Krishan Bhanot

Krishan Bhanot was born on March 26, 1954, in Bhaini Sahib, a small but historically prominent village in the Ludhiana district of Punjab, famously known as the birthplace of Baba Ram Singh, the founder of the Kuka Movement. Reflecting on his early years, Mr. Bhanot once shared, “The interest in reading books was probably born with my birth." While studying in primary school, as soon as he began to recognize letters, he found himself drawn to the pages of religious scriptures like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata at home. By the time he reached high school, he had become an absolute bookworm, captivated by the volumes available in the school library. It was during this formative period, as he recalled, that his pen effortlessly began to compose its first songs and poems.

While studying at Malwa College, Bondli-Samrala, the vibrant literary atmosphere further ignited his passion for writing. Beyond contributing to the college magazine, his work began appearing regularly in mainstream newspapers. He soon embedded himself within local literary societies, where he became completely immersed in the art of the ghazal. He had the distinct honor of writing under the profound influence of esteemed local ghazalgos, including the late Ajaib Chitarkar, Kulwant Neelon, Surjit Rampuri, Inderjit Hasanpuri, and Randhir Singh Chand. Through these rich creative interactions, he firmly established himself as a highly celebrated ghazalgo and a true master of ghazal poetry. Over his lifetime, he mentored hundreds of aspiring writers in the intricate mechanics of the craft, shaping the journeys of many famous contemporary ghazal poets—a guiding role he passionately maintained until his final days.

Throughout his illustrious literary career, Krishan Bhanot published nine seminal ghazal books, including his highly acclaimed text on Arooz (poetic meter). This particular book became so widely sought after by a new generation of learners that its first print edition sold out within mere days. Driven by a selfless dedication to the craft, Mr. Bhanot personally distributed the PDF version of this authoritative guide to hundreds of up-and-coming ghazal poets worldwide to ensure the art form continued to flourish.

Krishan Bhanot's ghazal journey was exceptionally profound. Active in the literary field for nearly half a century, his enduring legacy lives on through his timeless publications and the hundreds of ghazal poets he so generously mentored.