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The Greatest Punjabi Stories Ever Told
The Greatest Punjabi Stories Ever Told features some of the best short fiction to emerge from Punjab over the last century. Covering four generations of Punjabi writers, the anthology includes celebrated storytellers such as Gurbaksh Singh, Balwant Gargi, Sant Singh Sekhon, and Amrita Pritam as well as accomplished contemporary writers like Ajmer Sidhu, Sarghi, and Jatinder Singh Hans.
The themes covered in these stories are diverse and wide-ranging. Ajeet Cour’s ‘Green Sparrows’ and Ram Sarup Ankhi’s ‘That Woman!’ plunge into the breakdown of family relationships. Kartar Singh Duggal’s ‘Majha Is Not Dead’, Sukhwant Kaur Mann’s ‘The Survivors’, and Gulzar Singh Sandhu’s ‘Hopes Shattered’ probe urban and rural lives in the region. Mohinder Singh Sarna’s ‘Savage Harvest’, Sujaan Singh’s ‘Sunrise at Last’, and Gurdev Singh Rupana’s ‘The Wind’ explore the Partition and its violent aftermath—events that shaped modern Punjab. Stories such as Nanak Singh’s ‘Bowl of Milk’, Gurbachan Singh Bhullar’s ‘I Am Not Ghaznavi’, Bachint Kaur’s ‘Eradicator of Suffering’, and Sukirat’s ‘Home’ probe the human psyche in times of crisis. Patriotism, martyrdom, and state repression are also Gurmukh Singh Musafir’s ‘Daughter of the Rebel’ is the story of an ailing girl who fights for the freedom of the country in her own way; Kulwant Singh Virk’s ‘The Proverbial Bullock’ shows how martyrdom is always around the corner for our soldiers; and Kesra Ram’s ‘Whither My Native Land’ brings to the fore the brutality encountered by migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Taken together, the thirty stories in this anthology capture the essence of Punjabiyat—what it means to be Punjabi—and present a unique portrait of the land and its people.
The themes covered in these stories are diverse and wide-ranging. Ajeet Cour’s ‘Green Sparrows’ and Ram Sarup Ankhi’s ‘That Woman!’ plunge into the breakdown of family relationships. Kartar Singh Duggal’s ‘Majha Is Not Dead’, Sukhwant Kaur Mann’s ‘The Survivors’, and Gulzar Singh Sandhu’s ‘Hopes Shattered’ probe urban and rural lives in the region. Mohinder Singh Sarna’s ‘Savage Harvest’, Sujaan Singh’s ‘Sunrise at Last’, and Gurdev Singh Rupana’s ‘The Wind’ explore the Partition and its violent aftermath—events that shaped modern Punjab. Stories such as Nanak Singh’s ‘Bowl of Milk’, Gurbachan Singh Bhullar’s ‘I Am Not Ghaznavi’, Bachint Kaur’s ‘Eradicator of Suffering’, and Sukirat’s ‘Home’ probe the human psyche in times of crisis. Patriotism, martyrdom, and state repression are also Gurmukh Singh Musafir’s ‘Daughter of the Rebel’ is the story of an ailing girl who fights for the freedom of the country in her own way; Kulwant Singh Virk’s ‘The Proverbial Bullock’ shows how martyrdom is always around the corner for our soldiers; and Kesra Ram’s ‘Whither My Native Land’ brings to the fore the brutality encountered by migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Taken together, the thirty stories in this anthology capture the essence of Punjabiyat—what it means to be Punjabi—and present a unique portrait of the land and its people.
337 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 3, 2025
This collection of Punjabi stories are not what I would classify as 'excellent', but they are not bad either. Almost all of them were readable and I did enjoy most of the book. Out of the thirty stories, only 5 authors were women.
Some of my favourite stories were:
Dance of the Devil by Sant Singh Sekhon : A Partition story, a quintessential Punjabi literary topic, this one was about a Muslim woman who was spared from certain death because she caught the eye of a Sikh guard. He proposes to adopt her child and marry her. She gets saved but at what cost?
Sunrise at Last by Sujaan Singh : Another Partition story, this was about a Muslim woman who was missed by gangs of roving murderers and finally rescued by a Sikh man, took refuge with a Hindu man. She was ultimately handed over to safety to a Muslim man who helped Hindu and Sikh women reach their families safely. She wonders about the concept of religion and atheism.
The Moscow Girl by Balwant Gargi : During the Soviet Union, many Russians were pretty enamoured with Indian culture and it is neatly encapsulated in this sweet little story.
