Hamdard, Sadhu Singh (1918 – 1984)
Sadhu Singh Hamdard was a double-barrelled journalist, excelling in both Urdu and Punjabi, and an innovative poet. He carried in his name the pseudonym ‘Hamdard,’ meaning “sharing with all the pangs of their hearts” or “friendly towards all.” Born in 1918 into a peasant family of moderate means in the village of Paddi Matvali, near Banga, in Jalandhar district of Punjab, he was drawn to the revolutionary activities stirring the hearts of the youth in his neighborhood.
As a high school student, he became active in Chaudhri Sher Jang’s group of radicals in the Yug Paltai Dal, a party aimed at imparting a radical turn to the age. The Dal was formed in 1939-40 by Giani Harbans Singh of Sarhala Khurd in Hoshiarpur district. The Dal ceased to exist after the arrest and execution of its founder. Sadhu Singh then joined the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, taking over its publicity wing.
In 1944, Sadhu Singh entered the field of journalism, taking up the editorship of the Daily Ajit (Urdu), a position he retained until 1957. In 1955, he also became the chief editor of the Punjabi Ajit. The birth of the Ajit was a turning point in Punjabi journalism. It marked a new era of change and experimentation. Under Sadhu Singh’s leadership, Punjabi journalism matured and reached new heights. The Ajit and Sadhu Singh Hamdard became synonymous as he so lovingly nursed the paper.
Sadhu Singh left a permanent mark on Punjabi journalism, creating a new taste in Punjabi writing and introducing innovative techniques. His contributions to Punjabi journalism, especially in giving it a modern face and format, were widely acknowledged. In 1963, the Punjab Government honored him with the title of Shiromani Pattarkar (Journalist of the Year).
In 1973, he served as chairman of the reception committee of the All India Newspapers Editors Conference held in Jalandhar. He also edited two monthly magazines, Tasvir and Drishti. Within his lifetime, Sadhu Singh converted all his property and assets into a public trust for the advancement of Punjabi culture and literature.
As a poet, Sadhu Hamdard is remembered for popularizing the ghazal form in Punjabi. His collection of Punjabi poems in this genre, titled Ghazal, won him first prize from the Punjab Government in 1963. An anthology of his prose writings, Akkhin Ditha Rus, a travelogue on his visit to Soviet Russia in 1967, also won a Punjab Government award in 1972-73. Additionally, he wrote novels centered around heroic episodes from Sikh history and some short stories. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, awarded him a Ph.D. degree for his thesis on “Origin and Development of the Punjabi Ghazal.” He was a fellow of the university and a member of its Syndicate.
He also held positions such as:
Dr. Sadhu Singh Hamdard was awarded the title of Padma Shri by the Central Government in January 1984. However, he surrendered this honor in protest against the army action in the precincts of the Golden Temple, Amritsar, in June 1984. Sadhu Singh Hamdard passed away in Jalandhar on 29 July 1984.
References :
- The Ajit, Punjabi, Jalandhar, 29 July 1995.
- Suba Singh, Punjabi Pattarkari da Itihas, Chandigarh, 1978.
