Legacies of the Homeland

Book excerpt: This book is not intended to provide a list of the 100 ‘best’ books ever written and published by Punjabi authors. Given the sheer range of books written by Punjabi authors and the unpredictability of individual taste, any such definitive list is quite impossible. Secondly, the choice has been restricted to books that were written by them either in Punjabi, Hindi or Urdu but have been translated into English. Thus, personal choice restricted by availability has dictated this selection. The choice of books includes autobiographies, novels, short stories, poems, and plays. Research books, religious books, and books written originally in English have not been included. From the Introduction I am amazed at the scholarship, the passion and the love with which Paramjeet Singh has written this book. It will be a reference volume for all times. Nirupama Dutt Poet, Journalist & Translator Mr. Singh’s effort is commendable as he is making available some of the rarest of gems of Punjabi literature to the non-Punjabi readers. I congratulate Mr. Singh on putting together this selection and hope that non-Punjabi readers of this book would find new horizons of cultural experience opening up before them. Of course, for Punjabi readers, it may be yet another opportunity to experience a sense of genuine pride in their rich legacy of language, literature and culture. . Prof. Rana Nayar