Arun Batalvi, wife of Shiv, with her son and daughter-in-law pose by the poet’s portrait in their Patiala home.

There are those who pass into legend after they are gone and there are those who live a legend. Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi was definitely of the latter kind. It would not be too much to say that during his active literary career of a decade he accomplished all for which a century is too short a period. Born on July 23, 1936, at Barapind Lohtian village Tehsil Shakargarh, now in Pakistan Shiv passed away May 7, 1973. The charismatic persona of Shiv, as a person and poet had its compelling charm and he cast a lasting impression with his loving nature and malice towards none. “Anyone who came across him, be it the relatives, friends, readers audience or his detractors,” says his wife Arun Shiv Batalvi while talking to Lifestyle at her Patiala residence. She adds, “Since every poet reveres and represents the cultural ethos of the people of his region and his poetry too belonged to the Punjabis. By honouring Shiv, we also honour our mother tongue.” source-thetribune.com THEIR LEGACY: Arun Batalvi, wife of Shiv, with her son and daughter-in-law pose by the poet’s portrait in their Patiala home. — Photo by Rajesh Sachar