Dear friends,
A few days back Peggy Mohan, author of ‘father tongue, motherland’ and I discussed her new book. Thank you Asha Jhina, IIHS for hosting the talk. Please find the recording of the interview.
80 mins. English.
Though Sikh-born, I refrain from speaking about Sikh theological matters. That is because for Sikh institutions say I am Patit, a degenerate Sikh, because I do not carry long hair.
I raised the point to Avtar Singh from BBC News Punjabi when he asked for my views on the current fracas among Sikh institutions. Upon reassurance that the matter is also political, I shared my views. Do read the story for other more qualified comments than mine.
Dear friends,
as a farewell to 2024, the brilliant and penetrative Karanjeet Kaur quoted from PANJAB Journeys Through Fault Lines in her article on how Diljit Dosanjh had foxed the bhakt mandli – right wing trolls.
Please click link here …
Dear Friends,
a few days back when Diljit Dosanjh spelt Punjab and PANJAB at his Chandigarh concert, the bhakt mandli started calling him Pakistani. Well, right wing IT cell are trolls, but Avtar Singh from BBC Punjabi got in touch to ask me why I had named my book PANJAB Journeys Through Fault Lines. The article is in Punjabi, those who can read will get it.
Please click link here …
Dear Friends,
A few months back researcher Preeti Kathuria got in touch with me over my writing. I was too lazy to type out my answers to her so I left her voice notes. She transcribed them, wove them together and now the interview is published. Thank you Preeti!
Please click here…
Dear Friends,
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay Da wrote about the discussion we held on 29 Sep on ’1984: Witness. Document, Justice’.
‘What made this event different from others normally held every year to mark the anniversary of the twin events in October-November was that the focus was not on the carnage following the assassination, and failure of the State to immediately halt spiraling violence and bring the accused to book. Instead, the seminar was organised to discuss the intervention of the first responders …’
Link to story here…
Link to discussion here …
This is the 40th year of Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh pogrom. On 29 Sep this year, the Sikh Research Institute conducted a panel discussion in Delhi. The speakers were the first respondents to the violence, those who helped Sikhs, saved properties, arranged aid, wrote reports.
I conducted the discussion and was personally very moved by its intensity, the energy in the room, no one from the audience moved. The recording is long – 2.23 hours. You can hear it in snatches. But do listen.
Here is the recording…
Dear Friends,
on 15 October, France24 sought my brief views on what is going on between India and Canada. This is related to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year and now Canada finding evidence related to Indian diplomats in Canada.
Link below. See from minute 2.20 to 8.40.
Please see here …
Dear friends,
a few days back, noted journalist Kanwar Sandhu interviewed me on matters Panjab, hate speech and others. Please find the interview in two parts below. The first part is shorter, second is longer.
1. On how our language has changed in the last decade. 19.18 mins.
2. On a trust crises in our society.
Please listen.
Dear Friends,
Karthik Venkatesh is my Editor for PANJAB. Now he has come out as a writer with a new book on 10 Indian languages for the YA audience.
Recently, I interviewed him. Sharing so we notice how the journalist gives us a sense of flowing conversation through the article.
Congratulations Karthik.
Please see link here …