Rajinder Singh Bedi (1915–1984) was an Indian novelist, radio broadcaster, screenwriter, playwright, producer and filmmaker. Some of his famous works as a screenwriter include films like Anupama (1966), Satyakam (1969), and Abhimaan (1973).
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Rajinder Singh Bedi was born on Wednesday, 1 September 1915 (age 69 years at death) in Dhallewali, Sialkot, Punjab Province, British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan). His name is also written as Rajinder Singh Bedi. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He received his early education from a school in Lahore Cantonment, Punjab, Pakistan, where he studied till class four. He later joined the SBBS Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Basiala, Punjab, where he passed the matriculation examination in 1931 with first division. After that, he joined DAV College, but could not complete his graduation as his mother died of tuberculosis. In 1933, he joined the Sadar Bazaar Post Office, Lahore as a clerk.
Family
Rajinder Singh Bedi belonged to a Khatri Sikh family of Punjab.
parents and siblings
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s father’s name is Hira Singh Bedi. He was the postmaster at Sadar Bazaar Post Office, Lahore. His mother’s name is Seva Dai. He had two younger brothers and a sister. One of his brothers worked as an IAS officer and the other brother was in the army.
Rajinder Singh Bedi (far left) with his two brothers and sister
wife and children
Rajinder Bedi was married to Satwant Kaur in 1934 at the age of 19. They had three sons, Prem Bedi, Narendra Bedi and Rajkumar Bedi, and two daughters, Surinder Bedi and Parminder Bedi. Prem Bedi died within a year of her birth. Narendra Bedi was an Indian film producer and Rajkumar Bedi was a screenwriter.
Narendra Bedi, son of Rajinder Singh Bedi
other relatives
She has a granddaughter named Ila Bedi Dutta, who works as a writer and producer in the Hindi entertainment industry.
Ila Bedi Dutta, granddaughter of Rajinder Singh Bedi
He has two grandsons named Manek Bedi and Rajat Bedi who work as actors and producers in the Indian entertainment industry.
Manek Bedi, grandson of Rajinder Singh Bedi
Rajat Bedi, grandson of Rajinder Singh Bedi
livelihood
radio
He left his job as a clerk and joined the Urdu section of All India Radio, Lahore in 1941. After working there for two years he took a hiatus to work at Maheshwari Films Studio as a writer, but later, he rejoined All India Radio and got posted. As Director in Jammu and Kashmir Broadcasting Service.
Author
short story and drama
Rajinder Bedi started his writing career in 1940 by publishing a collection of short stories titled Daan-o-Daam (The Catch). The story that readers liked most in the collection was “Garam Kot” (Warm Coat).
A book cover of ‘Warm Coat’
Some of his other collections of short stories and plays are Grihan (1942), Kokh Jaali (1949), Saat Khel (1981), and Apne Dukh Mujhe Dedo (1997).
film
dialogue writer
In 1947, he left his job at All India Radio and went to Bombay to work as a dialogue writer in the Hindi film industry. Rajinder Bedi’s first film as a dialogue writer was Bari Behen (1949). Some of his other films in which he worked as a dialogue writer were Mirza Ghalib (1954), Devdas (1955), Madhumati (1958), and Satyakam (1969).
screenplay by
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s first film as a screenwriter was Garam Kot (1955). Some of the other films in which he worked as a screenwriter were Mem-Didi (1961), Rungoli (1962), Mere Sanam (1965), and Mere Humdum Mere Dost (1968).
film producer
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s first film as a producer was Garam Kot (1955) under the production banner of Cine Co-operative Limited. Some other films he produced were Rungoli (1962) and Phagun (1973).
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s first film as a film director was Dastak (1970). Some of his other directorial films are Phagun (1973), Nawab Saheb (1978), and Aankhen Dekhi (1978).
Awards and Honors
film awards
- 1956 Filmfare Best Story Award – Garm Coat (1955)
- 1959 Filmfare Best Dialogue Award – Madhumati (1959)
- 1971 Filmfare Best Dialogue Award – Satyakam (1969)
literary honor
- Sahitya Akademi Award – Ek Chadar Maili Si (1965)
- Ghalib Award – Urdu Drama (1978)
Death
In 1982 he suffered a stroke which left him paralyzed. Later, he was diagnosed with rectal cancer and died due to its complications. Rajinder Singh Bedi died on 11 November 1984 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Favorite
Facts/General Knowledge
- Before the partition of India he had his own publishing house known as Sangam Publishers Limited at Nesbitt Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
- During the Partition of 1947, Rajinder Singh Bedi’s house and office were burnt down, forcing him and his family to relocate to Ropar, Punjab and then to Shimla. He helped and saved many Muslim families during the partition by shifting them to safer places.
- He enjoyed reading books in his spare time and was influenced by the writings of Anton Chekov.
- Before India’s independence, he joined the Progressive Writers Association.
Rajinder Singh Bedi with members of the Progressive Writers Association
- He occasionally smoked and drank.
- After his death, ‘Rajinder Singh Bedi Award’ in the field of Urdu literature was started in his honor by the Government of Punjab.
- Rajinder Singh Bedi Chowk in Kings Circle Mumbai was named after him after his death.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn