Amandeep Sandhu » Westland

Punjab Today Review: In Search Of Heer

aman — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 05:25:38 +0000

Dear Friends,

Manjul Bajaj and my career have almost run parallel. My first book Sepia Leaves came out very close to her debut Come Before Evening Falls. We were both nominated for the Hindu Prize for Fiction in 2013, she for Another Man’s Wife and I for Roll of Honour.

Last year, when I went to my publisher’s office in August to finalise the cover page of PANJAB: Journeys Through fault Lines, I saw Manjul’s book In Search of Heer ready for publication. In between, Manjul has been prolific and written children’s books too. It has taken me a few months to review In Search of Heer, but here it is.

Please read the review here …

With PANJAB’s Parents

aman — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 10:27:38 +0000

Dear Friends,

often books are known by their titles, subjects and writer’s name. However, the fact is there are many people who make the book. On Friday night I was happy to meet the three people who have held the book from idea to production to sales.

My chief editor Varthika VK, my editor Karthik Venkatesh, and my support editor Ajitha GS. We missed Gautam Padhmanabhan who owns Westland and made the book possible and Kanishka Gupta, my agent.

Panjab: Book Alert by Amita Paul

aman — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 09:51:17 +0000

Dear Friends,

I am glad to share with you a Facebook review of my recent book by much loved and respected Amita Paul.

—

Friend Amandeep Sandhu’s Book Panjab: Journeys through Fault Lines has finally come out after years of hard work, focused travel, and painstaking research.

It is a treasure trove of information and insights on Punjab, its history and its current situation, not only for the outsider but for the insider as well, and most of all for those who are a bit of both or not quite sure which one they are or how much of each they are.

Who first called Panjab, Panjab? Who are the Jutts? What is the Anandpur Saheb Resolution? How and when did the idea of Khalistan evolve and where does it stand now? What is the real situation on the ground about drug addiction in Punjab? What happened to agriculture in Punjab after the Green Revolution peaked? What is the so called river waters dispute of Punjab with Haryana Delhi and Rajasthan all about? Why are Sikhs called a martial race? Did Sikhism really manage to eradicate caste from Punjab? Where does Punjab stand today? What is the way forward for Punjab?

Amandeep Sandhu does not shy away from any of these questions and many others like these, and though he does not claim to give the final answer on anything, he does take you on a journey or a set of journeys where you may be clearer about what you think the answer might be.

If you are curious about such issues and if you would like to know more about them, do read this book.

Amandeep’s voice is gentle, compassionate, truthful and trustworthy. You may not agree with all he says – I myself differ on many issues – and he could well be mistaken in some of his views but you can rest assured that he would never lie. This is a very honest book.

Panjab : Journeys through Fault Lines

Published by Westland Publishers, Chennai, is available on Amazon as well as in all leading bookstores

I would love to hear from you your reactions once you have read it. I thoroughly recommend it

The Statesman Review: Filling in the Void

aman — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 09:47:10 +0000

Dear Friends,

the first mainstream media review of Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines has come out today in The Statesman, Delhi edition.

It is a bit literal but positive. I have waited all day for a web link. Yet, first is first, and since it is out, here is the review.

‘Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines’ is available now

aman — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 01:44:36 +0000

Dear Friends,

my book Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines is now out in bookstores. Those of you who have pre-ordered copies will start getting them now. Thank you!

I feel humbled that two people who I have admired and respected over years had this to say about the book which is part-reportage, part-memoir and part-contextual history of Panjab.

From the back cover:

More than just a history of the Panjab, this accessible and layered account is also a journey of self-discovery, a return to the author’s roots which questions, simultaneously, the politics and geography of rootedness, a homecoming that questions the idea of home. It’s a book filled with love, despair, disappointment and hope.
~ Urvashi Butalia, Author and Publisher, Zubaan

Panjab post-militancy is in crisis. Amandeep Sandhu has spent time travelling through the state, observing and talking to people. He interweaves this reportage with the understanding he possesses both as an insider and outsider to Panjab. The result is a clear-headed insight into the reasons for its decline. There is nothing I have read that better explains the interconnected decay of the institutions of the state and the Sikh religion.
~ Hartosh Singh Bal, Political Editor, Caravan

Indian readers can pre-order copies here: Amazon.in

Readers abroad can buy copies here: Amazon.com

Please Bless! Buy and discuss. The intent of the book is present Panjab as post conflict zone and open conversations so we can all begin to heal.

Business Standard: Top Picks

aman — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 08:08:30 +0000

Dear Friends,

yesterday, October 26, 2019, Business Standard came up with its top picks books. Panjab: Journeys Through fault Lines was mentioned.

Please see mention here:

HT Mention: The Most Interesting Books of the Week

aman — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 08:03:59 +0000

Dear friends,

yesterday, October 26, 2019 Hindustan Times came out with its most interesting books for the week and Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines was among them.

Please see mention here …

Punjab Today: Are you willing to count the corpses of Panjab?

aman — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 07:42:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

the next day, Sunday, October 21, 2019, Panjab Today also published the full extract of my book Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines. This version carried hitherto less seen but very evocative pictures from the first day the Darbar Sahib was opened to public after Operation Blue Star, 1984. All pictures by Satpal Danish.

Please read extract here …

Mint: Extract from Preface of Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines

aman — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 07:25:25 +0000

Dear Friends,

on Saturday, October 20, 2019, the Mint newspaper published a slightly edited version of the Preface of my upcoming book Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines.

Please read the extract here …

Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines to be out October 30, 2019

aman — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 07:00:46 +0000

Dear friends,

the book ‘Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines’ has arrived.

In a virtual world, I get to see pictures from my publishers Westland office and from friends.

Me, the mother, is now waiting to hold the baby.

In India, you can pre-order the book here …

Abroad, you can pre-order the book here …

Please bless! Buy! Hope the book opens conversations …