Amrita Pritam was one of the most popular Punjabi writers. She is considered the first female Punjabi poetess. She has written over 100 books, including her acclaimed autobiography, Raseedi Ticket. She was awarded the second-highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan. She was the first female writer ever to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award. She was also awarded India's highest literary award, the Jnanpith Award. She rose to fame with her Punjabi poem, 'Ajj Aankhan Vaaris Shah Nu', which details the inhuman violence in Punjab at the time of India's Partition in heartbreaking detail. It won acclaim on both sides of the India-Pakistan border.The author has written herself-if words have been free, would have travel for centuries.