Press Secretaries: Ms Manu Sharma & Dr Jagtar S Dhiman

A special meeting of the Sarv Bharati Likhari Sabha- International was held on 6th October, in the Committee Room of the Punjabi Bhawan, Ludhiana. Prominent amongst a large number of literary celebrities of Punjab, who participated in the meeting were Mrs Swaranjit Grewal, Mr. S. Davinder Sethi , Mr Harbhajan Phallewalvi, Dr Jagtar Dhiman, Ms Manu Sharma, Ms Mandeep Baddowal, Er Desh Raj Agnihotri,, Mr Davinder Sekha, , Mrs Jatinder Parwana, Mrs Shailee Rana , Mr Nirmal singh, Dr Kulwinder Kaur Minhas, Mr Mool Chand Sharma, Mr Sukhwinder singh, Dr Gurbachan Kaur Thind ,Mr Mohinderdeep Grewal , Mr Swaranjit Savi and Mr
Kulwant Jagraon.

The Sabha expressed profound grief over the sad demise of Janab Ahmad Rahi, who was one of the greatest Punjabi poets and lyricist of the 20th century. He breathed his last after a protracted illness on Monday morning. He was 79 and is survived by a son, a daughter, and his widow.

Born in Amritsar on November 12, 1923, Ahmad Rahi authored three books namely, Tiranjan ,Nimmi nimmi wah and Rut aiy rut jai . Tiranjan highlighted the agony of women during riots that followed the partition of India in 1947. He penned songs for a number of popular Pakistani films including: Baily , Yakay wali , Mahi munda ,Mirza jatt, Heer Ranjha, Sassi Punnu, Chhoo Mantar, Riaz gujjar Nikki jahi haan, Guddo, Mehndi walay hath, Sardar, Azad, Baaji, etc. which were all time hits.

After partition, Ahmad Rahi and his family migrated to Pakistan and contributed a lot to enrich the Punjabi literature. His first Punjabi poetry collection Taranjan portrayed the trauma associated with excesses done to Muslim, Sikh and Hindu women during Partition. Nimmi nimmi wah focused on women and their constructive roles in society. He was described as one of the great poets the Punjabi language has ever seen. The void in the Punjabi poetry left with the demise of Janab Ahmad Rahi is difficult to fill.

His poetry plainly touched the deep feeling of the Punjabi readers. Besides writing scripts for over 250 films, Ahmad Rahi wrote about 2000 songs, many of which were sung by eminent singers including the late Malika-e-Tarannum Noor Jehan. Some of his hit songs include: Chanda toree chandani , Sun wanjali di mitharri taan way , Koi nawan lara la kay menu rol ja, Buray naseeb meray, , Chan mahi aa teri rah payee tak ni aan, Dil kay afsanay, Nigahon ki zuban tak puhncha etc .

Ahmad Rahi's contribution to Punjabi literature would always be remembered in the time to come. The members of The Sarav Bharati Likhari Sabha observed silence while praying the Almighty for an eternal peace to the departed soul and for the grant of strength to the bereaved family members.