Amrita Imroz - Uma Trilok

 While reading up about Amrita Pritam (1919-2005), celebrated poetess and writer, a 100 books to her credit, winner of awards nationally and internationally, one cannot miss her life which is as big and heroic as her characters. Amrita was a rebel in the true sense - she lived life on her own terms. 

Born to a school teacher and a poet in unpartitioned India she lost her mother when she was eleven after which she and her father moved to Lahore till partition. She separated from her husband Pritam Singh early (but chose to keep his name), was part of the Progressive Writers Movement and wrote on themes about the pain of partition from a woman's point of view. She had a life long love for poet Sahir Ludhianvi which was unrequited - but she continued to express her love for him apparently, through her writing. More interestingly she chose to live the rest of her life in a live in relationship with painter Inderjeet Imroz who was much younger. Her carefree and outspoken lifestyle was the subject of much criticism - but she cared two hoots about it.

This book is written by Uma Trilok, poetess and writer herself, about her days with Amrita, who was by then unwell, and Imroz. It brings out beautifully the relationship those two shared, the clarity with which they lived their lives, not wanting to marry to please society, accepting her loves like Sahir or her friends, living separately in the same house and producing great works of art. In a short book Uma Trilok fully captures Amrita and Imroz as individuals and as friends and partners.

With pictures of the couple, paintings by Imroz, the book is a lovely read and a good insight into one of India's finest writers, personalities.