Neglected Poems

Following the success of Selected Poems, Gulzar presents another selection of his work under the deliberately intriguing title Neglected Poems. The collection reflects his ability to find poetry in ordinary experiences and combines simplicity with layers of emotion, imagination and philosophical reflection.

Gulzar, born Sampooran Singh Kalra, is one of India's most celebrated poets, lyricists, screenwriters and filmmakers. His literary work spans poetry, short stories and children's writing, while his distinguished career in Indian cinema has earned him major national and international honours.

Translator – Pavan K. Varma: Pavan K. Varma is a writer, diplomat and translator known for bringing Indian poetry and literature to English readers. He has translated works by Gulzar, Kaifi Azmi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee for Penguin.

The sixty poems in Neglected Poems move between nature, memory, love, loneliness, human psychology and observations of everyday life. Gulzar often takes an apparently ordinary image or moment and transforms it into a meditation on existence and human relationships. The collection combines lyrical beauty with introspection, making it particularly appealing to readers who enjoy contemporary Indian poetry and reflective literature.