A bilingual author of Indian Diaspora Ajmer Rode has published books of poetry, plays, non-fiction and translation in Punjabi and English. His 1000-page book, Leela, co-authored with N. Bharati is considered an important work of twentieth century Punjabi poetry. His works are included in many Indian and Canadian anthologies. He is a founder of Canadian Punjabi theater and several other Indo-Canadian literary and performing arts associations in Vancouver where he lives with his wife Surjeet Kalsey and children Surti and Ankur. At present he is working on new poems and is a member of an international team of translators rendering Sufi poetry into English. He attended Punjab University for a B.E. and the University of Waterloo for an M.A.Sc. in 1968 after emigrating from India to Canada in 1966.
PUBLICATIONS:
Leela. Vancouver: The Rainbird Press, 1999.
The Last Flicker. trans. Delhi: The Indian National Academy of Letters, 1993.
Poems at my Doorstep. Vancouver: Caitlin Press, 1990.
Blue Meditations. London, ON: Third Eye, 1985.
Surti. London, Ontario: Third Eye, 1979, 1989.
AWARDS:
Outstanding Literary Achievement award by Rode Heritage Committee, Canada, 2000.
Certificate of Excellence (theater) by East Indian Workers Association, Toronto, 1996.
Poet of Life Award, by G.N. Engineering College, Ludhiana, India, 1994.
Prominent Citizens (Literature) Award, by Guru Nanak Dev University, India, 1994.
Best Overseas Punjabi Author Award, Languages Department, Punjab, India, 1994.
