I was overjoyed to discover and meet legendary Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s wife and son (and his family).

Eight years back I was overjoyed to discover and meet legendary Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s wife and son (and his family). This picture reminds me of an unfinished task and an unfulfilled ambition (writing Shiv’s biography).

I am yet to meet a poet or writer who can even come close to weaving the wordly magic Shiv could. Academy award winner poet Gulzar told me during interview about Shiv, “I have read literature in many languages…almost all…but have never seen the intensity Shiv has.” However, he was in a rush. He loved and praised death. He wanted to die young. He did at the age of 36 after winning India’s highest literary award at the age of 28.