Current Status of Science Fiction Writings in Punjabi
Dr. Devinder Pal Singh
Abstract
Science fiction (SF) writing in Punjabi began sometime in the 1970s. In the last four decades, only a few original books and translation works have been published in the field of Punjabi literature. However, in recent years, a new vigour has been observed: many Punjabi writers have published science fiction stories in various magazines and newspapers in India and abroad. A few writers have also contributed to the development of this field by writing original books and translating the SF works of various eminent authors of other languages.Dr. Devinder Pal Singh
Abstract
This article elaborates on the contributions of various individuals and organizations to the development of SF writing in Punjabi. The role of different institutions, NGOs, and government agencies in this field is also reported. Furthermore, the state-of-the-art report for SF literature in Punjabi is presented. Finally, the role of print/mass media in the development of Punjabi SF writing is discussed. It is pointed out that SF writing in Punjabi is still in its infancy, but it has excellent potential for authors to make outstanding contributions.
Introduction
Punjabi is the 'State language' of the Punjab province of India. It emerged as an independent language in the 11th century. An eminent Sufi Faqir Baba Farid composed his hymns and Slokas in it during the early 13th century. It is believed that the golden period of Punjabi literature extends from the birth of Guru Nanak (1469) to the demise of Guru Gobind Singh (1708). Most of the mystic and religious poetry of the period is preserved in the Adi Granth, an excellent anthology of Bhakti poetry. From 1600 to 1800 AD, the best Sanskrit literature was imbibed into Punjabi through translations, covering the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads [1].
During the Mughal, Sikh Kingdom, and British Empire periods, the official language of the Punjab province was either Urdu or English. Thus, Punjabi did not get official backing. Even after India's independence, it could not get official recognition until much later. Finally, with the creation of Punjabi Suba in 1966, Punjabi was accorded the status of the state language. During the last fifty-five years, it has shown vigorous development in all branches of literature [1-2].
Much of our present-day lifestyle is founded on science. We know that science is knowledge, and in the words of Francis Bacon, knowledge is power. Therefore, the easy availability of such knowledge is a primary requirement to empower ordinary people. It is much easier to fulfill this need by communicating such knowledge in the language of the masses. Thus, the role of science communication and popularization cannot be underestimated. Fortunately, the Punjabi language has only recently awakened to this need.
Most of the current popular science writings in Punjabi are in a prosaic form. Almost ninety percent of scientific articles published in newspapers, popular science magazines, and books are generally of this genre [1-2]. Thereby, it can be said that it is the most popular form of writing among the science writers of Punjab. On the other hand, only a few Science fiction writings in Punjabi have been published to date.
Science Fiction Writings
There is no easy agreement about when we might date the beginning of science fiction in Punjabi. Some scholars claim Emam Bakhash's Kissa Shah Behram, published in the first half of the 19th century, as the origin. But unfortunately, it doesn't meet the definition of Science Fiction outlined by eminent writer Isaac Asimov [3-4].
Eminent author Isaac Asimov reports, "Science Fiction (SF) must involve itself with technology and science at least tangentially. It must deal with a society certainly different from the real one of its time, and its difference must involve some difference in the level of technology and science. If it is so, SF cannot predate popular awareness of the connection between advancing technology, science, and social transformation."
According to the definition of Science Fiction as reported in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English language: "Science fiction is the fiction in which scientific discoveries and developments form a background or plot. Especially, it is a work of fiction founded on the forecast of future scientific capabilities." John W. Campbell, an eminent SF author and fellow writers, believes that "Science Fiction must deal with the sciences and material universe. Therefore, it can include issues related to economics, sociology, medicine and suchlike, all of which have a material base."
Considering the above definitions, Kissa Shah Behram of Emam Bakhash cannot be termed a work of science fiction. Instead, it is a fantasy, featuring highly fanciful or supernatural elements. The leading character of the Kissa can become invisible. But there is no mention of the scientific basis of his invisibility. The main theme of the Kissa is almost identical to that of H. G. Wells's SF novel The Invisible Man, published in 1897. But it does not fulfill the established norms for a science fiction work [3-4].
