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

Enthralling, heart-rending, poignant and engrossing stories of immortal love, unfettered emotions and everlasting appeal that have stood the test of time This volume comprises a collection of mystical stories from Punjab that forces the now ordinary and practical meaning of love to change into its illogical and irrational self it once used to be. An exposition of Sufi philosophy, each story possesses both the calm and the storm of true love – a love that consumes the body and the heart; a love that goes beyond all common sense; a love better known as junoon (intense passion), that finally culminates in ibaadat (worship) and the love of God. From Sohni-Mahiwal to Heer-Ranjha, Sassi-Punnu to Mirza-Sahiban, Harish Dhillon succinctly encapsulates the rich cultural and literary heritage Punjab is so famously synonymous with. Love Stories from Punjab brings alive the forgotten magic of folklore that will tug at all the right strings of the heart, once again. Drama, romance, tragedy and history are interwoven in the form of an exquisite tapestry.

A story of the Soil is a collection of over forty classic Punjabi short stories. Combining a rich oral tradition of kissas with tropes from Western literature, Punjabi short-story writers have developed their own unique way of portraying love, longing, ecstasy and malice. Spanning a century, these stories talk of life in the village and the town. There are haunting tales about Partition like 'A Matter of Faith' by Gulzar Singh Sandhu where a horrible tragedy is viewed through the eyes of a child. Along with sensitive accounts of life from across the border in Pakistan are tales by the Dalits who until recently had been rendered voiceless. Amrita Pritam's 'The Vault', a metaphor for a barren womb, explores the identity of a Punjabi woman while stories like Surjit Birdi's 'Flies' reveals the concerns faced by the Punjabi diaspora. Translated and edited by Nirupama Dutt, these carefully selected stories reflect every aspect of life in the land of five rivers.