Karnail Singh Somal is a well known Punjabi prose-writer. He is recipient of the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award (Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2020 for his book in Punjabi 'Phoolaan da shehar').

Dr. Karnail Singh Somal
Karnail Singh Somal
Karnail Singh Somal
Born(1940-09-28)28 September 1940
Village Kalaur , District Fatehgarh Sahib (erstwhile in District. Patiala), Punjab
Pen nameKarnail Singh
OccupationAuthor, poet, Educationist, Researcher
LanguagePunjabi
NationalityIndian
Period1975–present
GenreProse, Children's stories and poems
SubjectLife, philosophy, Education, Social Issues
Notable worksBhai Ditt Singh Giani-Jeevan, Rachna Te Shaksiat (2003)

Biography

He was born in village Kalour, District Fatehgarh Sahib (erstwhile in District. Patiala), Punjab, on 28 September 1940, as per school record. However, as per his mother, he was born in the early morning of Maghi, first day of the month of Magh. His father's name is Prem Singh and mother's name is Surjeet Kaur.

Education

He got his early education in his village school. He matriculated from Govt. High School Bassi Pathana in 1958. Because of financial difficulties, he could not continue his education further, he got a petty job. However, his yearning for education led him to pursue his studies privately. He did his M.A. in Punjabi(standing third in the university) and M.A. in Hindi. Later on he got his PhD from Punjab University. The topic of his thesis was "A Study of Free Verse in Punjabi (up to 1950)".

Service

As he had done O.T. and BEd, so he started working as a school teacher. Thereafter, he joined Punjab School Education Board as Language Expert. About two years later he was selected as Assistant Director in Punjabi Teaching And Research Section of the Board. There his main contribution was in writing and editing Punjabi text-books. He retired from that post in September 1998.

Personal life

He married Salinder Kaur in 1966. They have two daughters- Manpreet Kaur (1969) and Jagpreet Kaur(1973).

Works

He has been writing for leading Punjabi newspapers for more than 35 years. He wrote literary essays, contributed to various Punjabi newspapers and journals. He wrote stories and poems for children. He did research work on Bhai Ditt Singh Giani.

Prose books

No.Title in PunjabiTitle in EnglishMeaningYear
1.ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਉਤਸਵ ਹੈZindagi Utsav HaiLife is a Celebration1998
2.ਜੀਵਨ ਜੁਗਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਤਲਾਸ਼Jeevan Jugtan Di TalashSearch for Life Strategies2001
3.ਜਿਉਣਾ ਆਪਣੀ ਮੌਜ ਵਿਚJiuna Apni Mauj VichLiving in One's own Joy2004
4.ਨਿੱਤ ਚੜਦੈ ਨਵੇਂ ਸਾਲ ਦਾ ਸੂਰਜNitt Chardhai Naven Saal Da SoorajEvery Day is a New Year's Day2004
5.ਫੁਰਸਤ ਦੇ ਪਲFursat De PalLeisure Moments2007
6.ਕਲਾਮਈ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਤਾਂਘKalamaee Jiwan Di TaanghLonging for An Artistic Life2009
7.ਸਾਡੇ ਅੰਬਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਤਾਰੇSaade Ambaraan De TaareStars in the Sky of Our Life2011

Research

Since very young age, the author was inspired by Bhai Ditt Singh Giani, Singh Sabha fame scholar, who was also born in village Kalaur. After a lot of research, the author wrote a book on this legendary writer, speaker, reformer, journalist and editor. The name of the book is "ਭਾਈ ਦਿੱਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿਆਨੀ – ਜੀਵਨ ਰਚਨਾ ਤੇ ਸ਼ਖਸੀਅਤ (Bhai Ditt Singh Giani-Jeevan, Rachna Te Shaksiat )" ( 2003). Its revised edition was Published by Singh Brothers Amritsar in 2005.

Children's literature

He writes for children regularly. He started writing for his grand-daughters living in Canada and used to email stories and poems to them. He has penned more than two dozen books. He writes for the magazines published by the Punjab School Education Board – ਪੰਖੜੀਆਂ, ਪਰਾਈਮਰੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ (Pankhrian, Primary Sikhia). Besides he wrote four books for school students, two grammar books and two essay books.

