Amrita Pritam's work titled "A Revenue Stamp" belongs to which literary category?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of Indian literature and specifically the genre of a well known work by Punjabi writer Amrita Pritam. "A Revenue Stamp" is frequently asked about in examinations because it has a distinctive title and an important place in modern Indian writing. Recognising the correct literary category of this work helps you answer genre based questions on books and authors.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title given is "A Revenue Stamp", a work by Amrita Pritam.
• Four options describe different literary categories such as stories, a novel, a biography, and an autobiography.
• The task is to identify which category best describes this particular book.
• The question is conceptual and recall based, with no numerical calculations.

Concept / Approach:
"A Revenue Stamp" is the autobiography of Amrita Pritam, where she narrates events from her own life, feelings, and struggles. An autobiography is a life story written by the person about themselves, while a biography is a life story written by someone else. The other categories in the options describe different types of literature that do not fit the nature of this book. Thus, correctly classifying "A Revenue Stamp" as an autobiography is the key to solving the question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question is about the type of work "A Revenue Stamp" by Amrita Pritam. Step 2: Recall that this book contains her own life story, narrated in the first person. Step 3: Recognise that a self written life story fits the definition of an autobiography, not a biography or fictional work. Step 4: Select "An autobiography" as the correct option and eliminate the remaining categories.

Verification / Alternative check:
Literature guides on Amrita Pritam and syllabi that include her works classify "A Revenue Stamp" as her autobiography. Standard general knowledge books and exam oriented commentaries also explain that the book is a self portrait of her life. Checking a few reliable sources like library catalogues or academic notes will clearly describe the work as autobiographical.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
It is not "a book of short stories" because it does not consist of unrelated fictional tales with different plots.
It is not "a novel" because it is not a long fictional narrative but a real life account.
It is not "a biography" of another person; instead, it is written by Amrita Pritam about herself.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners mix up the terms biography and autobiography, forgetting that the crucial difference is who writes the life story. Another mistake is to assume that any famous book by a writer must be a novel, which is not always true. To avoid such errors, revise basic literary terms and always check whether the author is narrating their own life or someone else's life.

Final Answer:
Amrita Pritam's "A Revenue Stamp" is an autobiography, so option describing it as an autobiography is correct.