honors conferred on Jaswant Singh Rahi'''</big>
| image1 = Lok Likhari Sabha.jpg
| width1 = 195
| alt1 = Lok Likhari Sabha Award
| caption1 = Lok Likhari Award

| image2 = Sahit Kala Sansar Batala.jpg
| width2 = 97
| alt2 = Award
| caption2 = Sahit Kala Award

| image3 = Preet Lari Puraskar.jpg
| width3 = 120
| alt3 = Preet Lari Puraskar
| caption3 = Preet Lari Puraskar

| image4 = Sahit Vichar Kendar.jpg
| width4 = 187
| alt4 = Sahit Vichar Kendar
| caption4 = Sahit Vichar Kendar Award

| image5 = Adabi Sahitya Sangam Puraskar.jpg
| width5 = 113
| alt5 = Adabi Sahitya Sangam Puraskar
| caption5 = Adabi Sahitya Sangam Puraskar

| image6 = Tamra Patra by PM Rajiv Gandhi 1988.jpg
| width6 = 225
| alt6 = Tamra Patra by PM Rajiv Gandhi 1988
| caption6 = Tamra Patra by PM Rajiv Gandhi 1988

}}

Jaswant Singh Rahi was inspired by the freedom struggle. He joined the Communist movement and at that time changed his name to Rahi. He wrote novels, poetry, and three-part autobiography entitled 'Main Kiven Jivia'.<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/maim-kiwem-jiwia-swai-jiwani/oclc/26364330 |title = Maiṃ kiweṃ jīwiā : swai-jīwanī|publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020|oclc = 26364330}}</ref> He was awarded by the Punjabi Lekhari Sabha and was also conferred with the Punjabi Sahit Shiromani Award.

== Writing style ==
Jaswant Singh Rahi is considered among the most honest and bold writers by his contemporaries and critics. Kulbir Singh Kang mentioned that Rahi has his own unique style of writing which is not influenced by any other prominent or popular author. While referring to Rahi's autobiography 'Main Kiven Jivia'<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/maim-kiwem-jiwia-swai-jiwani/oclc/26364330 |title = Maiṃ kiweṃ jīwiā : swai-jīwanī|publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020|oclc = 26364330}}</ref> Kang further mentioned that he did not make any attempt to hide or manipulate any incident irrespective of the consequences.
Joginder Singh Bedi in his 1992 column entitled "Jai Mitarta – Living up to his slogan"<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://scontent.fdel13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s960x960/10680106_722984637766867_3968587292485192063_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_sid=dd9801&_nc_ohc=5dcHI7ajEQoAX_DLOl0&_nc_ht=scontent.fdel13-1.fna&_nc_tp=7&oh=b92e5cb8cc46097af41cc25d0636335b&oe=5EB92BAD | title = Jai Mitarta – Living up to his slogan | publisher = Facebook (The Tribune Clipping)|date = 12 April 2020}}</ref> in [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]] has written, "In the galaxy of progressive Punjabi bards of North India, Jaswant Singh Rahi excels in composing quatrains in an unparalleled style." He further mentioned, "he has endeavoured to preach unity of godhead, brotherhood of man, secularism and above all international friendship in the context of his cherished slogan of Jai Mitarta."<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://scontent.fdel13-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s960x960/10680106_722984637766867_3968587292485192063_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_sid=dd9801&_nc_ohc=5dcHI7ajEQoAX_DLOl0&_nc_ht=scontent.fdel13-1.fna&_nc_tp=7&oh=b92e5cb8cc46097af41cc25d0636335b&oe=5EB92BAD | title = Jai Mitarta – Living up to his slogan | publisher = Facebook (The Tribune Clipping)|date = 12 April 2020}}</ref>

As mentioned by Manpreet Kaur in her thesis,<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://kr.cup.edu.in/bitstream/handle/32116/1649/T00031.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y | title = Theme of Revolt in the Selected Poems of Pash and Lal Singh Dil | publisher = Central University of Punjab, Bathinda|date = 12 April 2020}}</ref> "Jaswant Singh Rahi is a writer with traditional proverbs and modern enlightenment. His poems do not represent opposition, rather revolution. (Noor, Navin Punjabi 67). He does not want replacement; he wants transformation so that the individuals may be made free from communalism, slavery and inhuman behaviour. Rahi begins his poems with the repugnancy existing between imagination and realism. The background of this repugnancy is based on the religion as corollary of social values and facing the capitalist who converts the production into capital."

