Pakistan ke kavi
Ali Haidar
A renowned medieval Sufi poet. Ali Haider was a contemporary of Bulleh Shah and a politically conscious poet.
1690-1785
Amrita Pritam
A renowned poet, short story writer, novelist, and prose writer. She was honored with the Padma Vibhushan and the Jnanpith Award. The celebrated poem “Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu”
1919-2005
Baba Sheikh Farid
A renowned medieval Sufi poet and spiritual ascetic. His full name was Fariduddin Mas‘ud. He is counted among the earliest poets of Punjabi literature.
1173-1266
Bhai Mardana
A renowned medieval personality, rababi, and poet, who is also known as a companion of Guru Nanak. Two saloks composed by him are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
1459-1534
Bulleh Shah
A renowned medieval Sufi poet and mystic who raised his voice against religious extremism and traditional rigidity. He is famous for his kafis.
1680-1758
Dhani Ram Chatrik
A foremost Punjabi poet. In Chatrik’s poetry, metrical craftsmanship, mastery of language, rustic authenticity, and the beauty of idiom are unparalleled. A famous composition is “Marda Damame Jatt Mele Aa Gaya.”
1876-1954
Faiz Ahmad Faiz
A world-famous Urdu poet, who also wrote some poems in Punjabi. He is known for his romantic and revolutionary poetry.
1911-1984
Fazal Shah
An important qissa writer of the 19th century. At a time when the glory of qissa poetry was fading, he immortalized this love story forever by writing the qissa “Sohni Mahiwal.”
1827-1890
Guru Arjan Dev
A famous medieval poet, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, a reformer, and the compiler of the Guru Granth Sahib. His hymns are recorded in 30 ragas. “Sukhmani” is his masterpiece.
1563-1606
Guru Nanak Dev
A famous medieval poet, the founder of Sikhism, the first Guru, and a thinker. Among his compositions are Japji, Sidh Gosht, Asa Di Vaar, Dakhni Oankar, and many other writings.
1469-1539
Guru Ramdas
A famous medieval poet, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, and a reformer. The hymns composed by him are included in the Guru Granth Sahib under 30 ragas.
1534-1574
khawaja Fard Faqir
A renowned medieval Sufi poet and mystic. His famous writings include Roshan Dil, Kasabnama Bafindgan, Siharfian, and Baramah.
1720-1790
Khwaja Ghulam Farid
A renowned Sufi poet, who composed Kafis, Dohras, and Ghazals infused with deep mystical (Tasawwuf) themes. Khwaja Ghulam Farid is also regarded as the last great Sufi of the medieval period.
1845-1901
Kulwant Singh Virk
An important short story writer of the Punjabi literary world. Recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award for the book “Nave Lok.”
1921-1987
Professor Mohan Singh
A distinguished poet, editor, and translator, honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award. Professor Mohan Singh is also regarded as an epoch-making poet of Punjabi literature.
1905-1978
Professor Puran Singh
A distinctive poet, thinker, prose writer, translator, and a scientist in the field of chemical engineering.
1881-1931
Qadir Yaar
A renowned Sufi qissa writer and contemporary of Ranjit Singh. By writing the qissa “Puran Bhagat,” he immortalized this tale forever.
Shah Hussain
A renowned medieval Sufi poet who rebelled against rigid religious orthodoxy and expressed the pain of love in his poetry. Also famous by the name of Madho Lal.
1538-1599
1627-1702
Shiv Kumar
A famous poet who ruled the Punjabi literary world with his lyrical poetry. Recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award for the book Loona.
1936-1973
Sultan Bahu
A renowned medieval Sufi and poet, who adopted Sihrfi as his medium of expression. He wrote nearly 140 books in Persian.
1629-1690
Waris Shah
A renowned medieval qissa writer. By composing the masterpiece Heer, he raised his creative banner for all time. The qissa Heer is also known as the “Book of Love.”
1725-1790
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi
A renowned Urdu and Punjabi poet, journalist, writer, literary critic, dramatist, and short-story writer.
