Dr Diwan Singh Kalepani
Birth
1897
– 1944
The entire poetic oeuvre of Diwan Singh Kalepani is imbued with a humanist tone and a spirit of universal harmony. In 1944, he was martyred by the Japanese through brutal torture.
Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani was a prominent Punjabi poet, social reformer, and freedom fighter in India’s struggle for independence. Born on May 12, 1897, in the village of Galhotian, Sialkot district, to S. Sundar Singh, he lost both parents in childhood and was raised by his grandmother. He received his early education in his village school and, after completing his matriculation, pursued medical studies in Agra. Upon completing his medical education, he served as a doctor in a military hospital in Rawalpindi.
In the 1920s, Dr. Diwan Singh actively participated in Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. His nationalist activities and writings against British imperialism drew the attention of the colonial government, leading to his transfer to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, infamously known as ‘Kalepani.’ Even in the Andamans, he continued to serve as a doctor, treating prisoners and local residents while tirelessly working for social reform and education. His dedication earned him immense respect among the island’s people.
Dr. Diwan Singh adopted free verse in Punjabi literature, a novel and distinct departure from traditional poetic forms of his time. His works primarily focused on themes of nationalism, social equality, and human liberation. He authored two poetry collections: *Vagde Paani* (1938) and *Antim Lehraan*, published posthumously. His poems vividly reflect anti-imperialist sentiments and criticism of social injustices.
Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani passed away on January 14, 1944, in the Andamans, but his literary and social legacy continues to inspire.
In the 1920s, Dr. Diwan Singh actively participated in Mahatma Gandhi’s Non-Cooperation Movement. His nationalist activities and writings against British imperialism drew the attention of the colonial government, leading to his transfer to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, infamously known as ‘Kalepani.’ Even in the Andamans, he continued to serve as a doctor, treating prisoners and local residents while tirelessly working for social reform and education. His dedication earned him immense respect among the island’s people.
Dr. Diwan Singh adopted free verse in Punjabi literature, a novel and distinct departure from traditional poetic forms of his time. His works primarily focused on themes of nationalism, social equality, and human liberation. He authored two poetry collections: *Vagde Paani* (1938) and *Antim Lehraan*, published posthumously. His poems vividly reflect anti-imperialist sentiments and criticism of social injustices.
Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani passed away on January 14, 1944, in the Andamans, but his literary and social legacy continues to inspire.