At 77, Jagdish Wadia’s pen still on the go

Ajay Joshi
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, August 8

Having started her writing career in 1975 as an amateur, the year 1981 still holds some significant memories in the heart of this 77-year-old city-based author, as this was the time when her dreams and aspirations got wings.

Jagdish Kaur Wadia, who was then working as research officer in the State Language Department, published her first book ‘Political Elements in Punjabi Literature’ in July, 1981.

Since then her flair for writing opened all doors of her imagination. Initially, her write-ups were based on criticism and books for children. However, inspired by books of foreign authors, she also translated works of some prominent writers into Punjabi, providing different genres and stories to the Punjabi readers.

Born in the pre-Independence era, the journey of her life was never an easy one, discrimination in society and changing mentalities of people always made her express herself. Daughter of an uneducated couple, she is indebted to her parents who decided to educate her. She holds a master’s in Punjabi, English and public administration and also completed her MPhil in Punjabi Literature.

Right after joining the Language Department, Jagdish feels grateful to have gotten into an environment where she could harvest her seeds of writing. After retiring as the deputy director from the Language Department, she is now associated with various NGOs and is vice-president of the Punjabi Likhadi Sabha. She has published around 56 books so far and has at present written about serious issues like rape, drugs and growing trend of old-age homes. Notably, she has donated blood 29 times and has pledged to donate her body after death.

She was honoured with the Pujabi Heera Samaan award in 1991, Punjab Ratan Samaan (1993), Vishesh Sahityakar Samaan (1998) and Punjab Putri Samaan award conferred upon her by Pakistan in 2000. Besides, she was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award (2013), Dr Amrita Pritam Literary National Award (2014), besides other awards, for her contribution to the Punjabi literature. Besides, she was presented the Ambassador For Peace award in 2006 and the Sahitya Sagar Award for Literature in 2015.

Jagdish shares that the Internet and mobile services have disconnected people especially youth from the world of literature.