Lala Dhani Ram Chatrik (October 4, 1876 - December 18, 1954) was an Indian poet and typographer of the Punjabi language. He devoted all of his life for the uplifting of the Punjabi language. He standardized the type set for Punjabi script. His language, its ornamentation and subject of his poetry are near and dear to common people. Lala Dhani Ram is considered one of the pioneers of modern Punjabi poetry. He promoted Punjabi culture, language and publications through his life. His prose works describe tolerance, love for truth, and simple living and high thinking. In 1926, he became the President of the Punjabi Sahit Sabha, a Punjabi literature society. Some of his poems have been included in the syllabus of schools.
Dhani Ram Chatrik was born in the village Paswan-Wala, District Sheikupura (Pakistan). His father Pohu Lal was an ordinary shopkeeper. His father moved to village Lopoke in search for work. His father taught him Punjabi and Urdu scripts. Dhani Ram went to Bombay to learn Punjabi typography. His father sowed the seeds of education within him. This foundation of learning would later blossom into a profound artistic journey that would leave an indelible mark on the world of literature and typography. Though Hindu by birth, Dhani Ram became an admirer of the Sikh faith after he came in contact with the major Punjabi poet of that era Bhai Vir Singh. After that meeting he felt inspired to write verses in the Punjabi language.
Image Credits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhani_Ram_Chatrik
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