Rajinder Singh Bedi (1915-1984) was an Indian novelist, broadcaster, screenwriter, playwright, producer and film-maker. Some of his notable works as a screenwriter include films like Anupama (1966), Satyakam (1969) and Abhimaan (1973).
Wiki/Biography
Rajinder Singh Bedi was born on Wednesday, September 1, 1915 in Dalawali, Sialkot, Punjab Province, British India (now in Punjab Province, Pakistan). He was 69 years old . His name is also spelled as Rajindar Singh Bedi. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He received his early education at a school in Lahore Cantonment, Punjab Province, Pakistan, where he studied till fourth grade. Later, he attended SBBS Khalsa High School in Basila, Punjab, and passed with first rank in the entrance examination in 1931. Thereafter, he entered DAV Academy, but was unable to complete his graduation due to the death of his mother from tuberculosis. In 1933, he joined the Sadar Bazar Post Office in Lahore as a clerk.
family
Rajinder Singh Bedi was born into a Khatri Sikh family in Punjab.
Parents and siblings
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s father’s name was Hira Singh Bedi. He is the postmaster of Sadar Bazar Post Office, Lahore. His mother’s name was Seva Day. He has two brothers and a sister. One of his brothers serves as an IAS officer and the other is in the army.
Rajinder Singh Bedi (far left) with his two siblings
wife and children
In 1934, 19-year-old Rajinder Bedi married Satwant Kaur. They have three sons, Prem Bedi, Narendra Bedi and Rajkumar Bedi, and two daughters, Surinder Bedi and Parminder Bedi. Prem Bedi died within a year of his birth. Narendra Bedi is an Indian film producer and Rajkumar Bedi is a screenwriter.
Narendra Bedi, son of Rajinder Singh Bedi
other relatives
He 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 are working as actors and producers in the Indian entertainment industry.
Manek Bedi, grandson of Rajinder Singh Bedi
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s grandson Rajat Bedi
Profession
radio
In 1941, he quit his clerical job and joined the Urdu section of All India Radio in Lahore. After working there for two years, he worked as a screenwriter at Maheshwari Film Studios, but later he rejoined All India Radio and was appointed as a screenwriter. Jammu and Kashmir Radio as Director.
writer
Short Stories and Drama
Rajinder Bedi began his writing career in 1940 with the publication of the collection of short stories Daan-O-Daam. Readers’ favorite story in the book is “Garam Coat.”
The cover of the book “Garam Coat”
Some of his other collections of short stories and plays include Grehan (1942), Kokh Jali (1949), Saat Khel (1981) and Apne Dukh Mujhe Dedo (1997).
Movie
dialogue writer
In 1947, he quit his job at All India Radio and moved 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). Other films for which he served as dialogue writer include Mirza Ghalib (1954), Devdas (1955), Madhumati (1958) and Satyakam (1969).
screenwriter
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s first film as a screenwriter was Garam Coat (1955). Other films for which he served as screenwriter include Mem-Didi (1961), Rungoli (1962), Mere Sanam (1965) and Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968).
film producer
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s first film as a producer was Garam Coat (1955) produced by Cine Co-operative Ltd. Other films he produced are “Rungoli” (1962) and “Phagun” (1973).
Rajinder Singh Bedi’s first film as a film director was Dastak (1970). Some of the other films he directed include “Phagun” (1973), “Nawab Sahib” (1978) and “Aankhin Dekhi” (1978).
Awards and Honors
film honors
- 1956 Filmfare Award for Best Story – Garm Coat (1955)
- 1959 Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue – Madhumati (1959)
- 1971 Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue – Satyakam (1969)
Literary Honors
- Sahitya Akademi Award – Ek Chadar Maili Si (1965)
- Ghalib Award – Urdu Drama (1978)
die
In 1982, he suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed. He was later diagnosed with rectal cancer and died from complications. Rajinder Singh Bedi died on November 11, 1984 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Favorites
Facts/Trivia
- Before the partition of India, he had his own publishing house called Sangam Publishers Limited on Nesbit Road, Lahore, Pakistan.
- During the partition of India in 1947, Rajinder Singh Bedi’s house and office were burnt down, so he and his family had to move to Ropar in Punjab and then to Shimla. During the quarantine, he helped and rescued many Muslim families by moving them to safe places.
- He enjoyed reading in his free time and was influenced by Chekhov’s works.
- Before India’s independence, he was associated with the Progressive Writers Association.
Rajinder Singh Bedi with members of Progressive Writers Association
- He used to smoke and drink occasionally.
- After his death, the Punjab government established the “Rajinder Singh Bedi Award” in the field of Urdu literature in his memory.
- The Rajinder Singh Bedi Chowk of King’s Circle in Mumbai was named after him after his death.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education