Stench of Kerosene by Amrita Pritam : When a man commits bigamy because his mother wants a grandson, there are psychological consequences to pay for cowardice.
The Charity Coat by Navtej Singh : A poor teacher who coaches a rich student suddenly loses al respect in his own and his student's eyes when he accepts charity from them.
Hopes Shattered by Gulzar Singh Sandhu : A story about an active and involved old woman who gets paralysed and hopes for the destruction that rumours are saying would come. When an altruistic neighbour tries to convince her that everything is going to be fine, it destroys her completely. This made quite an impact on me as I just lost my grandmother who was basically bedridden. It's a difficult situation to be in.
I am not Ghaznawi by Gurbachan Singh Bhullar : A man pines for the crush of his youth, who has moved away years ago. When an old friend invites him to his town, telling him the crush lives nearby, he is curious to go. But he sees another old female friend who has now aged badly and realises he is better off not seeing his crush. Very shallow, but a lot of men are like this. 🙄
I would say overall the stories were not spectacular but mildly interesting. Only Malayalam to go now!
Some of my favourite stories were:
Dance of the Devil by Sant Singh Sekhon : A Partition story, a quintessential Punjabi literary topic, this one was about a Muslim woman who was spared from certain death because she caught the eye of a Sikh guard. He proposes to adopt her child and marry her. She gets saved but at what cost?
Sunrise at Last by Sujaan Singh : Another Partition story, this was about a Muslim woman who was missed by gangs of roving murderers and finally rescued by a Sikh man, took refuge with a Hindu man. She was ultimately handed over to safety to a Muslim man who helped Hindu and Sikh women reach their families safely. She wonders about the concept of religion and atheism.
The Moscow Girl by Balwant Gargi : During the Soviet Union, many Russians were pretty enamoured with Indian culture and it is neatly encapsulated in this sweet little story.
Stench of Kerosene by Amrita Pritam : When a man commits bigamy because his mother wants a grandson, there are psychological consequences to pay for cowardice.
The Charity Coat by Navtej Singh : A poor teacher who coaches a rich student suddenly loses al respect in his own and his student's eyes when he accepts charity from them.
Hopes Shattered by Gulzar Singh Sandhu : A story about an active and involved old woman who gets paralysed and hopes for the destruction that rumours are saying would come. When an altruistic neighbour tries to convince her that everything is going to be fine, it destroys her completely. This made quite an impact on me as I just lost my grandmother who was basically bedridden. It's a difficult situation to be in.
I am not Ghaznawi by Gurbachan Singh Bhullar : A man pines for the crush of his youth, who has moved away years ago. When an old friend invites him to his town, telling him the crush lives nearby, he is curious to go. But he sees another old female friend who has now aged badly and realises he is better off not seeing his crush. Very shallow, but a lot of men are like this. 🙄
I would say overall the stories were not spectacular but mildly interesting. Only Malayalam to go now!
October 8, 2023
I’m always looking forward to read the next book in The Greatest Stories Ever Told series. Short stories are always a great way for me to get back into the reading game and so I decided to keep my current read aside to dive into this one. Selected and edited by Renuka Singh and Balbir Madhopuri, these stories gives us a glimpse of the rich literature of the land of Punjab. It doesn’t take long to realise that they carry an undertone of tension, violence and at times a tinge of humour. But many of them revolved around partition and the horrors that followed it.
The thing that I love about the books in this series are the opportunities for the readers to discover some new and old authors. This too, was no different. Most of the authors were fairly new to me so it was an immersive experience to explore their work. A major chunk of the stories are suffused with grim seriousness and melancholy, making me take time reading them. There’s no doubt that this book offers a variety of interesting perspectives about human nature but it still didn’t work for me. Perhaps it had to do with my inability to connect with the stories. I may very well be on the unpopular side so I’d urge you to read it yourself and see how you like it.
Thank you for the copy @alephbookco ✨
The thing that I love about the books in this series are the opportunities for the readers to discover some new and old authors. This too, was no different. Most of the authors were fairly new to me so it was an immersive experience to explore their work. A major chunk of the stories are suffused with grim seriousness and melancholy, making me take time reading them. There’s no doubt that this book offers a variety of interesting perspectives about human nature but it still didn’t work for me. Perhaps it had to do with my inability to connect with the stories. I may very well be on the unpopular side so I’d urge you to read it yourself and see how you like it.
Thank you for the copy @alephbookco ✨
June 4, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this collection. Some stories were heartbreaking, others heartwarming — each one carried emotional weight. Many of them revolved around the Partition, capturing the trauma, loss, and resilience of that time.
