{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}} {{Short description|Indian writer (1930–2020)}} {{Infobox writer | honorific_prefix = Professor | name = Surjit Hans | image = Surjit Hans.png | image_size = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | native_name = ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਹਾਂਸ | native_name_lang = pa | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1930|10|31}} | birth_place = Doaba, Punjab, India<ref name="tribuneindia"/> | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2020|01|17|1930|10|31}} | death_place = Mohali, Punjab, India | resting_place = | occupation = {{hlist|Writer|Scholar|Historian|Teacher|Poet}} | language = Punjabi, English | nationality = | citizenship = | education = English<br />Philosophy | alma_mater = Panjab University Swami Sarvanand Giri Regional Centre, Hoshiarpur | period = | genre = | subject = {{hlist|Literature|Language|Psychology|History|Philosophy}}<ref name="theindianexpress"/> | movement = | notable_works = ''Mittti Di Dheri'', ''Mrit Da Sapna'', ''Loon Di Dali''<br />Punjabi translation of ''Macbeth'', ''Henry VIII'', ''The Two Noble Kinsmen'', ''On the Origin of Species'' | spouse = <!-- or: | spouses = --> | children = Nanki Hans (daughter) | relatives = | awards = Sahitya Akademi | years_active = 1993–2020 }}

'''Surjit Hans''' (31 October 1930 – 17 January 2020), also appears as '''Surjeet Hans''', was an Indian writer, tragedian, scholar and lecturer.{{efn|see also wikt:tragedian. The subject can be also referred to '''Shakespearean tragedian'''}} He is also credited with being a "translator" for translating all the tragedies and thirty eight plays of William Shakespeare into Punjabi language. His name also appears in "historians" and "poets" for his research on history of Sikhism and writing novels and poems. Hans wrote sixty books, including ''Mittti Di Dheri'', ''Loon Di Dali'' and ''Mrit Da Sapna'' throughout his life.

He became the recipient of a literary honor Sahitya Akademi Award twice in recognition of his contribution to the Punjabi literature and language.{{efn|the awards were based in Punjab and Chandigarh than in Delhi}} It is believed he spent more than twenty years living a "Bard of Avon" life since he started translation work, including ''Macbeth'' which he did in 1955.{{efn|'''Bard of Avon''' is a title given to an English poet William Shakespeare}}<ref name="tribuneindia">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/prof-surjit-hans-who-translated-all-of-shakespeare-to-punjabi-dies-at-89-27633|title=Prof Surjit Hans, who translated all of Shakespeare to Punjabi, dies at 89|author=Tribune News Service|website=Tribuneindia News Service}}</ref><ref name="The Times of India 2020">{{cite web | title=Renowned Sikh historian Surjit Hans passes away | website=The Times of India | date=17 January 2020 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/renowned-sikh-historian-surjit-hans-passes-away/articleshow/73323544.cms | access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Punjab, India ਸੂਚਨਾ ਤੇ ਲੋਕ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਪੰਜਾਬ ,ਭਾਰਤ 2017">{{cite web | title=CAPT AMARINDER MOURNS PASSING AWAY OF PROF. SURJIT HANS, MEDIA ADVISOR RAVEEN THUKRAL ALSO CONDOLES DEATH | website=Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Punjab, India ਸੂਚਨਾ ਤੇ ਲੋਕ ਸੰਪਰਕ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਪੰਜਾਬ ,ਭਾਰਤ | date=10 May 2017 | url=http://www.diprpunjab.gov.in/?q=content/capt-amarinder-mourns-passing-away-prof-surjit-hans-media-advisor-raveen-thukral-also | access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref> In 2013, he received an honorary appreciation by the Ealing London Borough Council for his contribution to Shakespearean tragedies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/indian-professor-honoured-at-london-ealing-mayor-s-parlour-113072200288_1.html|title=Indian professor honoured at London Ealing Mayor's parlour|agency=Press Trust of India|date=22 July 2013|via=Business Standard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsd.in/veteran-prof-surjit-hans-who-translated-shakespeare-into-punjabi-passes-away/|title=Veteran Prof Surjit Hans who translated Shakespeare into Punjabi, passes away|date=17 January 2020}}</ref>

