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Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal is as much a political satire and as it is a paean for rivers
Delhi-NCR Residents bathing in the toxic foamy Yamuna water is a common sight, come Chhath Puja. Similar visual reminders of polluted water bodies being revered have inspired British-Indian writer Gurnaik Johal's first full-length novel, Saraswati. Johal wondered what would happen if the titular 'ancient holy river was brought back today?' And thus, the foundation was laid for the book that is as much a political satire as it is a paean to rivers, the life source around which civilisations thrives. Johal creates a complex fictional universe wherein Saraswati becomes the centre of all kinds of political and religious discourses. There is the inter-caste marriage of Sejal and Jugaad, who eloped in the wake of their relationship not being accepted. The narrative is divided into seven parts, each named after a river — Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum, Indus and Saraswati — and focusing on the perspective of each of the seven descendants of Sejal and Jugaad. Johal weaves in the couple's romance alongside retellings of epic tragic sagas of the Punjabi-Sindh region, including Heer-Ranjha, Sassi-Punnu, MirzaSahiban, Sohni-Mahiwal and Pooran Bhagat. The author shares that he was specifically interested in the qissa and the 'origin myth' forms of storytelling, both of which structure his narrative. He says, 'I liked the idea of blending the two and indeed, within the book, I counterfeit my own qissa (Sejal and Jugaad), which is based on two 'real' characters who fall in love. It is the descendants of their children who make up the main cast of characters. I thought, in a way, many of our origins can be traced back, in some part, to a love story of two people choosing one another.' It is, however, not only the human characters who are in charge of plot development in the novel. In the age of the Anthropocene, human beings have become geological agents given the ongoing climate crisis. In Saraswati, which may be read as a novel examining ecocriticism, focus is also drawn to species such as the spruce beetle or the yellow crazy ants that are shown to be biological agents capable of reshaping human history. 'I became interested in how invasive species can change new environments and found this a charged and changing metaphor for both colonialism and immigration,' Johal says. The novel, as a whole, spans generations with each of the characters emanating from the original qissa of Sejal and Jugaad. This genre of interconnected narratives is something that characterises Johal's journey as an author. His first book We Move (2022), which won the 2023 Somerset Maugham Award, was a collection of17 loosely linked short stories with recurring characters, mostly centred around the residents ofSouthall in West London, particularly its Punjabi migrant population. About his preference for this mode of narration, Johal says, 'I'm slightly wary of singular narratives that follow one character arc. In real life, all our lives are inextricably linked and I think a function of me trying to write realist fiction is writing stories which connect characters.' Immigrant life in Britain, particularly for the Punjabi diaspora, was a major overarching thematic concern in We Move, which came to be expressed through stories that displayed the migrant character of the English language itself. This is because of the intentional aesthetic choice Johal makes where he refuses to provide context or explain away any Punjabi references and phrases. These are not even italicised in the text. In Saraswati, the Galley Beggar Press short story prize awardee takes the foregrounding of contemporary discourses around immigration a step further. He visibilises the connected histo- ries of the Empire which have historically shaped and continue to shape migratory flows from the post-colonial nations of the Global South. From British Columbia and Nairobi to Singapore, the temporal and spatial scale of Johal's narrative is ambitious. A second-generation immigrant of colour himself, Johal's poetics continue to address migration in the form of interconnected fiction as well as the way he uses English as a language embodying deterritorialisation. What makes Saraswati relevant today is how, with the climate crisis, rivers are being used in diplomacy and power plays in international rising populist rhetoric surrounding religion, historical facts and geographical entities alike is expressed through tangential characters such as the political powerhouse Indra, whose journey from a chief minister to prime minister is charted through the book, and who 'had been sworn in, drinking water from the newly surfaced Saraswati river during his inaugural speech'. At one point, the character of Nathu, an archaeologist, claims that 'all history was historical fiction', which Johal, though he is 'wary of aphorisms', feels may be befitting to 'the current political climate'. Bhasin is a Delhi-based independent writer
New Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Lalu Prasad Yadav co-writes folk legends anthology rooted in Gorakhnathi tradition
NEW DELHI: In a vivid resurrection of forgotten voices, ancient ballads, and mystical legends, a new anthology by senior politician Lalu Prasad Yadav and author Nalin Verma brings together four timeless folk tales -- "Sorthi-Brijbhar", "Bharthari-Pingla", "Heer-Ranjha", and "Saranga-Sadabrij". Rooted in the life and teachings of Yogi Gorakhnath, the revered 11th-century mystic whose inclusive religious philosophy deeply influenced the Sufi and Bhakti movements in India, these stories offered in "Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath" were once sung by itinerant yogis of the Gorakhnath sect, accompanied by the melancholic notes of the sarangi. It is published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI). "Over the years, these ballads became a source of sustenance for folklorists and folk theatre artists, who performed at wedding parties and religious events. I am very passionate about these stories. I got the folklorists to perform when I became the chief minister of Bihar in 1990." "I still invite them to perform when I find time. I shared these stories with Nalin Verma, who has carried out extensive research to present these stories here. I am greatly thankful to him for writing these stories, which have been a part of our culture and our heritage," writes Yadav, the national president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and former chief minister of Bihar, in the book's introduction.