No.Title in PunjabiTitle in EnglishMeaningYear
1.ਹਿਰਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਡਾਰHirnaan di DaarHerd of Deer2006
2.ਕੀੜੀ ਦਾ ਆਟਾ ਡੁਲ ਗਿਆKiri Da Aata Dull GayaThe Ant Spilled Her Flour2006
3.ਜਦੋਂ ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ ਭੂਤ ਬਣ ਗਏJadon Daada Ji Bhoot Ban GayeWhen Grandfather Turned into a Ghost2006
4.ਸੁਨਹਿਰੀ ਹਿਰਨSunehri HiranThe Golden Deer2007
5.ਸ਼ੇਰ ਉਪਕਾਰ ਨਾ ਭੁਲਿਆSher upkaar na bhuleyaThe Lion didn't Forget The Favour2007
6.ਲੇਲਾ ਨਾਨਕੇ ਗਿਆLela Naanke GayaThe Kid Goat Went To GrandParents2007
7.ਅਕ੍ਲਮੰਦ ਲੰਗੂਰAkalmand LangoorThe Wise Monkey2007
8.ਚੂਹੇ ਤੇ ਬਿੱਲੀ ਦੀ ਦੌੜChoohe Te Billi Di DaurThe Race between Mouse And Cat2007
9.ਸੋਨੇ ਦਾ ਆਂਡਾ ਦੇਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਮੁਰਗੀSone da Aanda Den Vaali MurgiThe Hen Who Laid Golden Eggs2007
10.ਬਿੱਲੀ ਦੇ ਬ੍ਲੂੰਘੜੇBilli De BalunghreThe Cat's Kitten2007
11.ਘੋੜੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਿਆਂGhore nu NianJustice to the Horse2007
12.ਵੇ ਤੋਤਿਆ ਮਨਮੋਤਿਆVe Toteya ManmoteyaO Parrot!!2007
13.ਸਿਆਣਾ ਕਬੂਤਰSiana KabootarThe Wise Pigeon2007
14.ਚਿੜੀ ਤੇ ਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਖਿਚੜੀ ਰਿੰਨੀChiri te Kaan ne Khichri RinniThe Sparrow and The Crow Cooked Rice2007
15.ਕਿੰਨੀ ਸੋਹਣੀ ਵੇਖ ਸਵੇਰKinni Sohni Vekh SaverLook! How Beautiful Is The Morning2007
16.ਵਾਹ ਬਈ ਕਮਾਲWah Bhai KamaalWow Incredible2008
17.ਇਸ ਘੋੜੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਵਾਗਾਂ ਫੜੋIs Ghore Diyaan Wagaan FaroHold This Horse's Bridle2008
18.ਸੋਹਣੇ ਸ਼ੌਕ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਲ ਕੋਈ ਨਾSohne Shauk da Mull Koi NaA Good Hobby Is Priceless2008
19.ਸੁਣੋ ਕਹਾਣੀ (ਨਵੇਂ ਦਿਸਹਦੇ )Suno KahaniHear This Tale2009
20.ਸਿਖ੍ਹੀ ਸੰਥਾਵਲੀ ਭਾਗ 1Sikhi Santhavali Bhag 1Vignettes of Sikh Faith Part 12009
21.ਸਿਖ੍ਹੀ ਸੰਥਾਵਲੀ ਭਾਗ 2Sikhi Santhavali Bhag 2Vignettes of Sikh Faith Part 22009
22.ਸਿਖ੍ਹੀ ਸੰਥਾਵਲੀ ਭਾਗ 3Sikhi Santhavali Bhag 3Vignettes of Sikh Faith Part 32009
23.ਸਿਖ੍ਹੀ ਸੰਥਾਵਲੀ ਭਾਗ 4Sikhi Santhavali Bhag 4Vignettes of Sikh Faith Part 42009

Works for students

No.Title in PunjabiTitle in EnglishMeaningYear
1ਨਿਵੇਕਲੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲੇਖ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀਆਂ ਲਈNivekle Punjabi Lekh Senior Shreniyaan LayiAnew Punjabi Essays for Senior Classes2005
2ਨਿਵੇਕਲੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲੇਖ ਐਲੀਮੇਨ੍ਟ੍ਰੀ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀਆਂ ਲਈNivekle Punjabi Lekh Elementary Shreniyaan LayiAnew Punjabi Essays for Elementary Classes2008
3ਰੌਚਕ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿਆਕਰਨ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀਆਂ ਲਈRauchak Punjabi Viakaran Senior Shreniyaan LayiInteresting Punjabi Grammar For Senior Classes2005
4ਰੌਚਕ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿਆਕਰਨ ਐਲੀਮੇਨ੍ਟ੍ਰੀ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਣੀਆਂ ਲਈRauchak Punjabi Viakaran Elementary Shreniyaan LayiInteresting Punjabi Grammar For Elementary Classes2008

See also

References

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