==Early life== Hans was born in Doaba area of Punjab, India on 31 October 1930.<ref name="tribuneindia"/> After completing his primary and secondary schooling, he attended the Panjab University Swami Sarvanand Giri Regional Centre, Hoshiarpur where he studied English and Philosophy. He took a keen interest in Shakespeare's writings after receiving education from professor Dinah Stock, and later in 1965, he went to Southall, London and worked as a postman at the Heathrow Airport<ref name="theindianexpress">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/surjit-hans-professor-punjabi-literature-6223115/|title=The professor extraordinaire|date=18 January 2020|website=The Indian Express}}</ref> as well as a bus conductor. He stayed there for six to seven years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/read-as-you-like-it/article4491769.ece|title=Read as you like it|first=Chander Suta|last=Dogra|newspaper=The Hindu |date=11 March 2013|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Hans joined Royal Shakespeare Company and started working on Shakespeare's projects.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

In 1973, he returned to his hometown and joined Guru Nanak Dev University in the Department of Guru Nanak Studies where he worked as a lecturer. Later in 1981 he became head of the department, and from 1986 to 1989 and 1990 to 1991 he was a faculty member of History Department of same university until his retirement in 1993. He published his first doctoral project on Sikh literature titled "A Reconstruction of Sikh History" which is recognized as a prominent research among his other work. It is believed he was inspired by methodology of a New Zealand scholar W. H. McLeod. He was also involved in research work of Punjab's insurgency.<ref name="theindianexpress"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/sikh-historian-surjit-hans-who-translated-shakespeare-s-works-into-punjabi-passes-away/story-2GswqgvijRCfuX6xQJccrM.html|title=Sikh historian Surjit Hans, who translated Shakespeare's works into Punjabi, passes away|website=hindustantimes.com}}</ref>

==Literary career== Hans chiefly wrote about literature, language, psychology, history, and philosophy. As a fellow at the Punjabi University, Patiala, he began translating Shakespeare's projects into Punjabi on 1 January 1993<ref name="theindianexpress"/> with ''Othello'' tragedy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/loves-labour-the-complete-works-of-shakespeare-now-available-in-punjabi-8512040.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/loves-labour-the-complete-works-of-shakespeare-now-available-in-punjabi-8512040.html |archive-date=2022-05-25 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Love's labour: the complete works of Shakespeare now available in|date=26 February 2013|website=The Independent}}</ref> As a translator for twenty years, he played multiple fictional characters' roles, including Laertes in ''Hamlet'' and Seyton in ''Macbeth'', and is also credited with translating ''Henry VIII'' that was his last work and Charles Darwin's ''On the Origin of Species''. He also used to write novels and poetry themed psychology and social. His prominent publications include ''Mitti Di Dheri'', ''Gallo'', ''Apsara'', ''Pushtan'', ''Harijan'', ''Loon Di Dali'', ''Imtihan'', and ''Sikh Ki Karan''. He wrote about the all ethnic groups of Punjab in one of his research works titled ''Jallianwala Bagh: The Construction of a Nationalist Symbol'' that appeared in the prominent publications.<ref name="theindianexpress"/>

===Assignments=== Hans was employed or assigned to translate Shakespeare's work by the Punjabi University. The university used to offer him ₹8,000 for each play. It is claimed that each play he used to complete was done in a time span of six months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/age-bard-o-romeo-kitthe-ho-tussi-183000919.html|title=New-age Bard: O Romeo! Kitthe ho tussi?|website=in.news.yahoo.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/william-shakespeare/9885740/All-William-Shakespeares-plays-translated-into-Punjabi-over-20-years.html|title=All William Shakespeare's plays translated into Punjabi over 20 years|first=Dean|last=Nelson|date=21 February 2013|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

==Death== On 31 August 2014, he suffered from a myocardial infarction but recovered later. On 17 January 2020, he died of chronic condition in Mohali city of Punjab.<ref name="theindianexpress"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ptcnews.tv/prof-surjit-hans-death-captain-amarinder-singh-condoles-surjit-hans-death-en/|title=Captain Amarinder Singh mourns passing away of Prof. Surjit Hans|first=Rajan|last=Nath|date=17 January 2020}}</ref>

==See also== * List of Indian writers * Rana Nayar * Tapan Kumar Pradhan

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}} {{Portal bar|Biography|India|Literature|Theatre}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hans, Surjit}} Category:1930 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Scholars from Punjab, India Category:Writers from Punjab, India Category:People from Jalandhar district Category:Poets from Punjab, India Category:Panjab University alumni