OCTOBER 13 2009

an invitation to witness a defining moment in the world of dictionaries

Ratna Sagar

and

Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi

Invite you to the launch of

New Collins Illustrated Dictionaries

Launched by

Professor R.W. Desai

(University of Delhi)

Date: Tuesday Oct 13, 2009

Time: 4.30 PM

Venue:

Govt. Museum Auditorium

Sector 10

Chandigarh

MEET THE AUTHOR- NEENA KAHLON

Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi this evening organized another event in its meet-the-author series. Ms. Neena Kahlon, author of Remembering the Juice Mango (Rupa, 2009) interacted with an invited audience at the Sector 34 State Library. In conversation with the writer was Ms. S. Kalha, P.E.S. Retd.

Remembering the Juice Mango, Ms Kahlon’s latest novel, is about the partition and its aftermath. There is a saying that "A woman is like a teabag. You know her strength only after you dip her in hot water." The book tells the story of one such woman, Ratna, whose life is transformed as a direct consequence of a defining moment – the partition of India? Nine-year-old Ratna survives the wounds of partition, and walks the path to personal growth through love and healing. The novel is about victims of wars who are dubbed as "collateral damage" and then are forgotten. The author has given a voice to such "voiceless" human beings.

Neena Kahlon is an old student from the Dept of English, Panjab University. She was born and raised in Amritsar and is a descendant of survivors of the partition. She has lived in the US since 1974. As a writer she has featured in television interviews in the US.

Ms S. Kalha is well-known and much respected in Chandigarh. With exemplary dedication and commitment she has contributed immensely to the field of education, moulding several generations of young students. After a distinguished career as a college teacher, she retired as the principal of Govt. College for Girls, Sector 11.

Prof Manju Jaidka, Chairperson of the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi, who introduced today’s chief guest and speaker, announced that the next function would be the launch of an Illustrated Dictionary published jointly by Collins and Ratnasagar. It will be held on 13th October at 4.30 pm. The venue will be the Sector 10 Museum Auditorium.

SUFI TALES

The Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi today held a function at the Central
State Library, Sector 34, to launch the publication of Pilgrimage to
Paradise: Sufi Tales from Rumi, written by Kamla Kapur. The book has
been published by Penguin in India and Mandala in the US.
The author has lived in Chandigarh for several years and is not based
in the US. She got her Bachelor's in English Honors from India, and
her Masters' Degree in literature from Kent State University,
Ohio,USA. She also took classes in creative writing from the
University of Iowa, and the University of California in San Diego.
Since 1985, Ms Kapur has been commuting between the USA and India.She
has recently completed her first novel, The Autobiography of Saint
Padma the Whore, and a fantasy novel, Malini in Whirlwood. She lives
half the year in a remote Kullu Valley in the Himalayas and the other
half in California, with her husband Payson R. Stevens.
Pilgrimage to Paradise presents the author’s passion for Sufi thought.
Inspired by Rumi, Kamla K. Kapur has reworked translations of thirty
of his stories—tales of wit, wisdom, and faith. The basis for Kapur’s
stories is Rumi’s six-volume Mathnawi, as translated from Persian by
Reynold A. Nicholson. Kapur puts her own spin on the stories, yet
remaining true to Rumi’s vision.
Presiding over the session, the noted theatre person, Neelam Mansingh,
who is also a personal friend of the author, expressed her
appreciation of the Kapur’s reworking of Sufi tales.
Earlier, Professor Manju Jaidka, Chairperson of the Chandigarh
Sahitya Akademi, announced that such events are a routine part of the
Akademi’s functioning. Two more book launches will be held in October.
On 7th October Ms S. Kalha will preside over the book launch of Neena
Kahlon’s book at the Library in Sector 34, and on 13th October the
Chandigarh Sahitya akademi will collaborate with Ratnasagar and
Collins Publishers to launch their new illustrated dictionary. The
event on the 13th will be chaired by Prof Rupin Desai of Delhi
University.

Sufi Tales

BOOK LAUNCH


Pilgrimage to Paradise

Sufi Tales from Rumi

by Kamla Kapur


To be introduced by
Neelam Man Singh


Date: 26th Sept 2009
Time 5 pm
Venue: Sector 34 State Library, First Floor. Chandigarh

Forthcoming events - October 2009

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
October 7th, 5PM: Book Launch at the Sector 34 Library. Neena Kahlon's book, "Remembering the Juice Mango" (Rupa, 2009). Author in conversation with Miss S. Kalha.

Oct 9th, 5 PM: at the Govt Museum Auditorium, Sector 10. Launch of a new Illustrated Dictionary published by Collins and Ratnasagar.

STAY TUNED, FOLKS!

HINDI DIVAS CELEBRATIONS

Hindi Divas celebration.
Sector 34 Library

10.30 AM on 13th September 2009.
Main Speaker: Dr Giriraj Sharan Aggarwal
Chair: Prof MP Bhardwaj

Dr Giriraj Sharan Aggarwal, editor of Shodh Disha, located in Bijnore, spoke passionately of the need to champion the Hindi language in the face of govt apathy. He stressed the fact that Hindi has a rich vocabulary and is used by people all over the world. Why, then, should it not be used in all institutions in India. Computer programmes are available in Hinda and Wikipedia too has information in Hindi. Besides, with the help of Unicode it is now easy to translate any language on the basis of phonetics. For these reasons, according to Dr Aggarwal, there is a crying need in our country to focus on the development and promotion of the Hindi language.
Prof MP Bhardwaj, in his presidential remarks, endorsed Dr Aggarwal's views but stressed that the development of Hindi should not be at the cost of other languages. Languages can learn a lot from each other and be mutually beneficial instead of hostile to each other.
Prof Jagmohan Chopra and Dr Gurmeet Singh of Panjab University also spoke on this occasion. Both had a positive approach to the issues raised and reiterated that languages do not exist in isolation; they can be developed simultaneously and we in India can gain a lot by being open-minded towards the languages and customs of people outside our own cloisters.

Hindi Divas 2009

Hindi Divas celebration.
Sector 34 Library

10.30 AM on 13th September 2009.
Main Speaker: Dr Giriraj Sharan Aggarwal
Chair: Prof MP Bhardwaj

You are invited.