Book excerpt: Sahir Ludhianvi (1921–1980), a remarkable film lyricist, was also an iconic literary poet. Surinder Deol paints a sensitive portrait that reveals an artist who was aware of the depth of his poetic message as well as of his ability to present it in words that captured the reader’s imagination. Sahir looked outward at the world to find beauty in nature for inspiration while at the same time raising his voice against poverty, deprivation, and the denial of social justice. The book contains free verse translation of over ninety of Sahir’s literary creations, including poems, ghazals, bhajans, and a long peace poem called Parchhaaiyaan (The Shadows). The author strives to bring together four distinct elements of Sahir’s work that make him one of the most loved poets of our generation: his deep-rooted love of nature, his snug romanticism, his sensitivity to human suffering, and his unceasing optimism for a better tomorrow.