Punjabi satirist Dilbar fights cancer, official apathy

SIRSA: "Khan ne dende jo kuch khan nu dil kerda, sir wich si cancer da foda (they don't let me eat what I want because a have cancerous tumour in my head)". When Hari Singh Dilbar started his poem with this line and soon led the audience on a laugh riot in Punjabi University auditorium couple of years back, nobody knew that he was actually telling the truth. Dilbar - who has for decades amused listeners with his witty verses 'Chauke Chhakke' - is fighting cancer, poverty, and official apathy with a grin.

Despite odds, the 85-year-old humourist is putting up a brave face to take on the challenges at the fag end of his life. With absolute simplicity, he avers, "Main Punjabi hasya kavitaon ka baadshah hoon' (I am the king of Punjabi comic poetry)." Songs written the noted satirist have been sung by several famous Punjabi singers, including Hazara Singh Ramta, Manmohan Waris and Kamal Heer.

Born in 1929 at Lyallpur (now in Pakistan), Dilbar has been writing and reciting poems since 1943. Always ready with his witty couplets, Dilbar is fondly called 'Sachin Tendulkar of Punjabi literature' by his friends and fans. His verses often carry sharp stings.

In a record of sorts, Dilbar has recited poetry from the Red Fort during Independence Day and Republic Day functions under the aegis of Punjabi Academy, Delhi, some 114 times . Even former Presidents Zakir Hussain and Giani Zail Singh had invited him to the Rashtrapati Bhawan to listen to his quartets and sextets 'Chauke Chhakke'.

Dilbar, who has written more than 2,500 poems and 10 poetry book, feels he is being neglected by all governments. "Five years ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I am unable to see in one eye and can't walk properly due to cancer. My son Sukhdev Singh is taking care of me. However, I treat myself with 'gau mutra (cow urine)', which has really benefited me. Recently, I got a letter again from the Delhi Literature Academy to perform on January 19 in a programme," he says while recounting his fight with the disease and neglect.

When contacted to know if the Punjabi Academy, Delhi, could offer financial support to Dilbar, its secretary Jawahar Dhawan said, "There is a scheme of giving financial support to literary personalities, but we only consider those living in Delhi."

President of Punjabi Sahit Akademi Prof Sukhdev Singh also expressed inability in offering assistance to Dilbar. "Our organization is an NGO and don't have enough funds to offer help. However, the Haryana government must look after him and start the pension scheme for him."

His famous four-liner on the Independence also drew attention to the conditions of India post-1947. "Azadi tan aai hai par aundi chad gai caaran andar, inqulab khada hai ajj vi raashan diya kataaran andar, ticket lain nu neta aida aunde ne darbaran andar, jiddan khusra pagg bann ke bah jave sardaaran andar", which summed up the apathy faced by the common men who fought relentlessly during Independence struggle.