Early Life and Education
Bhisham Sahni was born on 8 August 1915 in Rawalpindi, Punjab. He completed his master's degree in English literature from Government College, Lahore, and earned a Ph.D. from Punjab University, Chandigarh, in 1958.
Career and Activism
Sahni was actively involved in the Indian independence movement and worked with the Indian National Congress during the Partition. He organized relief efforts for refugees amidst the 1947 riots. In 1948, he joined the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA), where he worked as an actor and director. His involvement in IPTA led him to join the Communist Party of India.
He briefly served as a lecturer in Ambala and at Khalsa College, Amritsar. In 1952, he moved to Delhi to teach at Delhi College (now Zakir Husain College), University of Delhi. Sahni also worked as a translator in Moscow from 1956 to 1963, translating major works into Hindi.
Literary Contributions
Sahni’s epic novel Tamas (1974) explores the harsh realities of the Partition. This novel has been translated into multiple languages and won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975. Other notable works include:
- Jharokhe (1967)
- Kadian (1971)
- Basanti (1979)
- Mayyadas Ki Madi (1987)
- Pali (1989)
Sahni also wrote several short stories and plays, including:
- Hanoosh (1977)
- Kabira Khada Bazar Mein (1981)
- Madhavi (1982)
- Muavze (1993)
Theatrical Works
| Play | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoosh | 1977 | Staged by Rajindra Nath and Arvind Gaur. Adapted into Kashmiri as Waqtsaaz by Manzoor Ahmad Mir. |
| Kabira Khada Bazar Mein | 1981 | Performed by directors like M.K. Raina and Abhijeet Choudhary. |
| Madhavi | 1982 | First staged by Rajendra Nath. Performed as a solo play by Rashi Bunny, winning international awards. |
| Muavze | 1993 | Performed by the National School of Drama with Bapi Bose. Popular among various theatre groups. |
Literary Style
Bhisham Sahni’s work is noted for its deep and humane voice. His stories and novels are characterized by:
- Sharp wit
- Gentle irony
- Humor
- Penetrating insight into human character
Critics have praised his ability to express the emotional and psychological impacts of historical events with compassion.
Awards and Honours
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamas | 1975 |
| Padma Bhushan | 1998 |
| Sahitya Akademi Fellowship | 2002 |
| Soviet Land Nehru Award | 1983 |
| Shiromani Writers Award | 1979 |
| Colour of Nation Award | 2004 |
| Madhya Pradesh Kala Sahitya Parishad Award for Hanush | 1975 |
| Lotus Award from the Afro-Asian Writers' Association | 1981 |
| Shalaka Samman, New Delhi | 1999-2000 |
| Maithlisharan Gupta Samman, Madhya Pradesh | 2000-2001 |
| Sangeet Natak Academy Award | 2001 |
| Sir Syed National Award for best Hindi Fiction Writer | 2002 |
Facts about Tamas (Film)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Govind Nihalani |
| Screenplay by | Govind Nihalani |
| Based on | Tamas by Bhisham Sahni |
| Produced by | Lalit M. Bijlani, Govind Nihalani, Freni Variava |
| Starring | Om Puri, Deepa Sahi, Bhisham Sahni, Surekha Sikri |
| Narrated by | Bhisham Sahni |
| Cinematography | V. K. Murthy, Govind Nihalani |
| Edited by | Sutanu Gupta |
| Music by | Vanraj Bhatia |
| Distributed by | Blaze Entertainment Pvt Ltd |
| Release date | 1988 |
| Running time | 298 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Plot Summary | Set during the partition of India in 1947, the film explores the plight of emigrant Sikh and Hindu families. It portrays the communal violence and the resulting suffering of those displaced by the partition. |
| Cast | Om Puri, Deepa Sahi, Uttara Baokar, Amrish Puri, A.K. Hangal, Manohar Singh, Bhisham Sahni, Dina Pathak, K. K. Raina, Iftekhar, Surekha Sikri, Pankaj Kapur, Saeed Jaffrey, Barry John, Karen Smith, Surendra Pal, Virendra Saxena, Pinchoo Kapoor, Akash Khurana, Harish Patel |
| Production Background | Based on Bhisham Sahni's novel. Directed by Govind Nihalani, who was inspired by the book’s portrayal of the partition. Filmed primarily in Mumbai due to security concerns in Punjab, Pakistan. |
| Release and Reception | Originally aired as a six-part series on Doordarshan, later released as a four-hour feature film. It faced controversies and threats due to its depiction of communal violence. Re-telecast in 2013 by History TV18. |
| Awards |
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