It’s a powerful anthology that gives voice to a rich literary tradition. If you enjoy short stories with depth and historical context, this is worth picking up!
It’s a powerful anthology that gives voice to a rich literary tradition. If you enjoy short stories with depth and historical context, this is worth picking up!
October 24, 2025
The Greatest Punjabi Stories Ever Told (edited by Renuka Singh and Balbir Madhopuri) is a well-curated collection that captures the varied moods, struggles, and sensibilities of Punjab and its people. The stories serve as an engaging introduction to Punjabi literature for readers unfamiliar with its writers, though I did find myself wishing for more contemporary and diverse representation — all contributors were born before 1980, and most are no longer alive. As another reader noted, only five women authors are included, one of them the renowned Amrita Pritam.
Despite these limitations, the selection powerfully evokes both the turbulent history and the evolving present of Punjab. Several stories lingered with me long after reading, and I often wished some were longer. My particular favorites were:
• Daughter of a Rebel (Gurmukh Singh Musafir)
• Sunrise at Last (Sujaan Singh)
• Stench of Kerosene (Amrita Pritam)
• The Proverbial Bullock (Kulwant Singh Virk)
• The Charity Coat (Navtej Singh)
• In-between the Books (Sukhbir)
• I Am Not Ghaznavi (Gurbachan Singh Bhullar)
• Home (Sukirat) — perhaps my favorite of the lot, a moving story of a gay couple and their ‘adopted’ daughter (a niece who comes to stay with them while studying close by), exploring the complexities of love, family, and acceptance with remarkable sensitivity.
Despite these limitations, the selection powerfully evokes both the turbulent history and the evolving present of Punjab. Several stories lingered with me long after reading, and I often wished some were longer. My particular favorites were:
• Daughter of a Rebel (Gurmukh Singh Musafir)
• Sunrise at Last (Sujaan Singh)
• Stench of Kerosene (Amrita Pritam)
• The Proverbial Bullock (Kulwant Singh Virk)
• The Charity Coat (Navtej Singh)
• In-between the Books (Sukhbir)
• I Am Not Ghaznavi (Gurbachan Singh Bhullar)
• Home (Sukirat) — perhaps my favorite of the lot, a moving story of a gay couple and their ‘adopted’ daughter (a niece who comes to stay with them while studying close by), exploring the complexities of love, family, and acceptance with remarkable sensitivity.
December 25, 2023
Although the themes covered in these translated stories broadly pertain to family relationships, alienation, rurality and urbanity, development, partition, patriotism, martyrdom, state repression, human connections, place, people, and sexuality, the most that stood out was a common thread of myriad forms of love that binds and keeps these stories together.
The Punjabi short story, merely a century old, is an important part of Punjabi modern literature. Renuka Singh, in the beginning of the anthology, mention that In the Punjabi sociocultural context, many aspects of human issues and concerns form its constituent elements and, symbolically, Punjabi philosophical thought and life-world emerges vividly through descriptive accounts. Through translation, these stories have acquired a new and different flavour. Relishing them in the original is certainly more delicious. But when a reader like me doesn’t know the original language, it’s a gift that translators exist at all.
Now coming back to the theme of love. The story that kickstarts the collection, Bhabhi Myna by Gurbaksh Singh sets to challenge your notions about love and restrictions around it, its meaning and your understanding around the meaning you have given to this emotion. It’s provocative and philosophical in equal measure with a strong streak of pathos embedded throughout the spine of the story. Written around a young Jain widow on the cusp of accepting monkhood and a preadolescent Punjabi neighbor of her, this is a story that defines the very theme and what this anthology is going to be. Brave in idea and bold in execution, this story is widely open to interpretation by readers which is a good thing as it opens a dialogue for what is not in the focus in the society.
While Bowl of Milk (Gurbaksh Singh) is about a family’s love of food and hospital, Daughter of the Rebel (Gurmukh Singh Musafir) explores the hardships and tragedy that befell the families of freedom fighters, a price they paid for the love of their country. Kung Posh (Devendra Satyarthi) again is about a middle-aged man’s abused obsession with random women around who he weaves the thread of his infatuation and fantasies.
The only grouse I had was with translation in some places as it wasn’t going as smooth as I’d have wanted.
