The Dhahan Prize For Punjabi Literature

To inspire the creation of Punjabi literature across borders, bridging Punjabi communities around the world and promoting Punjabi literature on a global scale.

Dhahan Prize Announces 2021 Winners for Best Punjabi Fiction

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Download the press release in PDF format here.

International Punjabi Literature Prize Bridges Borders

Vancouver, BC (October 14, 2021) – The Dhahan Prize proudly announces the 2021 winners awarded for excellence in Punjabi literature. The Dhahan Prize promotes Punjabi literature on a global scale by awarding $25,000 annually to the best book of fiction published in either Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi scripts, along with two finalist prizes of $10,000 CDN each.

2021 Winners and Finalists of the Dhahan Prize in Punjabi Literature are:

Winner ~ $25,000: Shahmukhi Script

Jogi, Sap, Trah, ਜ਼ਨਾਨੀ ਪੌਦ, زنانی پود

(‘Snake Charmer’s Fear’), Short stories by Nain Sukh (Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan)

See the book summary, here.

Finalist ~ $10,000: Gurmukhi Script

Apne Apne Marseia, ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਕੰਧ, پانی دی کندھ

(‘Journeys’), Short stories by Sarghi (Amritsar, Punjab, India).

See the book summary, here.

Finalist ~ $10,000: Gurmukhi script

Mitti Bol Peye, ਆਦਮ-ਗ੍ਰਹਿਣ, آدم گرہن

(‘The Earth Speaks’), Novel by Balbir Madhopuri (New Delhi, India)

See the book summary, here.

“These winning books explore globally relevant issues of inequality, discrimination, patriarchy and the struggle of the oppressed for freedom and equal rights. They are hopeful narratives of people finding their own unique voices as they journey on in fast changing relationships.”

Barj S. Dhahan, Founder of the Prize.

The Dhahan Prize is thrilled that the winner of the eighth annual award is the expansive collection of short stories written in the Shahmukhi script by the renowned author Nain Sukh. The Central Jury cites, “This is a unique book on the ‘real’ or ‘original’ inhabitants of Punjab. A literary milestone in Punjabi…A brilliant and non-religious celebration of Punjabi heritage and rich cultural traditions.”

The Dhahan Prize is the richest literary award in South Asia’s indigenous languages celebrating the rich history of the Punjabi literature. The Prize aims to inspire the creation of Punjabi literature across borders, bridging Punjabi communities around the world, and promoting Punjabi literature on a global scale. The awards garner critical acclaim and significant exposure for aspiring and established writers.

The Dhahan Prize was established in Vancouver, British Columbia, where Punjabi people, language, and culture have flourished for over a century.  Punjabi is now the 3rd most spoken language in Canada and is a strong thread in the multicultural fabric of the nation. The prize is funded by Barj and Rita Dhahan, and family and friends.

Media Contact:

Harinder Kaur Dhahan

778-997-9715

hkdhahan@dhahanprize.com

The 2021 Dhahan Prize Short List

Apne Apne Marseia (Short Stories), Sarghi, Chetna Parkashan, Punjabi Bhawan, Ludhiana

Ik Totta Janam Bhoomi (Novel), Harjit Kaur Virk, Sangam Publications, Samana, Patiala

Jogi, Sap, Trah (Short Stories), Nain Sukh, Kitab Trinjan, Lahore, Pakistan

Mil Gya Nickels (Short Stories), Kuljit Maan, Chetna Parkashan, Punjabi Bhawan, Ludhiana

Mitti Bol Peye (Novel), Balbir Madhopuri, Navyug Publishers, New Delhi

Siyasat Khed Siyasat (Short Stories), Jinder, Sangam Publications, Samana, Patiala

Swaha (Novel), Gursewak Singh Preet, Chetna Parkashan, Punjabi Bhawan, Ludhiana

Urf Roshi Jallad (Short Stories), Jasvir Singh Rana, Autumn Art (India), Patiala

ਢਾਹਾਂ ਇਨਾਮ 2021 – ਛੋਟੀ ਸੂਚੀ 

ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਰਸੀਏ (ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹਿ), ਸਰਘੀ, ਚੇਤਨਾ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਨ, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਵਨ, ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ

ਇੱਕ ਟੋਟਾ ਜਨਮ ਭੂਮੀ (ਨਾਵਲ), ਹਰਜੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਵਿਰਕ, ਸੰਗਮ ਪਬਲੀਕੇਸ਼ਨਜ਼, ਸਮਾਣਾ, ਪਟਿਆਲਾ

ਜੋਗੀ, ਸੱਪ, ਤਰਾਹ (ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹਿ), ਨੈਨ ਸੁੱਖ, ਕਿਤਾਬ ਤ੍ਰਿੰਞਣ, ਲਾਹੌਰ, ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ

ਮਿਲ ਗਿਆ ਨੈੱਕਲੈਸ (ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹਿ), ਕੁਲਜੀਤ ਮਾਨ, ਚੇਤਨਾ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਨ, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਵਨ, ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ

ਮਿੱਟੀ ਬੋਲ ਪਈ (ਨਾਵਲ), ਬਲਵੀਰ ਮਾਧੋਪੁਰੀ, ਨਵਯੁਗ ਪਬਲਿਸ਼ਰਜ਼, ਨਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ

ਸਿਆਸਤ ਖੇਡ ਸਿਆਸਤ (ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹਿ), ਜਿੰਦਰ, ਸੰਗਮ ਪਬਲੀਕੇਸ਼ਨਜ਼, ਸਮਾਣਾ, ਪਟਿਆਲਾ

ਸਵਾਹਾ (ਨਾਵਲ), ਗੁਰਸੇਵਕ ਸਿੰਘ ਪ੍ਰੀਤ, ਚੇਤਨਾ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ਨ, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਵਨ, ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ

ਉਰਫ ਰੋਸ਼ੀ ਜੱਲਾਦ (ਕਹਾਣੀ ਸੰਗ੍ਰਹਿ),  ਜਸਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਣਾ, ਔਟਮ ਆਰਟ (ਇੰਡੀਆ), ਪਟਿਆਲਾ

ڈھاہاں انعام 2021 – چھوٹی سوچی 

اپنے اپنے مرسیئے (کہانی سنگریہہ) , سرگی , چیتنا پرکاشن،پنجابی بھون،لُدھیانہ 

اک ٹوٹا جنم بھومی (ناول) , ہرجیت کور ورک , سنگم پبلکیشنز سمانا ،پٹیالہ

جوگی،سپ تراہ (کہانی سنگریہہ) , نین سُکھ , کتاب ترنجن لہور،پاکستان 

مل گیا نیکلس (کہانی سنگریہہ) , کُلجیت مان , چیتنا پرکاشن،پنجابی بھون،لُدھیانہ 

مٹی بول پئی (ناول) , بلویر مادھو پوری , نویُگ پبلشرز،نویں دہلی 

سیاست کھیڈ سیاست (کہانی سنگریہہ)  , جندر , سنگم پبلکیشنز سمانا ،پٹیالہ

سواہ (ناول) , گرسیوک سنگھ پریت , چیتنا پرکاشن،پنجابی بھون،لُدھیانہعرف ریشی جلاد (کہانی سنگریہہ) , جسبیر سنگھ رانا , اوٹم آرٹ(انڈیا) پٹیالہ