An eminent American writer, L. Ron Hubbard, states, "It has been assumed that science fiction (SF) must come from an era where science exists. SF does not come after the advent of scientific development or discovery. It is an indicator of probability. It is an appeal that someone should work in the future. But it is not prophecy; rather, it is the dream that precedes the dawn when a scientist or an inventor awakens and goes to his lab or his books, saying, 'I wonder whether I can make that dream come true in the world of real science.'
Given the above definition of science fiction, there have been notable contributions to the genre in the Punjabi language during the last four decades [1-4]. Some prominent authors who have contributed to this emerging field of Punjabi literature are Amandeep Singh, D. P. Singh, Amarjit Singh, Ajmer Sidhu, Rupinderpal Dhillon, Amarjit Kaur Pannu, Jasvir Singh Rana, Jasvir Singh Didargarh, and Gurnam Grewal.
In 1989, the first SF book in Punjabi, Tutdey Tareyan Di Dastaan, was published by Amandeep Singh. This book contains nine stories that explore scientific topics such as emotional robots, the dangers of asteroids, life on other planets, interstellar travel, alien contact, interplanetary romance, and terrorism [5]. In recent years, Amandeep has published two more science fiction stories, Neeli Roshani (2013) and Jivan di Buniaad (2015). Neeli Roshani reports an interaction with aliens, whereas Jivan di Buniaad elaborates on a post-apocalypse scenario on the planet Senchy. Furthermore, in 2022, he published the science fiction anthology 'Sitarian ton aggey,' which contains six stories related to distant worlds, futuristic and technologically advanced civilizations, humanoid robots, space, time, and a human colony on Mars, etc. This collection of six short stories takes us on a voyage through alien worlds, a high-tech future with advanced robots and flying cars! In all these science-fiction tales, the author has kept the warmth of love and human emotion at the heart of them.
Dhartiye Ruk Ja (1995) and Robot, Manukh te Kudrat (1997) are among D. P. Singh's contributions to the genre [6]. The three stories in Dhartiye Ruk Ja, published by Punjab State University Text-Book Board in 1995, describe what would happen if a person's or an object's weight were lost or the earth's motion were stopped. The other book, Robot, Manukh ate Kudrat, contains seven stories for children that enunciate various scientific facts and ideas about time travel, interplanetary travel, and robots in an exciting manner.
Another writer, Amarjit Singh, published an anthology of short stories, Chip De Andar, in 1997. This book comprises twelve stories. But only three of these can be grouped under the SF category. The first SF story titled "Chip De Andar" describes the impact of virtual reality on human society. Next, the "Ik Din Dharti Da" story discusses the harmful effects of environmental pollution on the earth. Finally, the story titled "Kali Badali" (Black Cloud) narrates the tale of a nuclear disaster and its disastrous effects on human life [4].
Ajmer Sidhu [7] edited and published an anthology of stories, Narak Kund, in 1997. In this book, my story titled "Robot, Manukh te Kudrat" explores interplanetary travel, nuclear war, robots' dominance on earth, and the need for the co-existence of robots, man, and nature. Ajmer Sidhu's book Khuh Girhda Hai (2004) contains two SF stories: "Dilli de Kingre" and Dinosaurs." In "Dilli de Kingre," the author describes the application of modern scientific technology by the police to perpetrate atrocities on revolutionaries of the contemporary era. In "Dinosaurs," he comments on the current society in which corrupt and selfish leaders, symbolized as dinosaurs, rule over ordinary people. These dinosaurs' insatiable greed and hunger are described. Ajmer's 2013 book Khushak Aakh da Khab features his SF story, "Kabar vich daphan hazar vareh." The story enunciates the human desire to achieve immortality. His latest science fiction story, "The Lenins from the Clone Valley," elaborates on the intricacies of human cloning and its implications.
