'Bhuaa' (Aunt) is a comical description of a guest's plight when he is over-and-force-fed by his old aunt (father's sister) who he goes to visit. The story is reflective of (especially rural) Punjabi hosts' self-expression through hospitality and food even if that means supreme discomfort for the guest.
Nanak Singh was the father of Punjabi novel, but this story of his easily remains one of the most popular pieces in Punjabi literature.
Nanak Singh (b.4 July 1897 as Hans Raj – d.28 December 1971) was a poet, songwriter and novelist in the Punjabi language. His writing in support of India's independence movement led the British to arrest him. He published several novels which won him literary acclaim. Born in a poor Punjabi Hindu family in the Jhelum district (now in Pakistan), he changed his name to Nanak Singh after adopting Sikhism. Due to poverty, he did not receive a formal education. He started his writing career at an early age, writing verses on historical events.
In 1945 he wrote his popular novel "Saintly Sinner (Pavitra Paapi)" which won him acclaim. It was translated into Hindi and other Indian languages, and into English by his grandson Navdeep Singh Suri. In 1968 the book was adapted into the successful motion picture, (Pavitra Paapi), by his admirer Balraj Sahni.
"Nanak Singh was the best selling novelist in India for thirty to forty years. He wrote over 50 books including novels and collection of short stories. He made significant contributions to various literary genres. For him character was the determination of incident and incident the illustration of character. His greatest contribution to Punjabi fiction is its secularization. He depicted excerpts from contemporary life, cloaked with a veil of romantic idealism." (The Tribune)
In his novel Chitta Lahu (White Blood), Singh writes, "It seems to imply that in the lifeblood of our society, red corpuscles have disappeared." In 2011, Singh's grandson, Dilraj Singh Suri, translated 'Chitta Lahu' into English (titled White Blood). (Wikipedia)
Nanak Singh's picture by Gopal Singh Chandan. Amritsar. 1958.
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- Manpreet Sahota
ਭੂਆ - ਨਾਨਕ ਸਿੰਘ
भूआ - नानक सिंह
Bhuaa - Nanak Singh
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