I learnt a day late about the passing away of poet and sketch artist Imroz, better known as the famous companion and muse of celebrated Punjabi poet Amrita Pritam. It was when Imroz, born Inderjeet Singh, was being furiously discussed on social media by lovers of romance and poetry, after his death at the ripe age of 97.
A post in particular that caught my attention said Imroz used to serve tea regularly to the poet at an appointed hour and leave quietly – just one way to illustrate the award-winning feminist writer’s phrase, “Ishq mei Imroz ho jaana”; to become Imroz in love, a symbol of utter devotion. Amrita Pritam’s live-in partner for 40 years had transcended from a personal noun to a verb.
