Sheila Bhatia (1916-2008) was an Indian poet, playwright, theatre personality and the founder of the ''Delhi Art Theatre'', a forum based in Delhi for the promotion of Indian art forms. She is credited with originating Punjabi opera, an Indian form of dance drama incorporating operatic movements. She was honoured by the Government of India in 1971 with Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award. A decade later, she received the

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IPA: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in Englis ...

for theatre direction in 1982 followed by Kalidas Samman in 1997.

Biography

Sheila Bhatia was born on 1 March 1916 in Sialkot in British India, in present day Pakistan. After securing a BA degree, she graduated in education (BT) and started working as a teacher of mathematics in Lahore, involving herself with the Indian freedom struggle. Later she moved to Delhi where she founded the ''Delhi Art Theatre''. She also worked with the National School of Drama as the head of the acting department. Bhatia's debut production was ''Call of the Valley'', a musical. That was followed by over 60 productions, such as Heer Ranjha (1957), Dard Aayega Dabe Paon (1979), Sulgada Darya (1982), Omar Khayyam (1990), Naseeb (1997), Chann Badla Da, Loha Kutt, Ghalib Kaun tha and Nadir Shah in Punabi and Qissa yeh aurat ka (1972), Hawa se hippy tak (1972), and Yeh ishq nahin asan (1980) in Urdu. A follower of

Faiz Ahmed Faiz Faiz Ahmad ''Faiz'' (13 February 1911 – 20 November 1984; Urdu, Punjabi: فیض احمد فیض) was a Pakistani poet, and author of Urdu and Punjabi literature. Faiz was one of the most celebrated Pakistani Urdu writers of his time. Out ...

, Bhatia also has 10 publications to her credit including the poetry anthology, Parlo Da Jhakkarh (1950).

Awards

The Government of India awarded her the civilian honour of Padma Shri in 1971. She received the

for best direction in 1982. The next year, she was awarded the Ghalib Award (1983) followed by Punjabi Arts Council award. She received the best director award from the Delhi Administration in 1986 and the Kalidas Samman in 1997. She was also a recipient of Urdu Academy Award and the ''Param Sahit Sarkar Sanman'' by the Punjabi Academy (2000).

Death

Sheila Bhatia died on 17 February 2008 at the age of 91.

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bhatia, Sheila Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education 1916 births 2008 deaths People from Sialkot Indian women dramatists and playwrights Indian theatre directors Indian theatre managers and producers Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 20th-century Indian poets 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Indian women poets Indian women theatre directors 20th-century Indian women writers 20th-century Indian businesswomen 20th-century Indian businesspeople Dramatists and playwrights from Punjab, India Poets from Punjab, India Women writers from Punjab, India Businesswomen from Punjab, India Businesspeople from Punjab, India

Biography

Awards

Death

See also

References

Further reading