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With his close friends and former students besides him,Amarjit Singh,professor of English and journalism at Punjab Agricultural University.

With his close friends and former students besides him,Amarjit Singh,professor of English and journalism at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU),released his book Chitiyan Mitra Diyan at the Press Club. Penned as an ode to friendship,Singh stated,Childhood friends are forever,they have lasted me a lifetime. The book also comprises letters arranged in chronological order,some are so old that they could not be read.

The idea of writing a book came ten years back,when Singh and his four friends decided to meet in their college in Patiala to celebrate 50 years of their friendship. It was our golden jubilee, smiled Singh. Back then,the friends had decided to have another reunion,ten years later,in 2010. Thats when I thought that I should re-look our lives together and the bond we share,through this book, said Singh,70,even as two of his closest friends,Bharat Mitra and Kulwant,shared some special memories of their friendship at the launch.

We have forgotten the simple pleasures of life and lack togetherness. These letters tell the stories of growth and degeneration,of the years lost,changes in life,situations and thoughts… It made me sad that in spite of our closeness,we had to part. This book brings us back together, said Singh,as he joked that

Mitras letters are endless,while Jaswant whom they lost to cancer wrote substance.

Though the letters were in Urdu and English,Singh had them translated into Punjabi,because he felt that he owed a debt to the language. The book also comprises letters of foreigners,that talk about their relationship with India and stay in Punjab. It includes poetry,reflections and anecdotes…. The art of letter writing in todays time of sms and emails needs to be encouraged because it is personal and real, said Singh. He states that reading the letters over the years made him closer to these friends,and it helped him understand their situations and lives better. There was a constant exchange and even now I continue to write letters regardless of whether they reply. For me,my relationships are my property, added Singh.

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