Studies in Punjabi poetry, Darshan Singh Maini Quote "Professor Maini's essays suffer from rather ineffective attempts at comparison with the works of poets in the English language from Britain and America. The pulse and flavour of Punjabi life and social background are missing, and the book does not convey the historical evolution of the poetic tradition in Punjabi literature. The translations of poems from Punjabi to English lack the poetic spark. The book could have gained by including the original verse along with translations. I suggest that a new edition also include a concluding essay highlighting the present trends and looking to the future. These shortcomings, however, do not take away the basic merit of the book, which should be a useful introduction to Punjabi poetry in the English language. "