About Harf
The name and inspiration for Harf comes from Dr. Surjit Patar’s first poetry collection, Hawa Vich Likhe Harf. “Words written in the air” is an image that holds within it both the fragility of poetry and its enduring power. Words written in the air do not know where they will come to rest, who will read them, or how far their journey will take them. Perhaps that is also the beauty of poetry: it is written and set free, and finds its own way to its reader. Dr. Surjit Patar devoted his life to Panjabi poetry, creating a deep relationship between language, literature and the world around us. His poetry gave generations of readers and poets words with which to speak of love, memory, longing, resistance and wonder. Harf is born from this same spirit of warmth, affection and courage. It is for poets who are writing in Panjabi today and exploring new possibilities within the mother tongue.
Our Purpose
We believe that to support poetry is to support the poet. Through this initiative, started by Enter Poem and Kaaraj Collective, three poets will be selected every year. There will be no first, second or third place. All three poets will be equal recipients of the Harf Panjabi Poetry Prize, and each will receive a prize of ₹11,111.
Who Can Submit?
1. The prize is open to Panjabi poets between the ages of 18 and 35. Age will be calculated according to the final submission date. This means that on 15 December 2026, the poet must be between 18 and 35 years old.
2. The poet may be living anywhere in the world.
3. The poems submitted must be the poet’s own original work and must be written in the Panjabi language, in the Gurmukhi script.
4. At present, the prize accepts only Panjabi poetry written in Gurmukhi. In future years, we will try to also accept poetry written in the Shahmukhi script.
5. Translations will not be accepted, even if they are translations of the poet’s own work.
6. A poet who has previously published a book, chapbook or poetry collection of their own work is not eligible for the prize. This applies to both self-published and traditionally published books.
7. Our first preference is for poems that have never been published before. However, if you are submitting a poem that has previously been published in a literary or poetry magazine or anthology, you must mention the name of the magazine or anthology in your submission.
8. If a poem has previously been shared by the poet on their own social media, personal blog or website, it may still be submitted. However, the poem must be removed from public view before submission, as the poems of shortlisted and selected poets will be shared on Harf’s website and social media in collaboration with the poets.
9. Each poet may submit only one entry, consisting of five poems.
Five-Poem Portfoli
The five poems submitted by each poet together form their poetry portfolio.
Harf does not select a single poem as a “winning poem.” The prize considers the overall presentation and poetic voice across the poet’s five poems.
How to Submit Your Poems
Every entry must include:
● Five original poems written in Panjabi
● All five poems in a single document
● Poems written in the Gurmukhi script
● The document in DOC or DOCX format
● Poems may be submitted by email to submissions@harfpoetryprize.com or through the form on harfpoetryprize.com
● Submission period: 1 October – 15 December 2026
● Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.
● There is no entry fee for the prize.
The following information must also be included in your email/entry form:
● Poet’s name
● Email address
● A photograph
● A short biography of the poet
Selection Process
After an initial review of the entries received by the Harf team, a shortlist will be prepared. All names and identifying information will then be removed from the poems of the shortlisted poets. These poems will subsequently be sent to the guest judge.
The final three poets will then be selected from the shortlist without the judge knowing the identities of the poets.
Poets may submit their poems to other prizes at the same time. If any poem submitted to Harf is selected for another prize or accepted for publication elsewhere during the judging period, please inform us immediately. That poem will be removed from consideration for Harf, and the poet will be given an opportunity to submit another eligible poem in its place.
Submit your poem
Meet the judge
Jaswant Zafar
We are honoured to have Jaswant Zafar as our Guest Judge for the inaugural Harf Panjabi Poetry Prize 2026
Jaswant Zafar is a celebrated Panjabi poet, writer, playwright, painter, cartoonist, photographer and social activist, and currently serves as Director of the Department of Language, Punjab.
His poetry collections include Do Saahan Vichkaar, Asin Nanak De Ki Lagde Haan, Eh Banda Ki Hunda, Mainu Buddhu Hona Chaahida, Piaare Aao Ghare, and Ik Katora Chaanani. His selected poetry has also been translated into Hindi and English, including The Other Shore of Words. His paintings have been exhibited in India and abroad, while his cartoons have appeared in Punjabi newspapers and magazines. His has written several plays including Budha Darya, and his association with theatre goes back to his college years. In 2026, he made his feature-film debut in Gurvinder Singh’s Rehmat, alongside Naseeruddin Shah.
Over the course of his literary career, he has received numerous honours, including the Uday Bharti Rashtriya Kavita Puraskar (1993), Shiromani Punjabi Kavi Award (2018), and the Punjab Gaurav Award (2025).
He served as a power engineer in the central and state power sectors for 34 years and retired as Deputy Chief Engineer.
With joy we welcome him to Harf’s 2026 edition!
Announcement
The winning poets will be announced on 14 January 2027 on Harf’s website and social media. This is the birth anniversary of Dr. Surjit Patar.
This date is woven into the identity of the prize. For us, it is not only an opportunity to look back towards the legacy of a great poet, but also an opportunity to lift our gaze towards contemporary and future Panjabi poets. It is a celebration of the continuing tradition and shared inheritance of Panjabi poetry, carried from one generation to the next.
Ceremony
The three recipients will be invited to a public poetry reading at a cultural festival in Ludhiana in January 2027.
The ceremony will bring together the three recipients, the guest judge, poets, readers and members of the literary community to celebrate contemporary Panjabi poetry and its new voices.
Publication
By submitting their poems to the Harf Panjabi Poetry Prize, poets agree that if their poems are shortlisted or they are selected as recipients of the prize, their submitted poems may be published by Enter Poem and/or Kaaraj Collective on their websites, blogs, social media platforms, promotional material, or in connection with the prize and its activities.
Copyright remains with the poet.
If a winning or shortlisted poem is published elsewhere in the future, the Harf Panjabi Poetry Prize should be acknowledged as the place of recognition for that poem.
Conflict of Interest
Members of the organising team, members of the judging panel, and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate in the prize while they are serving in these roles.
If a guest judge has a direct personal, professional or editorial relationship with a shortlisted poet that could create a conflict of interest, the judge must disclose this to the organisers and, where necessary, step away from the selection process for that poet.