In this little book Bawa P.L. Bedi has given a simple readable translation of some poems of Bhai Nand Lal who wrote under the pen-name of 'Goya'. Bhai Nand Lal was a disciple of Guru Govind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. The poems are full of piety and mystical feelings. I cannot judge about the fidelity of the translation as I am not familiar with Persian.

Accompanying the translation are some explanations which are symbolic of different aspects of mystic experience. Blake in his time was called mad; others looked upon him as a visionary. What Blake saw wiith the eye of imagination could be seen by others also. It is the function of the poet to give from to the invisible realities through words or symbols. In this book we have both.

The author will be amply rewarded if those who read this book are led to feel that human fulfilment consists in communion with the Divine who, according to some well-known mystics, is regarded as the Great Beloved. We have in Indian poetry similar accounts of the Divine.

ON GOYA

Far off Ghazni, an old capital city in Central Asia, is Known to the people of India as the home-town of two gigantic figures. One belonged to the field of battle and the sword, and the other to thought and the pen. One was Mahmud of Ghazni and the other was Bhai Nand Lal. Mahmud was drawn to India by the lustre of yellow metal and Bhai Nand Lal by the soundless call of the spirit.

India, the ageless magnet, has drawn, since known history seekers of soul and bullion. Bhai Nand Lal also arrived in India and took his place at the court of Aurangzeb in the 17th century. He rose fast through the momentum of talent, but the air of the Imperial Court in the days of the last Great Moghul had become putrid. Fanaticism and acquisitive indiscretion were accelerating the Empire's decay. Bhai Nand Lal, known to Poetry as "Goya" meaning "One who speaks out" spoke with indignance at the Moghul court as well, and finally found cool refuge with Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs.

Guru Gobind Singh was warring against the Moghul Emperor, in defence of human rights, of body and soul.