One of India's greatest and most beloved poets, Gulzar has mesmerized and enchanted generations of readers with his inimitable lyrical expression, visual imagery and poetic thought. There are few Indians who aren't familiar with a verse or two of Gulzar's; and rare is the person who hasn't been reminded of a line of his at some turn on the journey of life.

Baal-o-Par is a definitive collection of Gulzar's poetry. It comprises the complete text of six volumes of poems: Chand Pukhraaj Ka, Raat Pashminey Ki, Pandrah Paanch Pachhattar, Kuchh Aur Nazmein, Pluto and Triveni. The first volume, Chand Pukhraaj Ka, was written four decades ago; the last, Triveni, in 2004. Taken together, the many hundreds of poems bear witness to a remarkable poetic journey.

Collected together here for the very first time, the poems in Baal-o-Par are all newly translated into English by Rakhshanda Jalil, and appear in bilingual form with the original poem in Devanagari script and the English translation on facing pages.

This unique, irresistible, giftworthy volume deserves pride of place on the shelves of any poetry lover. For every admirer of Gulzar, it is a true collector's edition.