Editing Ajmer Rode

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'''Ajmer Rode''' is a Canadian [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/author author] writing in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjabi_language Punjabi] as well as in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English]. His first work was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/non-fiction non-fiction] ''Vishva Di Nuhar'' on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein Einstein]'s Relativity in dialogue form inspired by Plato's ''Republic''. Published by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjabi_University Punjabi University] in 1966, the book initiated a series of university publications on popular science and sociology. Rode's first poetry book ''Surti'' influenced by science and philosophical explorations was experimental and in words of critic Dr. Attar Singh 'has extended the scope of Punjabi language and given a new turn to Punjabi poetry'. His most recent poetry book ''Leela'',<ref></ref> more than 1000 pages long and co-authored with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navtej_Bharati Navtej Bharati], is counted among the outstanding Punjabi literary works of the twentieth century. 

Ajmer Rode is regarded the founder of Punjabi theater in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada]. He wrote and directed the first Punjabi play ''Dooja Passa'' dealing with racism faced by minorities. This was followed by his full length play ''Komagata Maru'' based on a significant racial incident in British Columbia's history. Though it lacked professional direction the play generated considerable publicity inspiring theatrical interests in the Indian-Canadian community. His most recent English play ''Rebirth Of Gandhi'' was produced at Surrey Arts Center [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada]) in 2004 to a full house.

Among Rode's significant translation is ''The Last Flicker'' an English rendering of a modern Punjabi classic novel ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marhi_Da_Diva Marhi Da Diva]'' by Gurdial Singh who recently won the Gyan Peeth, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India India]'s highest literary award. The translation was published by the Indian Academy of Letters in 1993. Currently Rode is member of an international team of translators rendering Sufi songs from Urdu, Punjabi and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindi Hindi] into English; the project based in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles Los Angeles] aims to produce a large multilingual book of original and translated songs sung by late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the legendary Sufi singer of the twentieth century.    

An active member of The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writers'_Union_of_Canada Writers' Union of Canada], Ajmer Rode was on its National Council in 1994 and later chaired its Racial Minority Writers Committee; Currently he is co-ordinator of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver Vancouver]'s Punjabi Writers Forum, the oldest and influential Punjabi writers association in Canada. He has been founding member of several other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian-Canadian Indian-Canadian] literary and performing arts associations including Watno Dur Art Foundation, and India Music Society founded to promote classical Indian music in North America. He was the first secretary of Samaanta, an organization to oppose violence against women and is now on the advisory board of Chetna, a Vancouver based organization promoting minority rights and opposing Casteism. He has served on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Council Canada Council] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Arts_Council British Columbia Arts Council] juries to award literary grants.
 
Rode was given the ''Best Overseas Punjabi Author'' award by the Punjab Languages Dept, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India India] in 1994. Guru Nanak Dev University honored him with the "Prominent Citizen (literature)" award and the G.N. Engg. College with the "Poet of Life" award the same year. In Canada he has been honored with awards for Punjabi theater and translation.

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