Main Tenu Phir Milaangi: The Life Long Commitment Between Amrita And Imroz

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Sahir Ludhianvi, Right: Amrita Pritam and Imroz

We all know of Amrita Pritam's tumultuous, but unrequited love for Sahir Ludhianvi, but few know her long relationship with Imroz, with whom she spent the last 40 years of her life, their only commitment being that of an unspoken, unsaid and unconditional love for each other.

“She lives her life like a flame; a dance of purposeful chaos… A weak man will try to dim her luminescence…but her soul mate will take pleasure in fanning the blaze.” This soul mate was Imroz in Amrita's life.

Amrita meant the world to Imroz. His acceptance of her was complete. When they met, Amrita was already married and a mother of two, and passionately in love with Sahir Ludhianvi. Imroz never insisted on marriage with Amrita for she had had an unhappy experience. Her children became “ours” for him. 

Imroz loved her intensely. According to him, “A person in love never asks why. A lover accepts everything about the beloved unconditionally.” He devoted all his life to her and was content to live in her shadow while Amrita's literary career blossomed winning   several awards and accolades. His only paradigm of life was to be by her side forever. 

They never encroached into each other’s space. Amrita would start writing at any time, even in the middle of the night, and Imroz would quietly keep a cup of tea near her.

Imroz was well aware of her love for Sahir. He never objected to any of her feelings. For many years after the Partition, Amrita worked for All-India Radio in Delhi. Every day Imroz would drop her and pick her up from her workplace. Sitting pillion, Amrita would keep on scribbling something on his back. Once, when Imroz was trying to decipher her scribbles, he realized that she was tracing Sahir’s name on his back. But so deep was his love for Amrita that he never had a problem with even this act. “The feeling was hers and my back was hers too. How can I feel bad? Sahir is a part of me, too. His name has been inscribed on my back" he said laughing.

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