Commemorative Stamps on Eminent Writers K. V. Puttappa, Krishan Chander, Srilal Sukla, Balwant Gargi and Bhisham Sahni – 31st May 2017.

Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa (b. 29 December 1904 - d. 11 November 1994), popularly known by the nickname Kuvempu or by K. V. Puttappa, was a Kannada novelist, poet, playwright, critic and thinker. He is widely regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century. He is the first among Kannada writers to be decorated with the prestigious Jnanpith Award. He was conferred the Padma Vibhushan by Government of India in 1988. He penned the Karnataka State anthem Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate.

Krishan Chander (b. 23 November 1914 - b. 8 March 1977) was an Urdu/Hindi writer of short stories and novels. He also worked on English. He was a prolific writer, penning over 20 novels, 30 collections of short stories and scores of radio plays in Urdu and later, after partition of the country, took to writing mainly in Hindi. He also wrote screen-plays for Bollywood movies to supplement his meagre income as an author of satirical stories. His short story "Annadata" was made into the film Dharti Ke Lal, by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas in 1946 – which led to his being offered work regularly as a screenwriter by Bollywood, including such populist hits as Sharafat 1970.

Pandit Shrilal Shukla (b. 31 December 1925 - d. 28 October 2011) was a Hindi writer, notable for his satire. He worked as a Provincial Civil Services (PCS) officer for the state government of Uttar Pradesh, later inducted into the IAS. He has written over 25 books, including Raag Darbari, Makaan, Sooni Ghaati Ka Sooraj, Pehla Padaav and Bisrampur Ka Sant. Shukla has highlighted the falling moral values in the Indian society in the post-independence era through his novels. His writings expose the negative aspects of life in rural and urban India in a satirical manner. His best-known work Raag Darbari has been translated into English and 15 Indian languages.

Balwant Gargi (b. 4 December 1916 – d. 22 April 2003) was a renowned Punjabi language dramatist, theatre director, novelist, and short story writer, and academic. Gargi wrote several plays, including Loha Kutt, Kesro, Kanak Di Balli, Sohni Mahiwal, Sultan Razia, Soukan, Mirza Sahiba and Dhooni di Agg and short stories Mircha Wala Sadh, Pattan di Berhi and Kuari Disi. His plays were translated into 12 languages, and have been performed around the world, including Moscow, London, New Delhi and around the United States.

Bhisham Sahni (b. 8 August 1915 - d. 11 July 2003) was a Hindi writer, playwright, and actor, most famous for his novel and television screenplay Tamas ("Darkness, Ignorance"), a powerful and passionate account of the Partition of India. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for literature in 1998 and Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2002. He was the younger brother of the noted Hindi film actor, Balraj Sahni.

Actor and Lok Sabha member Kirron Kher released stamp on Balwant Gargi on 31st May 2017 at the Panjab University English department auditorium, Chandigarh, the same place where she made her theatre debut in 1971 with ‘Desire Under the Elms’ directed by Balwant Gargi. Stamps on other four Eminent Writers K. V. Puttappa, Krishan Chander, Pandit Srilal Sukla and Bhisham Sahni were also released by her. Three writers out of the five, Balwant Gargi, Bhisham Sahni and Krishan Chander, were from Panjab University. All stamps are in denomination of Rs. 10 each and Miniature Sheet is in denomination of Rs. 50/-.