Introduction To 'Nargas' By Bhai Vir Singh Ji

Nargas : Songs of a Sikh presents an English version of selected poems of Bhai Vir Singh who is remembered as the father of modern Punjabi literature. At once a poet, a novelist, a playwright, a historian, a theologian, and a lexicographer, he has been, perhaps the most versatile man of letters of modern Punjab. His verse portrays rare mystic insights especially as revealed through nature.

First published in 1924 by J. M. Dent in London, this book Nargas, carried a foreword by Ernest Rhys. In 1961 Veekay Weekly, Bombay, brought out its first Indian edition to commemorate the 4th death anniversary of the poet. Punjabi University, Patiala, published a reprint of it in 1972, on the occasion of the first birth centenary of Bhai Vir Singh. Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan has chosen to bring out the present edition auguring the proposed programme of translation of the poet's entire works. In this edition, for the convenience of those readers who may like also to gain access to the original the Punjabi title of each original poem has been provided underneath each respective translation.

The selection as well as translation of the poems in this book was made by none other than Professor Puran Singh, an ardent admirer of Bhai Vir Singh. He himself was an outstanding poet both in Punjabi and English languages, and his original works have enjoyed wide acclaim in their own right. The poems of Bhai Vir Singh selected by him portray not only spiritual throbbing of the saint poet, Bhai Vir Singh they also represent the mystic yearnings of a Sikh heart in general. When I first read this book several years ago, I felt The singing cuckoo has arrived, Her songs of spring are blazing high.

These are not ordinary poems. These are songs celestial racing with emotion and charged with devotion for the Guru. Whoso reads these poems shall repeat with the poet

A thousand quivering melodies shake my depths. This thought of Him is celestial music. My soul is now the heaven of song.