While studying in Lalton village high school, his Punjabi teacher, Hari Singh Dilbar, a well known Punjabi writer and novelist, encouraged him to write some poetic and Dev wrote a song for children, as he was a child himself at that time, named Chal Chakk Bhaine Basta School Challiye which was published in a magazine named Bal Darbar. This encouraged him a lot and he continued to writing. Later he started writing stories under the name Hardev Dilgir and till now, wrote about 35 books of stories and songs like ZaildarniRohee Da Phull, Ikk See Kurhi etc. He got a job of a teacher in 1960 and his first song was recorded in 1961. His friends encouraged him to write songs and as he was inspired by Inderjit Hasanpuri's song Sadhoo Hunde Rabb Warge, Ghund Kaddh Ke Khair Na Paaiye, he written some songs for singer 'Prem Kumar Sharma', who was selected by HMV. The singer recorded Dev's first songs including Bhabi Teri Dhaun De Utte Gutt Mehladi Naag Ban Kaala and few more. Dev was inspired to write Heer by a painting of Heer by the noted Sobha Singh. He continue songwriting under the name, Dev Tharike Wala. His lyrics/songs was sung by many singers like Karamjit Dhuri, Karnail Gill, Kuldeep Manak, Surinder Shinda, Swaran Lata, Gurcharan Pohli, Pammi Bai, Jagmohan Kaur, Narinder Biba and many modernPunjabi singers.
With Kuldeep Manak
He met singer Kuldeep Manak and penned many folklores for him. The first songs of Dev recorded by Manak included Jaimal Phatta and Kaulan, both released on 7-inch EP, Punjab Dian Lok Gathawan, by HMV in 1973. Lyrics of Dev under the genre, Kali, became so popular that people started regarding the singer, Kuldeep Manak, as King ofKalian although Manak sang only 13–14 Kalian in his career. This was due to the record-broken popularity of one of his kali, Tere Tille Ton that was released on Manak's first LP, Ik Tara, by HMV in 1976. Dev has penned almost every Punjabi Qissa even those that were not so commonly known in the society including Bego-Inder, Jani Chor, Roda-Jalali, Kehar Singh-Ram Kaur and more.
Films
He also wrote lyrics for many Punjabi films including Sassi Punnu in which Kuldeep Manak sang his song, Ajj Dhee Ik Raje Di. The film "Balbeero Bhabhi" featured his song "Sucheya Ve Bhabhi Teri" and "Datta Te Bhagat Soormen." The title track of the blockbuster hit Punjabi film "Putt Jattan De" was written by Dev Tharikewala and sung by Surinder Shinda.
