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Excerpts from the Preface of the second Indian EditionNo other friendship in Punjabi literature has been morepicturesque, more creative than the one which existedbetween <strong>Bhai</strong> <strong>Vir</strong> <strong>Singh</strong> and Professor Puran <strong>Singh</strong>.<strong>Bhai</strong> <strong>Vir</strong> <strong>Singh</strong> was the mentor, the sage, the giver.Professor Puran <strong>Singh</strong> a kindred spirit was the disciple,the follower, the recipient. His impulsive, restless geniuswas tranquillizd by <strong>Bhai</strong> <strong>Vir</strong> <strong>Singh</strong>'s magic touch. <strong>Bhai</strong><strong>Vir</strong> <strong>Singh</strong> rediscovered for him his religious and culturalidentity. He won him over decisively to Punjabi writing.From Puran <strong>Singh</strong>'s pen Punjabi gained some of itsmost eloquent and exquisite poetry, its most sensitiveand rich prose. This is how Puran <strong>Singh</strong> acknowledgeshis debt to <strong>Bhai</strong> <strong>Vir</strong> <strong>Singh</strong>:I received poetry and it was by the favour of that kindlyeye. His dulcet, prophetic words touched automaticallythe source of my own Punjabi vocabulary. The faults ofwhat is learnt are all personal, the merits the gift of thegiver. What I am is but an humble being, a beggarwalking froin door to door, but the fire in my eye is his.So is the shining. burning jewel within my heart.Puran <strong>Singh</strong> rendered further homage bytranslating some of <strong>Bhai</strong> <strong>Vir</strong> <strong>Singh</strong>'s poems into <strong>English</strong>.'Translations," as has been said, "are seldom anythingmore than the wrong side of rich embroidery." Yet ifPage 6www.sikhbookclub.com
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