https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=AmitojAmitoj - Revision history2026-10-29T18:37:55ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amitoj&diff=486053&oldid=prevMavisLandale6: starting basic stub initial version2026-01-13T22:00:32Z<p>starting basic stub initial version</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Punjabi poet}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}<br />
{{distinguish|Amitoj Mann}}<br />
{{Infobox writer<br />
| name = Amitoj<br />
| native_name = {{lang|pa|ਅਮਿਤੋਜ}}<br />
| native_name_lang = pa<br />
| pseudonym = {{ubl|Kanwal Shamim|Krishan Kanwal Sareen}}<br />
| birth_name = Krishan Kumar<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1947|06|3}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Gurdaspur district|Gurdaspur]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], [[India]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2005|8|28|1947|06|3}}<br />
| death_place = [[Jalandhar]], Punjab, India<br />
| alma_mater = [[Panjab University, Chandigarh]]<br />
| relatives = <br />
| spouse = Amritpal Kaur<br />
| children = 2<br />
| occupation = [[Poet]]<br />
| movement = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Amitoj''' ({{langx|pa|ਅਮਿਤੋਜ}}; born '''Krishan Kumar'''; 3 June 1947 – 28 August 2005) and later known as '''Kanwal Shamim''' and '''Krishan Kanwal Sareen''',<ref>{{cite web |author=Patar, Amitoj |url=http://www.seerat.ca/april2011/article01.php |title=Amitoj and I have known each other since 62-63. Back then, he wasn't even Amitoj. Sometimes he would become Krishna Kanwal. Sometimes Kanwal Shamim. I named him Amitoj |work=[[Surjit Patar]] |date=April 2011 |access-date= }}</ref> was an [[Indian people|Indian]] poet, from the [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] region.<ref name="Haashiye de Haasil"/>{{rp|95}}<br />
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== Early life ==<br />
He was born in Akhara village, near Bholath, in the [[Gurdaspur district|Gurdaspur]] district of the [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] region in [[India]]. His parents name were Charan Das and Janaki Devi.<ref name="Haashiye de Haasil">{{cite book |title=Haashiye de Haasil |publisher=Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala |year=2013 }}</ref>{{rp|95}} He met poet [[Surjit Patar]] in 1962 while studying at Government College, Kapurthala. He studied at Evening College while working in life insurance and worked as a journalist in the newspaper ''Nawan Zamana'' for 18 months. Amitoj graduated with a [[Master of Arts]] and a [[Doctorate of Philosophy|PhD]] from [[Punjab University, Chandigarh]]. <br />
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== Career ==<br />
Following his studies, Amitoj taught at Panjab University in the Department of Bhai Vir Singh Studies in Comparative Literature and later at the Department of Indian Theatre.<ref name=obit/> <br />
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During the 1980s, he was also known for his literary style in the Jalandhar Doordarshan program "''Kach Di Mundran''". Amitoj's only book of poems, ''Khali Tarkash'', was published in 1998 at the initiative of Surjit Patar, and many of his works are yet to be published.<br />
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During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Amitoj wrote a poem called ''Roshanara'' as a tribute to a Dhaka University student who was crushed by a Pakistani tank. This poem was released by UNI across the country and was widely appreciated.<ref name=obit/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-01-10/edit-page/28133230_1_roshanara-courtyard-white-dove |title=Roshanara!/ It is hard to imagine/ that you would defrost/ the milk of your breasts/ turn it into blood/ and embrace/ a rolling tank/ How could i ever imagine so? {{!}} Amitoj, Roshanara (Punjabi) |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=2010-01-10 |access-date= }}</ref> He wrote many beautiful poems like ''Lahore De Naam Khat'', ''Buddha Bould'', ''Khali Tarkash'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amitoj |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21830292.Amitoj |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=www.goodreads.com}}</ref> and ''Greeting Card''. The Punjabi version of [[Bertolt Brecht|Bertolt Brecht's]] play ''[[The Caucasian Chalk Circle]]'', Parai Kukh, became very popular due to Amitoj's songs.<ref name=obit/> <br />
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He died in the Civil Hospital in [[Jalandhar]] on 28 August 2005; and was cremated.<ref name=obit>{{cite news |author=Dutt, Nirupama |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050829/punjab1.htm |title=Obituary: Amitoj’s poems live after him |work=The Tribune, Chandigarh |date=29 August 2005 |access-date=11 January 2026 }}</ref><br />
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== Published works ==<br />
* {{cite book |author= |title=Khali Tarkash |lang=pa |year=1998 |publisher=Opinion Makers |location=Ludhiana, Punjab |isbn=978-9380906881 |url=https://www.amazon.com.au/Khali-Tarkash/dp/9380906889 |via=Amazon.com }}<br />
<!-- Unclear if this is the same person. Think not, given the publication date follows the date of date. * {{cite book |author=Singh, Amitoji |title=Poems By Amitoj |volume=1 |number= |publisher= |location= |asin=B097XK1957 |date=June 24, 2021 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Poems-Amitoj-Vol-1-Singh-ebook/dp/B097XK1957 |via=Amazon.com }} --><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://paash.wordpress.com/2008/09/08/amitojs-poem-about-his-last-meeting-with-paash/ |title=Amitoj’s poem about his last meeting with Paash |work=Paash |date=2008-09-08 |access-date=2026-01-11 }}<br />
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[[Category:1947 births]]<br />
[[Category:2005 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian poets]]<br />
[[Category:Punjabi-language poets]]<br />
[[Category:Panjab University alumni]]</div>MavisLandale6