== Books ==
The following are among the prominent works by Jaswant Singh Rahi:<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL4369821A/Jaswant_Singh_Rahi |title = Jaswant Singh Rahi|publisher = Open Library|date = 11 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3ARa%CC%84hi%CC%84%2C+Jasawanta+Sin%CC%87gha%2C&qt=hot_author | title = au:Rāhī, Jasawanta Siṅgha|publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020}}</ref>
*''Lishkan'' (1952)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/lishakam/oclc/40407083&referer=brief_results |title = Lishakāṃ|publisher = WorldCat|date = 12 April 2020|oclc = 40407083}}</ref>
*''Dojakh Di Agg'' (1966)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/dozaka-di-agga-1-wara/oclc/83486700&referer=brief_results|title = Dozaka dī agga|publisher = WorldCat|date = 12 April 2020|oclc = 83486700}}</ref>
*''Aades Tise Aades'' (1983)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/adesa-tise-adesa-dharamika-kawitawam/oclc/19172996&referer=brief_results|title = Ādesa tise ādesa : dhāramika kawitāwaṃ|publisher = WorldCat|date = 12 April 2020|oclc = 19172996}}</ref>
*''Noor Upaiya'' (1969)
*''Jassa Singh Ramgarhia'' (Poetic narrative)(1970)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/mahana-yodha-saradara-jassa-singha-ramagarhia-maham-kawi/oclc/31205837&referer=brief_results | title = Mahāna Yodhā Saradāra Jassā Siṅgha Rāmagaṛhīā; mahāṃ-kāwi | publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020| oclc = 31205837 }}</ref>
*''Kaudian Khurmaniyan'' (1972)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/kauriam-khuramaniam-maulika-kahani-sangrahi/oclc/31071913&referer=brief_results|title = Kauṛīāṃ khuramānīāṃ : maulika kahāṇī saṅgrahi|publisher = WorldCat|date = 12 April 2020|oclc = 31071913}}</ref>
*''Sachha Jhutha-Kahani Sangrah'' (1975)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/sacca-jhutha-kahani-sangrahi/oclc/46708737&referer=brief_results |title = Saccā jhūṭha : kahāṇī saṅgrahi|publisher = WorldCat|date = 12 April 2020|oclc = 46708737}}</ref>
*''Tutde Jurde Jism'' (1978)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/tutade-jurade-jusama-panjabi-novel-gurmukhi-script/oclc/45819748&referer=brief_results|title = Ṭutade juṛade jusama|publisher = WorldCat|date = 12 April 2020|oclc = 45819748}}</ref>
*''Lahoo Bhiji Chanani'' (1981)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/lahu-bhijji-chanani/oclc/58870518&referer=brief_results | title = Lahu bhijji chanani | publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020| oclc = 58870518 }}</ref>
*''Pauna De Tarihaey'' (1981)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/paunam-de-tarihae/oclc/872706859&referer=brief_results | title = Paunam de tarihae | publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020| oclc = 872706859 }}</ref>
*''Kabran Da Gulab'' (1982)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/kabaram-da-gulaba-maulika-kahani-sangrahi/oclc/63004267&referer=brief_results | title = Kabarāṃ dā gulāba : maulika kahāni san̊grahi | publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020| oclc = 63004267 }}</ref>
*''Parchhavian da sach'' (1988)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/parachawiam-da-sacca/oclc/221994013&referer=brief_results | title = Parachāwiāṃ dā sacca | publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020| oclc = 221994013 }}</ref>
*''Moye phulan da mandar'' (1990)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/moe-phullam-da-mandara-maulika-kahaniam/oclc/712611560&referer=brief_results | title = Moe phullāṃ dā mandara : maulika kahāṇīāṃ | publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020| oclc = 712611560 }}</ref>
*''Adhoora Safar'' (1991)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/adhura-safara-ika-maulika-nawala/oclc/27505986&referer=brief_results | title = Adhūrā safara; ika maulika nāwala | publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020| oclc = 27505986 }}</ref>
*''Main Kiven Jeeveya I, II, III'' (Autobiography) (1991–95)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/maim-kiwem-jiwia-swai-jiwani/oclc/26364330 |title = Maiṃ kiweṃ jīwiā : swai-jīwanī|publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020|oclc = 26364330}}</ref>
*''Dohre Rahi De'' (1996)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/dohare-rahi-de/oclc/51587361&referer=brief_results | title = Dohaṛe "Rāhī" de | publisher = WorldCat|date = 11 April 2020| oclc = 51587361 }}</ref>
*''Lahoo De Timakane'' (1996)<ref>{{Cite book| url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/lahu-de-timakane/oclc/499802862&referer=brief_results |title = Lahū de timakaṇe|publisher = WorldCat|date = 12 April 2020|oclc = 499802862}}</ref>

== Political Influence ==
Throughout his active life, Rahi was considered among the most influential figures of the region. Prominent political personalities including Santokh Singh Randhawa, the then MLA of the constituency sought his advise on social and personal matters frequently. His correspondences regarding concerns over contemporary issues were also acknowledged by the then President of India, Giani Jail Singh. These correspondences are still preserved by the Rahi family.

== Recognition ==
Contribution of Jaswant Singh Rahi to [[Punjabi literature]] was duly recognized by contemporaries, critics and literary agencies. He has been conferred with several awards for his works, and his contributions for the freedom struggle of India.
Besides various honors, he was conferred with the following prestigious awards:
* Rashtriya Kavi ([[National Poet]]) by the Government of India on 26 January 1972 for his immense contribution to [[Punjabi literature]].
* Tamra Patra by Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]].
* Tamra Patra by Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web|url=https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL4369821A/Jaswant_Singh_Rahi|title=Jaswant Singh Rahi (Open Library)|publisher=openlibrary.org|access-date=31 January 2014}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rahi, Jaswant Singh}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Punjab (British India)]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Punjabi-language poets]]
[[Category:Punjabi-language writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Indian Communist writers]]
[[Category:Poets from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:People from Gurdaspur district]]

Jaswant Singh Rahi - Revision history

->TartarTorte at 03:49, 15 November 2021