Sohal recalls, "I grew up in a village near Chamkaur Sahib listening to the Kaliyan of Kuldeep Manak and songs of Mohammand Sadiq. To be honest, I wanted to become a singer. As a first step in this regard, I began to pen lyrics. This in turn took me towards literature and by early 80s, I began to write."

With four books to his credit -- Onam, Priyatma, Kaaya and the most recent Pauna Satluj Kol Diyan, he is a doctorate on myths and symbols found in the poetry of Bawa Balwant.

For this 44-year-old poet, "It is the works of great poets like Prof Puran Singh, Bhai Veer Singh, Dr Harbhajan Singh, Surjit Patar, Paash, Navtej Bharti and Neki who were the guiding light." The poet adds, "For me, the search is spiritual and it is this journey that brought me very close to nature and environment. I realised how the insensitive man had become as he has been exploiting the Mother Nature without an iota of guilt or remorse. Most of my poems on environment are found in the collection called Kaaya."

Dr Sohal is, however, still waiting for the moment, "when God, the supreme power will write through me. It is this spiritual poem that I want to write for which at present I do not have the words or even the worth. I know as a mere human I will never be able to write this poem which is in direct connection with the supreme power.

And I am waiting for the moment," adds he.