The Punjabi short story, merely a century old, is an important part of Punjabi modern literature. Renuka Singh, in the beginning of the anthology, mention that In the Punjabi sociocultural context, many aspects of human issues and concerns form its constituent elements and, symbolically, Punjabi philosophical thought and life-world emerges vividly through descriptive accounts. Through translation, these stories have acquired a new and different flavour. Relishing them in the original is certainly more delicious. But when a reader like me doesn’t know the original language, it’s a gift that translators exist at all.
Now coming back to the theme of love. The story that kickstarts the collection, Bhabhi Myna by Gurbaksh Singh sets to challenge your notions about love and restrictions around it, its meaning and your understanding around the meaning you have given to this emotion. It’s provocative and philosophical in equal measure with a strong streak of pathos embedded throughout the spine of the story. Written around a young Jain widow on the cusp of accepting monkhood and a preadolescent Punjabi neighbor of her, this is a story that defines the very theme and what this anthology is going to be. Brave in idea and bold in execution, this story is widely open to interpretation by readers which is a good thing as it opens a dialogue for what is not in the focus in the society.
While Bowl of Milk (Gurbaksh Singh) is about a family’s love of food and hospital, Daughter of the Rebel (Gurmukh Singh Musafir) explores the hardships and tragedy that befell the families of freedom fighters, a price they paid for the love of their country. Kung Posh (Devendra Satyarthi) again is about a middle-aged man’s abused obsession with random women around who he weaves the thread of his infatuation and fantasies.
The only grouse I had was with translation in some places as it wasn’t going as smooth as I’d have wanted.
September 25, 2023
The Greatest Punjabi Stories Ever Told, is an engaging anthology of Punjabi short stories. It offers readers a captivating window into Punjabi literature, featuring both established and emerging writers from the region. The anthology excels in its ability to transport readers to the heart of Punjab, vividly capturing its culture, traditions, and daily life. With themes ranging from love and yearning to social issues and historical events, the stories provide a comprehensive view of Punjabi storytelling. The narratives themselves showcase the storytelling prowess of Punjabi authors, with well-defined characters and impactful storytelling. This anthology is a celebration of Punjabi literature, offering insight, entertainment, and a deep appreciation for storytelling. It is a literary journey worth embarking upon.
July 11, 2024
Reading stories about Punjab, Punjabis and the legendary Punjabiyat have always been a homecoming for me.
Being a land that witnessed a partition, the state reflects a great endurance and the grace of sacrifice in its literature and way of life. Renuka Singh and Balbir Madhopuri have compiled this collection of 30 stories by the 20th century writers of the Progressive movement.
Themes of family and relationships, life in urban and rural Punjab, patriotism, partition, loss, void, social-economic-political conditions impacting daily life minutely are portrayed through these stories. Tinged with a rustic melancholy and occasional wry humour these stories are grim, gripping and palpable.
What impresses me the most is the retention of nuances in the translation, that retain the charm of the cultural ethos of Punjab. Do give this book a read, read slowly to savour these stories!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Being a land that witnessed a partition, the state reflects a great endurance and the grace of sacrifice in its literature and way of life. Renuka Singh and Balbir Madhopuri have compiled this collection of 30 stories by the 20th century writers of the Progressive movement.
Themes of family and relationships, life in urban and rural Punjab, patriotism, partition, loss, void, social-economic-political conditions impacting daily life minutely are portrayed through these stories. Tinged with a rustic melancholy and occasional wry humour these stories are grim, gripping and palpable.
What impresses me the most is the retention of nuances in the translation, that retain the charm of the cultural ethos of Punjab. Do give this book a read, read slowly to savour these stories!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 15, 2023
Couldn't be more excited to read the stories about and from my mother tongue. I haven't explored Punjabi Literature (except reading a few classic works of Amrita Pritam).
There was so much that I didn't know about the history and background of my mother tongue and the place definitely.
This book made me experience the essence of early freedom times, essence of Punjab and some local folk stories.
It is a work of fiction, but doesn't feel so.
It covers four generations of Punjabi writers, the anthology includes celebrated storytellers such as Gurbaksh Singh, Balwant Gargi, Sant Singh Sekhon, and Amrita Pritam.
I love how 30 different stories portray 30 different lives.
There was so much that I didn't know about the history and background of my mother tongue and the place definitely.
This book made me experience the essence of early freedom times, essence of Punjab and some local folk stories.
It is a work of fiction, but doesn't feel so.
It covers four generations of Punjabi writers, the anthology includes celebrated storytellers such as Gurbaksh Singh, Balwant Gargi, Sant Singh Sekhon, and Amrita Pritam.
I love how 30 different stories portray 30 different lives.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews