Quick Facts
LibraBiography
Shardha Ram Phillauri (30 September 1837 – 24 June 1881) was a Hindu missionary, social reformer, astrologer, and writer, best remembered for his contributions to Hindi and Punjabi literature. He has been called the "father of modern Punjabi prose."
Biography
Shardha Ram was born in 1837 to a Brahmin family in the town of Phillaur, Jalandhar. His father, Jai Dyalu, was an astrologer. He did not have any formal education as such. At the age of seven, he learned Gurmukhi script. By age ten, he had studied Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian, astrology, and music. Later, he was also a missionary of traditional Hinduism (Sanatana dharma).
In his books, Shardha Ram documented Punjabi culture and language.
Shardha Ram gave forceful lectures on the Mahabharata, and because of this was charged with conducting propaganda against the British government in 1865. As a result, he was exiled temporarily from his home town, Phillaur.
Sharda Ram often visited Amritsar and adjoining Lahore, especially in connection with astrology. During this time, he earned a reputation as an astrologer and wrote several books in Hindi.
Shardha Ram has recently been acknowledged as having written the first novel in Hindi. His novel Bhagyawati, believed to have been written mainly in Amritsar, was first published in 1888, after Shardha Ram's death. The novel's portrayal of women and women's rights was progressive for its day.
Shardha Ram died on 24 June 1881 at Lahore.
Works
| Work | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sikhan De Raj Di Vithia (The Story of Sikh Rule) | 1866 | The book is an account of Sikh religion and the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The last of its three chapters documents Punjabi culture and language, including its customs, usages, and folk songs. The book was often prescribed as a text book. |
| Punjabi Batcheet | This book was specifically written to help the British understand the local dialect. It may have been the first book transliterated into Roman script from Gurmukhi script. The study of this was a requirement for admission into the administrative services. The book is taught to this day at schools affiliated with the Punjab State Education Board (PSEB) Mohali. | |
| Om Jai Jagdish Hare | 1870s | Translated in Punjabi the first time |
| Bhagyawati | published 1888 | This book is believed to be the first novel in Hindi. |
| Satya Dharm Muktavli | ||
| Shatopadesh | ||
| Satyamrit Pravaha |