India, Nov. 15 -- What inspired you to start your literary journey and did you imagine you would become a celebrated writer?

I was doing my graduation in Delhi. My professor was Baldev Singh. He used to teach us English Literature. I was so fascinated by his brilliance that I almost fell in love with him. I was hardly 16 and Baldev treated me like a child. To impress him, I wrote my first short story and presented it at an intercollege function. I got a houseful of applause and was brought a piece of paper on which was written "Brilliant story. Please give it to me to publish in the journal I edit, Naviyan Keemtan (New Values)". It was signed by Prof. Ram Singh, a great scholar in the Punjabi world.

That was the beginning of my literary...