Poet of the Revolution :Memoirs and Poems (HARDBACK)  | Released: Nov-12

The incredible true story of a comrade's fight against injustice, translated into English for the very first time Lal Singh Dil is a legend in Punjab, famed as much for his rousing poetry as for the brew of his tea stall. Born into the untouchable Dalit community in the years before Partition, he bravely challenged deep-rooted social prejudices through his crisp and stirring verses. His struggle led him to join the Naxalite movement—an experience that culminated in three horrifying years of torture at the hands of the police. In his later years, much to the dismay of his comrades, he converted to Islam because he believed that its tenets could be reconciled with the egalitarian and inclusive principles of communism. A powerful indictment of caste violence and discrimination, Poet of the Revolution describes Dil's most turbulent years in his clear, fiery voice. Translated into English for the first time, this book also includes a selection of his most memorable poems. Lal Singh Dil (1943–2007) was born in Ghungrali Sikha village near Samrala, a small town in Punjab in a chamar family that had neither land, money nor education. He was the first in his clan to complete school and join college for a basic teachers training course when he was drawn towards the Naxalite movement. Dil's was a life of immense struggle and his poetry made him a legend well within his lifetime. His works include three collections of poetry, Satluj di Hava (The Satluj Breeze), Bahut Saare Suraj (A Million Suns) and Naaglok (City of Snakes); an autobiography called Dastaan; and a narrative long poem called Billa Aj Phir Aaya (Billa Visited Again Today). Nirupama Dutt is a poet, journalist and translator who has written and edited several books. She writes in both Punjabi and English. She received the Punjabi Akademi Award for her anthology of poems, Ik Nadi Sanwali Jahi (A Stream Somewhat Dark). Dutt has translated short stories, plays and poetry of many contemporary writers of Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. She lives in Chandigarh.