
Batalvi lives in verse, but not in memorials
" Shiv Kumar Batalvi wrote these lines, maybe in a moment of prophetic defiance that no one else would sing his song, and that he alone would carry its pain to the grave.
Decades later, these words feel eerily true. Not because his poetry faded, it didn't. His verses echo across oceans, in Bollywood tracks and across social media. But in the very institutions where his journey began, Baring Union Christian College in his hometown Batala and Sikh National College in Qadian, there is silence.
No bust, no plaque, no literary corner.
If he would have been alive, Batalvi would have turned 89 on Wednesday. The youngest recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, Batalvi completed his matriculation in 1953 and enrolled in Baring College but soon left, joining Sikh National College. He dropped out midway through his second year to join engineering in Himachal Pradesh, which also, he left. Yet even those brief years shaped his early journey.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World
Topgentlemen.com
Undo
"There's so much curiosity about him.
People come from abroad, even researchers from other Indian states just to ask about his life, his home, his voice," said his nephew Rajiv Batalvi, 58, who still lives in the family house in Batala. "But in the places where he once studied, spent his formative years, there's no sign he was ever there. It's like no one thought he was worth remembering."
At Baring College, principal Ashwani Kansra said the lack of recognition may have been a case of the world catching up too late.
"The beauty and depth of his work weren't celebrated in his lifetime the way they are today. It took Bollywood, singers, and now social media to bring his poetry to the mainstream," Kansra said.
While he admitted that the college hasn't yet taken any steps to formally commemorate Batalvi, he added: "There is a growing sense of pride among students and faculty that such a voice once passed through this campus. If the moment feels right in the future, the college may explore a way to acknowledge that connection."
Sikh National College, Qadian, where Batalvi made the switch from Batala, has a similar absence. Principal Dr Harpreet Singh Hundal said Batalvi's name is one that carries immense literary weight. "His work is deeply respected by everyone. While our college hasn't marked legacies in a physical way, his presence is still there in what we teach," Hundal said.
"We follow Sikh principles and do not create personal memorials or remembrances.
That is why we haven't named anything after anyone, not even Balbir Singh Senior, the legendary hockey player who studied at our college when it was still in Lahore," said Col Jasmer Singh Bala (retd), honorary secretary of the Sikh Educational Society, which runs Sikh National College, Qadian. "However, we are planning to introduce a poetry competition in Shiv Kumar Batalvi's name.
"
And yet, for those who walk the same corridors as Batalvi once did, the erasure feels stark.
No sign, no story, no shared memory. Just his words, growing louder in their absence.
Still, a formal event is scheduled tomorrow in Batala, to "commemorate" Batalvi's legacy at the auditorium named after him. Rajiv Batalvi said he received a call from the state government inviting him to attend. The Shiv Kumar Batalvi Auditorium itself tells the same story- its foundation stone was laid back in 1980 by the then Punjab Governor, but the building remained unopened for nearly three decades, only becoming functional in 2016.
"It's not unusual," Rajiv said. "With Shiv, recognition has always arrived late, and mostly on paper."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
"She is not allowed': Bill Belichick's relationship with Jordon Hudson might take a turn as UNC makes a major decision about her
UNC has made a huge decision about Jordon Hudson.(Image via Jordon Hudson/Instagram) Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots legend, has been dating 24 year old Jordon Hudson for a few years now, even though their relationship has attracted a lot of negative criticism. Jordon Hudson has also been slammed for the huge age gap she shares with Bill Belichick and her "involvement" at his workplace. But now, things might have gotten more complicated for them. Bill Belichick's 24 year old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, might have gotten banned by the University of North Carolina due to her 'involvement' A few hours ago, Pablo Torre gave a few insights on what has been going on between the University of North Carolina and Bill Belichick's girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. Pablo Torre on "Pablo Torre Finds Out' said, "Two sources at the University of North Carolina tell me that there has been a decision that was made last week by the higher-ups inside the athletic department that hired Bill Belichick to be the highest-paid public employee, not just coach in the state of North Carolina at $10 million per year.' Pablo Torre added, "And that decision was that Jordon Hudson is no longer allowed in the football building. She is not allowed on the football field." However, neither Bill Belichick nor Jordon Hudson has reacted to this news yet and has maintained their silence around it. Bill Belichick's 24 year old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson's role at the NFL legend's workplace had raised many eyebrows before. This is not the first time that it has been reported that Jordon Hudson might have been banned from the University of North Carolina. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo by Taboola by Taboola But the UNC has not issued any official statements on this yet. What are Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson up to? As for Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson, they seem to be continuing their relationship and have been together for quite some time now. Jordon Hudson has been pretty public about her relationship with 73 year old Bill Belichick and often posts pictures of their date nights. A few weeks ago, there were rumours of them getting engaged but the couple have not reacted to it yet. FAQs When were Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson first spotted together? Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson were first spotted together in 2023 How old is Bill Belichick? Bill Belichick is currently 73 years old Also Read: Shannon Sharpe's $50M settlement with 20-year-old OnlyFans model takes a shocking new turn as ex-girlfriend gets involved For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!


Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Sara Ali Khan cheers for Ibrahim Ali Khan at Sarzameen premiere; fans say 'perfect hype queen'
Makers of Ibrahim Ali Khan 's 'Sarzameen' hosted a special screening in the city ahead of its release. The young star was joined by his sister Sara Ali Khan , who attracted attention with her enthusiastic support and matching all-black ensemble. Sara Ali Khan surprises Ibrahim Ali Khan on the red carpet In a moment that quickly went viral, Sara surprised Ibrahim at the premiere venue and greeted him with a warm hug and a flashing a big smile and showering her brother with love and support. The sibling duo twinned in black and posed together for the paparazzi, leaving fans looking over their bond. Sara's excitement was evident throughout the event as she continued to interact with the media and cheered for her brother. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ETimes (@etimes) Netizens call Sara Ali Khan the 'perfect hype queen' Sara got praises on the internet for her energy throughout the evening and obvious pride in Ibrahim's accomplishment. Social media users dubbed her the 'perfect hype queen' for boosting her brother's confidence and sharing in his special moment. Sarzameen explores a family torn by sacrifice and secrets The movie, Sarzameen is directed by Kayoze Irani and is set to premiere on JioHotstar on July 25. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran , Kajol, and Ibrahim Ali Khan in main roles. The story is about a father who refuses to bow down to threats, while a son is given up for the nation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn How To Write Faster for Work (Find Out Now) Grammarly Learn More Undo It is a story of sacrifice, secrets and a family fractured by the weight of the past. Speaking about Ibrahim's performance in the film, Prithviraj Sukumaran had earlier told India Today, that from the very first day of shooting, it was clear to him that the young actor had already grasped the full arc of his character. When he later spoke to Kayoze, he learned they had been developing it together for over a year.


India Today
40 minutes ago
- India Today
Why does a kiss still spark outrage?
From Devika Rani's four-minute lip-lock in 1933 to Saiyaara getting snipped in 2025 — Indian cinema has always had a complicated relationship with onscreen intimacy. Why does a kiss still spark outrage? We break it down for you in this episode of 'The Culture Project'. #Saiyaara #KissAndTell #CensorBoard #DevikaRani #Intimacy #CultureProject