Rupinderpal Dhillon's book Bharind (2011) presents two SF stories: ‘Kaldaar’ and ‘Vikas.’ In ‘Kaldaar,’ the author [8] acquaints us with intelligent, thinking, and scheming robots. In a futuristic setting, using robots as tools, he reflects on prevailing attitudes toward social stratification. In Roop's utopia, robots are treated as a low caste and politically suppressed, but they rise aggressively against the system.
In ‘Vikas’ [8-9], Dhillon tells a tale of a world at its end, sending out many spacecrafts to look for another habitable planet. With a grand sweep of imagination, he presents a mix of social and eco-global concerns of the world. As an underlying theme, he offers a mirror to the social ills prevalent in present-day Punjabi society. His other SF stories, for instance, "Dunga Pani," "Chori Da Natija," and "Bharind," published between 2007 and 2010, elaborate on the phenomenon of metamorphism and alien life.
D. P. Singh's science fiction anthology Samen de Vehan (The Flux of Time) features twenty stories. These stories describe a wide range of topics, including interplanetary travel, the search for extraterrestrial time travel, relativity, intelligence, emotional and artistic robots, time travel, the multiverse, genetic mutations, cryogenics, and the resurrection of life [4]. In addition, the socio-economic impact of technological advancement on human society is depicted. Herein, many characters transcend the boundaries of space and time, reaching beyond the solar system.
These stories were published in various Punjabi newspapers internationally, including Parvasi Weekly, Canada, and The Punjabi Daily, Canada, during 2010-12. In addition, Pukheroo, a children's magazine edited and published by Ashraf Suhail of Punjabi Bal Adbi Board, Lahore, Pakistan, has published several science fiction stories in Shamukhi (Punjabi) during 2016-22. Some of these include D. P. Singh's contributions: ‘Tohfa,’ ‘Ek Navi Dharti,’ ‘Chahat,’ ‘Pani de putle,’ ‘Bahroopia,’ ‘Ek Ajab Mulakat,’ ‘Ek Navan Suraj,’ ‘Vapsi’ and ‘Robot, Manukh Te Kudrat.’ In addition, a book titled ‘Navi Dharti, Naven Akash,’ containing about ten science fiction stories for children, is likely to be published this year. The book includes stories about life on other planets, interplanetary travel, aliens, and time travel.
My latest science-fiction stories, ‘Bhatkan’ and ‘Kepler Grah de Ajab Vashinde,’ were published in Parvasi Weekly newspaper, Canada, and Aks magazine, Delhi, India, in 2018. These stories describe the possibilities of interplanetary travel and extraterrestrial intelligence [4].
Jasvir Singh Didargarh published an anthology of environmental stories, Pavan Guru Pani Pita, in 2019 [4]. It contains thirteen stories. These stories successfully portray the current ecological crisis and depict an alarming scenario for the near future. Another science fiction writer, Tipu Salman Makhdoom, Lahore, Pakistan, authored a science fiction story, "Machini Athroo," in 2019 about emotional robots.
Dr. Harjit Singh's novelette for children, titled "Sachi muchi, aveyen muchi," was serialized in Punjabi Tribune in 2020. It talks of interplanetary travel, UFOs, atomic weapons, and aliens.
Amarjit Kaur Pannu's book ‘Sucha Gulab,’ published in 2022, presents a science fiction story ‘Tervin Santan,’ which describes skin cloning, automated houses, human clones, organ farming, and designer babies in an exciting way.
The advent of Dharatstan (2008), the first science fiction novel in Punjabi by Gurnam Grewal, UK, marked a new epoch in Punjabi science fiction writing. In it, Gurnam describes the impact of the sun's loss on Earth and life on it. Another SF novel, Etho Registan disda hai, was published in 2017 by Jasvir Singh Rana. The novel describes the contemporary and future ill effects of the environmental crisis.