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Lalu Prasad Yadav co-writes anthology of folk legends rooted in Gorakhnathi tradition
New Delhi, In a vivid resurrection of forgotten voices, ancient ballads, and mystical legends, a new anthology by senior politician Lalu Prasad Yadav and author Nalin Verma brings together four timeless folk tales "Sorthi-Brijbhar", "Bharthari-Pingla", "Heer-Ranjha", and "Saranga-Sadabrij". Lalu Prasad Yadav co-writes anthology of folk legends rooted in Gorakhnathi tradition Rooted in the life and teachings of Yogi Gorakhnath, the revered 11th century mystic whose inclusive religious philosophy deeply influenced the Sufi and Bhakti movements in India, these stories offered in "Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath" were once sung by itinerant yogis of the Gorakhnath sect, accompanied by the melancholic notes of the sarangi. It is published by Penguin Random House India . "Over the years, these ballads became a source of sustenance for folklorists and folk theatre artists, who performed at wedding parties and religious events. I am very passionate about these stories. I got the folklorists to perform when I became the chief minister of Bihar in 1990. "I still invite them to perform when I find time. I shared these stories with Nalin Verma, who has carried out extensive research to present these stories here. I am greatly thankful to him for writing these stories, which have been a part of our culture and our heritage," writes Yadav, the national president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and former chief minister of Bihar, in the book's introduction. For the unversed, originally preserved through oral tradition and rich with fantastical elements genies, fairies, ghostly figures, and divine sages these ballads have long been central to regional performance traditions across melas, weddings, and spiritual gatherings. Through narratives that combine magical realism with lived experiences, the book sheds light on how marginalised communities used folklore as a vehicle of resistance, transformation, and spiritual inquiry. According to the publisher, this anthology not only documents these stories with historical sensitivity and literary finesse but also offers a "critical lens into their enduring social and philosophical resonance. Also, at the heart of each tale lies the Gorakhnathi worldview fluid, inclusive, and radically humanist "blurring the lines between religion, caste, and creed". "I believe 'Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath' offers a rare glimpse into a world where folklore and faith come together to illuminate universal truths of love, loss, longing, and transcendence," Gurveen Chadha, executive editor of 'Ebury Press' and 'Penguin Veer' at PRHI. The book, priced at ₹399, is available for purchase across online and offline stores. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Deccan Herald
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Nation grieves as Pahalgam attacks brings India to a standstill; Pakistan fumes at escalation
On a warm spring afternoon in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, laughter of families who had flown from across the country echoed in the Baisaran Valley. The serenity was soon shattered when armed men emerged from the trees, strode towards the people and opened fire indiscriminately at the crowd. These gruesome killings which later became known as the Pahalgam terror attack sent shockwaves across the country, with citizens demanding 'Justice' and 'Revenge' for the attack. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for this Morning dear readers and welcome to another edition of DH's Political Theatre. The terror attacks which plagued Pahalgam and claimed the lives of 28 people have propelled India to make strong decisions against its notorious neighbour Pakistan. On the other hand, India saw estranged cousins in Maharashtra inching towards an alliance while certain members of the saffron party had a hard time accepting Supreme Court's decisions. Let's take a look at this week's political befalls the Valley as a Nation grieves .After witnessing the horrors of Partition in 1947, Punjabi poet Amrita Pritam put pen to paper to express her anguish at the division of the two communities. With a heavy heart, Pritam wrote a poem titled Ajj aakhaan Waris Shah nu where she calls upon Waris Shah, the writer of the heart-wrenching love story Heer-Ranjha and asks him to rise from his grave to see what has become of their beloved Punjab. 'Ikk Royi Sii Dhi Punjab Di,Tu Likh Likh Maarey Wain,Ajj Lakhaan Dhiyan Rondiyan,Tenu Waris Shah Nuu KainOnce, one daughter of Punjab cried;you wrote a wailing sagaToday, a million daughters,cry to you, Waris ShahThese evocative lines by Pritam echo across the country today. Survivors recount the harrowing tale where the terrorists divided the men and women in groups. They then turned towards the men, asking them whether they were Hindus or Muslims. When many of the men confirmed the former, the terrorists shot them at point-blank range. .However, they let the women and children go, telling one of them to 'Go tell Modi' about the attack. Many daughters and wives recall seeing their fathers and husbands in their final moments. One of them said, 'I can't describe the pain.' The country could only stand and watch as families mourned the death of their loved aftermath of the attack paved the way for public outrage. People took to social media to question the security lapse and the responsibility that befalls the Modi, who was in Saudi Arabia, cut short his trip and rushed back home to chair a cabinet committee on security. However, the very next day he attended a rally in Madhubani, Bihar from where he addressed the attack in public saying, 'From the soil of Bihar, I would like to tell the whole world that India will identify, track and punish all the terrorists involved in the gruesome killing of innocent tourists.'Meanwhile senior ministers of the Centre held an all-party meet in Delhi and invited members of other parties to inform them regarding the situation. Though Congress and other opposition parties vowed to stand together in the face of terrorism, the saffron party drew flak because the meeting was missing one person of import---PM Modi. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Omar Abdullah-led government too held an all-party meeting and adopted a resolution condemning the "heinous and inhumane" a cry of retaliation resonated across the country along with certain fringe elements sparking communal tensions, the Modi government suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, gave an ultimatum to Pakistani nationals to leave the nation in next 48 hours and closed the Attari border. These decisions did not sit well with the Pakistani authorities and officially marked an escalation in conflict. .Pakistan fumes at India's escalation .After vehemently denying any involvement in the attack, top leaders in Pakistan convened a meeting to give a befitting reply to India. Thus, in retaliation, they put the Simla Agreement and other bilateral accords with India on hold, suspended all trade, and closed its airspace for Indian airlines. But the main point of contention was the Indus Water Treaty. A lifeline for Pakistan, the authorities in the country warned India that any effort to annul the treaty will be considered an 'act of war'. Interestingly, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif slyly admitted to aiding and abetting state-sponsored terrorism. In a clip of the Pakistani Defence Minister's interview with Sky News, which is doing rounds on social media, Asif was posed the question, "You do admit, sir, that Pakistan has a long history of backing, supporting, training, and funding these terrorist organisations?" Asif replied, "Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about 3 decades. And (the) West, including Britain." .Politics amid elaborate efforts to bring back of tourists to Maharashtra following Tuesday's terror attack in Pahalgam seems to have triggered a game of one-upmanship between Mahayuti allies BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. While the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Friday posted on social media platform X that 500 tourists had been brought back to the state so far in special flights arranged by the state government on the instructions of CM Devendra Fadnavis, the Sena was giving to credit to Shinde. The Shiv Sena said it brought back 520 passengers from Srinagar on four different flights and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde personally oversaw the relief Sena also attacked Sena (UBT) leaders in the wake of the attacks. "While Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his overseas visit and Union Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Pahalgam, Eknath Shinde immediately flew to Srinagar to lead relief operations and ensure the safety of Marathi tourists," Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske said. "But what did the Thackeray family do? They're enjoying the cool breeze of Europe. Have they even sent a single bottle of water for our people stranded in Kashmir?".Dubey ji's jibe game lands him in trouble . Days after Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar attacked the Supreme Court over some of its recent orders (The Waqf Bill and the Governor-President timeline), BJP MP Nishikant Dubey too decided to follow suit. He launched a scathing attack at the judiciary, saying Parliament and Assemblies should be shut if the apex court is dictating laws and that Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna is 'responsible for civil wars' in the there are instances of BJP having its members' backs in times of trouble, however, this wasn't one of them. On the contrary, the party took out a statement clearly saying that Dubey's remark does not in any way reflect BJP's stance vis-a-vis the Supreme the very next day Dubey threw another jibe at Ex-CEC S Y Quraishi, saying he was not an election commissioner but a "Muslim commissioner", after the latter criticised the Waqf (Amendment) Act. .Thackeray cousins coming closer?.After being at loggerheads for close to two decades, Thackeray cousins Raj and Uddhav have decided to thaw their icy relations for the common good. There are mumblings going around that the cousins are thinking of burying the hatchet for the sake of Maharashtra. Though initial reports suggest there are mixed reactions from both the parties, Uddhav's man Friday Sanjay Raut seems particularly excited about the patch up. All that's left is for us to see if it will pan out. .Trump's lance J D Vance in week, United States Vice President J D Vance, along with his wife and children, paid a visit to India. However, all their sightseeing didn't stop them from dropping by at PM Modi's residence. The US VP's visit comes in the wake of Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs coming into effect. After their meeting, both Modi and Vance welcomed "significant progress" in the negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries. The US admin later said that the countries are finalising the Terms of Reference of the India-US trade deal. However, things are not all hunky-dory. During the meet, Vance nudged New Delhi to lower non-tariff barriers and warned of "dire consequences" if the two nations lag in the manufacturing, energy and infrastructure sectors. .Where foreign affairs meets faithIndia wasn't the only country the Vances visited. Before taking a trip to see PM Modi, J D Vance and his family took a trip to the Vatican City to meet Pope Francis and exchange Easter greetings. Unfortunately, a few hours after the meeting His Holiness breathed his last on Monday plunging the Catholic world into a deep state of leaders paid tributes to the Pope and hailed him for his progressive policies. On the other side of the world and in line with the spirit of Easter, Russian President Putin declared a ceasefire and ordered his forces to 'stop all military activity' against Ukraine. However, Ukraine President Zelenskyy accused Russia of violating its own ceasefire and threatened to retaliate. The fighting between the two countries resumed after all for this week. DH Political Theatre will come back again next week with more political updates from around the globe. Exit Stage Left, DH Newsletters Team
