Ajmer Singh Aulakh is a famous Punjabi Novelist and Playwrite, who was born in 1942 in Kishangarh,
Village Pharwahi, District Bathinda, Punjab. He finished his schooling from the same village and later
from National School Bhikkhi. During schooling, he participated in some plays. In 1963, he completed
his graduation and post graduation in 1965 from Punjabi University, Patiala. During this period, he wrote
some stories and poems. After completing post graduation in the subject of Punjabi, he got teacher’s job at
Nehru Memorial College, Mans, which was just 10 KMs from his native village. He worked for 35 years as
a teacher in this College and was an important period of his life. Besides teaching, he was in charged of all
type of cultural activities including theatre. in 1969, he directed and produced a short play,”Tred” (Crack)
written by Harsarn Singh in a function of college, which was highly appreciated. Embolden he wrote some
short original plays like “Shaitan Da Astifa’, ‘Zindgi and Insaaf’ & Multipurpose Doctor’ but in 1973 he wrote
his fist literary play ‘Eedra Kadibra’ to counter the philosophy of Samuel Backets given his pay ‘Waiting
for GODOT’. This can be understood as his beginning of theatre career. He is better known as a Rural
Dramatist as most of his plays deal with the rural life of Malwa region of Punjab. These plays portray a
heart touching pain of the small farmer, who could not fulfill his dream of having requisite land and became
victim of the new economic system of capitalism. His plays like “Turi Wala Kotha” and “Begane Bohar Di
Chhan” deal with such depressed farmers. All his short plays (one act) are full length plays like ‘Sat Begane’,
‘Kihar Singh Di Maut’ ‘Jhana De Pani’ and ‘Nikke Soorjan Di Ladaai”, being aimed at assailing the capitalist
system given an impression of his being under the influence of Marxist ideology. For his excellent theatrical
contribution, he has won many awards and honors. The same include Kartar Singh Dhariwal Award from
Punjabi Sahit Academy, Ludhiana (1995), Shromani Punjabi Natakkar from Punjab Bhasha Vibhag (1999),
International Pash Memorial Award (1999), Shromani Punjabi Natakkar from Punjab Sangeet Natak
Academy (2003). Indias National level Awards ‘BHARTI Sangeet Natak Akadmi Purskar’ (2006) and Bharti
Sahit Akadmi Purskar’ for his collection of short plays ‘Ishak Bajh Nmaz Da Hazz Nahi” (2007). He is
associated with Lok Kala Manch, Mansa. His Email is ajmersinghaulakh@gmail.com.