1916-2006
Ahmad Yar
The most prolific Qissakar (narrative poet) in Punjabi literature, renowned for the Qissa of Heer Ranjha.
1768-1848
Baba Ghulam Hussain Nadeem Qadri
A renowned contemporary poet of Western Punjab, whose poetry beautifully reflects the colors of Sufism.
Babu Firoz Din Sharaf
A leading poet of stage poetry, who was also honored as the “Nightingale of Punjab” and the “Poet of the People.” His famous works include “Sohna Des Punjab” and “Main Punjabi.”
1898-1955
Devinder Josh
A capable poet with a distinct idiom of ghazal. During his lifetime, he wrote four books of ghazals.
1936-1991
Fakhar Zaman
A renowned writer, poet, and a devoted activist from Western Punjab who has worked sincerely for the promotion and dissemination of the Punjabi language.
Harinder Singh
The complete poetic oeuvre of Harinder Singh Mehboob is marked by reflection, detachment, and philosophical insight. His work intricately weaves Sikh philosophy, folk spirituality, and modernity with profound emotional depth. A poet honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award.
1937-2010
Jaswant Singh
A renowned poet, writer, noted psychologist, and Gurmat thinker. Neki is also known as a neo-mystic poet. A Sahitya Akademi Award-winning writer.
1925-2015
Kartar Singh
A prominent stage poet who wrote in genres such as poetry, ghazal, and songs. During his time, he also published a magazine titled “Kavita.”
1904-1969
1935-1997
muhammad boota gujrati
A famous medieval qissakar. Sheeri Farhad and Panj-Ganj are their famous works.
1851-1930
Muneer Niazi
One of the prominent poets of the modern era, who composed poetry in both Urdu and Punjabi. He also wrote lyrics for films. His renowned poem "Unjh vī rāhāvāṅ aukhīāṅ san"
1928-2006
Nand Lal
A leading lyricist who expressed human emotions in simple colloquial language. Due to financial hardship, he died by suicide. Famous songs include “Bhola Panchhi,” “Gori Diyan Jhanjran,” and “Sandook Mutiyar Da.”
1906-1966
Sant Vali Ram
A medieval Sufi poet, Wali Ram’s literary corpus is found across multiple languages including Persian, Rekhta, Hindi, and Punjabi. His poetic expression reflects the influence of the classical tradition as well as the Multani style. He was a contemporary of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and was closely associated with Dara Shikoh.
Sohan Singh Sital
A renowned Dhadi singer, poet, short story writer, novelist, and researcher. A Sahitya Akademi Award-winning writer for the novel Jugg Badal Gaya.
1909-1998
Tanveer Bukhari
Renowned poet, translator, lexicographer (Tanveer-ul-Lughat), and thinker. Tanveer Bukhari was the author of 400 books.
1939-2023
Tirlok Singh Anand
One of the significant poets who contributed to refining the aesthetic structure of the Punjabi ghazal. Though Tarlok Singh Anand's poetic output may not be large in volume, it is certainly not deficient in literary maturity.
Afzal Ahsan Randawa
A renowned poet, storyteller, novelist, playwright, and translator. Professionally, he was a lawyer.
1937-2017
Afzal Parwez
Poet, journalist, and playwright; known for his books on folk theatre and folk songs. His famous book is “Ban Phulwari.”
1916-2001
Ahmad Rahi
A renowned poet, writer, film story writer, and lyricist. Trinjan is one of his well-known books.
1923-2002
1945-2023
1926-2001
Akhtar Ahsan
A poet and psychologist from West Punjab, who lived in New York. A pioneer of a new trend of eidetic image-psychology.
1935-2018
Akram Sekh
A poet, historian, researcher, critic, translator, columnist, and journalist from Western Punjab.
1948-1924
Arif Abdul Mateen
A Punjabi and Urdu poet and writer, who remained associated with the editorial departments of the renowned literary magazines Adab-e-Latif and Auraq.
1923-2001