In 2018, Rupinderpal Dhillon [9] published a dystopian novel, Samurai, which includes time travel and a future society under dictatorship with sophisticated technology. His other novel, Sindbad, published in 2021, talks about artificial intelligence, robots, and space travel. Another novel, Chita te Kala, published in 2022, includes physical operations using technology that change white people into brown and vice versa.
Recently, some Punjabi writers have started writing plays on scientific topics. For example, Taraksheel Society Punjab's volunteers have enacted the Te Dev Purash Haar Gaye play numerous times throughout Punjab province. This play depicts the harmful effects of superstition and sham in modern society.
In 2007, D. P. Singh wrote a play titled Rukh, Manukh te Vatavarn about environmental awareness [10]. It was performed by students at National Public School Passiwal, Ropar, in their annual function and was well received by the audience. In 2013, Mandeep Singh Aujla [11] authored and directed a short play, Aab. It describes a story of humans' awakening to the importance of water in their lives.
In 2019, D. P. Singh's book Satrangi Peengh te hor Natak in Shahmukhi (Punjabi) was published by Punjabi Bal Adbi Board, Lahore, Pakistan [6]. It was transliterated by Ashraf Suhail in Shahmukhi. The book contains eleven environmental plays. His other book, Dharti Maan Bimar Hai te hor Natak, was published in 2021. These plays elaborate on various aspects of environmental problems and their prevention. However, as only a few science-based plays have been published in Punjabi, work on radio, and television serial scripts and science-based Nukarh Natak (skits), remain scarce.
Unfortunately, Punjabi films primarily focus on fantasy rather than science fiction, prioritizing the unbelievable over the believable. As a consequence, anything is possible in Punjabi's mythical films. However, in May 2018, 'Raduaa,' the first Punjabi SF film (as claimed in the media), directed by and starring Nav Bajwa, was released [12]. The film's story elaborates on a scientific experiment leading to an unexpected time travel from 2017 to 1955.
Fortunately, many Punjabi magazines (e.g., Aks, Samkali Sahit, Nirantar Soach, India, and Pukheroo, Pakistan) and newspapers (The Daily Ajit, Punjabi Tribune, Des Sewak, India, and The Punjabi Daily and Parvasi Weekly, Canada, Punjab Times, USA, etc.) publish original/translated science fiction stories from time to time. In general, the themes of Punjabi science fiction range from genuine science fiction elements to pure fantasy. The Punjabi readers’ interest in this genre of Punjabi literature is slowly growing.
Translation Works
Some Punjabi writers have translated science fiction works from other languages into Punjabi. Over the years, the Punjab State University Textbook Board, Chandigarh, the Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, and the National Book Trust, New Delhi, have played a vital role in encouraging such works.
In 1973, George Gamow's Mr. Tompkins Explores the Atom was translated into Punjabi by B. S. Batra [4]. It was published by the Punjab State University Text-Book Board, Chandigarh. The book entertainingly covers various aspects of atoms.
In 1993, Gulwant Farigh [4] translated The Legend of Planet Surprise, authored by Tajima Shinji. Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, published the Punjabi edition.
An eminent Indian SF writer, Bal Phondke's book, It Happened Tomorrow, was translated by Karanjit Singh in 1992. National Book Trust, New Delhi, published the Punjabi version of the book in 1995. The book contains nineteen pretty diverse stories with an inspiring mix of child, adult, female and male protagonists. They investigate how people are affected by minor and significant changes in prevalent technology and consider the political, social, and spiritual ramifications of an altered present or future.
