Amarjit Chandan
(May 2007)

Born in Nairobi in Kenya on November 17, 1946. Studied at Lyalpur Khalsa College Jalandhar (1964 –1967), and Panjab University, Chandigarh (1968–1969). He joined the Naxalite movement and was jailed for 3 years (1971–1974). Worked as a script and song writer with Punjab State Drama Repertory Co; with Preet Lari as assistant editor and correspondent to Economic & Political Weekly. Moved to London in 1980 and has worked there as a translator.

His work has appeared in translation in Indian languages and Poetry Review, Critical Quarterly, Wasafiri, Index on Censorship, Modern Poetry in Translation, Atlas (UK), Papirus (Turkey), Erismus, Ombrela, Odos Panos (Greece) and Lettre Internationale (Romania). He was amongst British poets on Radio3 selected by Andrew Motion on National Poetry Day in 2001 and participated in the 13th International Aldeburgh Poetry Festival the same year.

He has edited and translated about 30 anthologies of Indian and world poetry and fiction by, among others, Brecht, Neruda, Ritsos, Hikmet and Cardenal in Punjabi.

Life-time achievement award by the Punjab Government, India; December 2004. Life time achievement award by the Panjabis in Britain, All-Party Parliamentary Group, London. April 2006.

His publications include: Kaunh Nahin Chahega (Poetry) 1975, Kavitavan (Poetry) 1984, Phailsufian (Essays) 1991, Jarhan (Poetry) 1995, Bijak (Poetry) 1996, Nishani (Essays) 1997, Chhanna (Poetry) 1998, Being Here (Poetry) 1999, Gurhti (Poetry) 2000, Annjal (Poetry) 2006. Books in the Farsi script published in Lahore are: Guthli (Selected poems) 1999, AnaraaN wala WehRa (Selected poems)2002 and Nuqta (Selected essays) 2007).

Ahmad Salim
(October 2007)

Born at Miana Gondal, a remote village of then District Gujrat (now Mandi Bahauddin) on January 26, 1945. Did his masters in Philosophy, taught at Shah Hussain College, Sindh and Karachi Universities. Have been a free lance journalist during the era of General Zia-ul-Haq. Worked at Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad, as publication editor and research associate during 1996 – June 2007. Currently working at SDPI as research consultant. Has edited and authored around 100 books, including research reports on education, labor, gender, partition of 1947, tragedy of 1971 and religious minorities in Pakistan and South Asia.

His poetry includes:
Nur Munare (1996), Tan Tanbur (1974), Kunjan Moyian (1989), Gharhi Di Tick Tick (1993), Merian Nazman Morh De (2005), Ikk Udhri Kitab De Betartibe Varqe (2006),

His novellets include:
Nal Mere Koi Challe (1976), Titlian Te Tank (1996)

His non– fiction includes:
Punjab (1969), Bhagat Singh: Jivan Te Aadarsh (1976), Jhok Ranjhan Di (1989), Tattay Lahu Da Chananh (1995), Qabar Jihnan Di Jive (1998), Ahmad Rahi: Batan, Mulaqatan (2005)

His translations include:
Rat Di Rat (translation of Faiz’s poems, 1975), Jo Bejal Ne Aakhia (translation of Sindhi poems by Sheikh Ayaz, 1976)

His compilations include:
Faisle Di Gharhi (poems on Vietnam, 1969), Lok Varan (1971), Edited Punjabi Journal “Kunj” (1974-6), Dharti, (2003 – 2006)