Amrita Pritam, born on 31 August 1919, is a renowned Punjabi writer who wrote several works on the partition of India. She was popular both as a poet and a prose writer. After the partition, she left Pakistan to make
Delhi her second home.
Amrita Pritam was the first woman recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, and the first Punjabi woman to receive the Padmashree from the President of India in 1969. 'Doctor Dev,' 'Ajj Akhan Waris Shah Noo,' and 'Pinjar' are her principal works. Her writings are characterised by a fine understanding of human character. Most of her writings have been translated into several languages including French, Japanese, and Danish. For her immense contributions to Punjabi literature, she was honored with the {130962Jnanpith award in 1982. Amrita has also received three D. Lit degrees from Delhi, Jabalpur, and Visva Bharati Universities. She passed away on October 31, 2005 after a prolonged illness.