D. P. Singh [13] translated stories by eminent Indian SF writers and published an anthology, Bhawikh Di Pairh, in 2003. The book contains fifteen stories authored by twelve Indian SF writers, e.g., Jayant V. Narlikar (‘Maha Nagar di Maut’), Dilip M. Salwi (‘Chetavani-Samen di Salvat di’), Amarjit Singh (‘Kali Badli’), Neeru Sharma (‘Dhund Gubar’), Isaac Asimov (‘Sacha Piar’), G. P. Phodke (‘Pound of Flesh’), Sonia Bhatacharia (‘Kaal Chakar’), Parvin Kumar (‘Chan Ute Manukh di Talash’), Amandeep Singh (‘Machine ate Manukh’), D. P. Singh (‘Dharti Aapo Aapni,’ ‘Khabat,’ ‘Parampara,’ and ‘Parakh’). Yogesh S. Soman (‘Pehli Janvari, 3001’), and Ajmer Sidhu (‘Dinosaurs’).
The settings of most of these stories are primarily Indian. Herein, a Mumbaiwala is worrying about the city's increasing chaos and environmental pollution (‘Mahanagar di Maut’). In ‘Chetavani-Same di Salvat di,’ an unexpected ice age befalls Delhi. In these stories, most of the protagonists are Indian, not due to their "otherness" or exotic traits, but because of the naturally emerging technology taking place in their milieu, rather than their "otherness" or strange characteristics.
The SF translation in Punjabi is only at a preliminary stage. For example, in 2019, Mollusca Press, UK [14] published Punjabi translations of four SF novels by three internationally acclaimed SF authors: Edwin A. Abbott's novel Flatland, Edgar Rice Burroughs's novel A Princess of Mars, and H. G. Wells' two novels the Time Machine and The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Conclusion
Science fiction writing in the Punjabi language is still in its infancy. Therefore, both emerging and established writers and publishers should focus their attention on this field to enrich the language. In addition, NGOs, government agencies, and private publishers must continue to take appropriate steps to encourage and support Punjabi science writers by publishing and promoting their science fiction works.
References
Singh, D. P. (2003). Popular science writing in Punjabi. Proc. of National Seminar on Popularization of Science through Regional Languages, New Delhi, 18-19 Sept.
Kaur, G. & Kalra, H.P. S. (2018). Science Literature in Indian Languages: A Study of Punjabi Language. Journal of Scientific Temper. 6 (3-4). 177-182
Singh, D. P. (2006). Science Fiction Writings in Punjabi. Proc. 8th Conference of Indian Science Fiction Writers’ Association (ISFWA), Aurangabad, 11- 12 Nov. On Science Fiction Writings in Punjabi Language
Singh, D. P. (2020). Science Fiction Writings in Punjabi: The Contemporary Scenario, Mithila Review, The Journal of International Science Fiction & Fantasy, 5 (13). March 31.
Singh, Amandeep (n.d.). Tuttdey Tarian Di Dastaan: Punjabi science fiction stories: Amazon.ca: Books. Amazon.ca
Singh, D.P., author. (n.d.). Dr. D. P. Singh, Author
Sidhu, Ajmer (n.d.). Ajmer Sidhu
5abi -The Punjabi language Portal (n.d.) https://www.5abi.com/kahani/kahani2008/018-kaldar1-roop-070310.htm; 5abi - ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਦਾ ਇੰਟਰਨੈਂਟ ਸ੍ਰੋਤ The Punjabi Language Portal
Dhillon, Rupinderpal Singh. (2006, July 14). Rupinderpal Singh Dhillon - Wikipedia
Singh, D. P. (2007). Sada Punjab. 47-51. https://www.researchgate.net/public...khda_Amber_-_An_Environmental_Play_in_Punjabi
Aujla, M. S. (2013). AAB - Punjabi. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2960136/
Raduaa. (2020, Oct. 15). Raduaa - Wikipedia
Singh, D. P. (2003). Bhavikh Di Pair - Science fiction stories Book. https://jsks.biz/Books-Buy- Online/Punjabi-Stories-Kahanian/bhavikh-di-pair-science-fiction-stories-dr-d-p-singh
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The research article "Current Status of Science Fiction Writings in Punjabi" was presented by the author at the 21st Annual & 6th International Science Fiction Conference, organized by the Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies (IASFS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India, held on 17-20 July 2022.
