‘The Amrita Pritam sketch was difficult to write’

On her book about Punjabis who have had a significant impact on India’s political and cultural life

- Chittajit Mitra

What inspired you to start your literary journey?

In college in Delhi, professor Baldev Singh taught us English literature. I was so fascinated by his brilliance that I almost fell in love with him. Iwas hardly 16 and he treated me like a child.

To impress him, I wrote my first short story and presented it at an intercollegiate event. I got hearty applause and was brought a piece of paper on which was written: “Brilliant story. Please give it to me to publish in the journal I edit, Naviyan Keem-tan (New Values)”. It was signed by professor Ram Singh, a great scholar in the Punjabi world. That was the beginning of my literary journey.

There were many hurdles. I was married at 18. My husband forbade me from writing, as people would get to know me and want to meet me, which he did not want. I did not write for nine long years.