Dear Friends,

Socially conscious film-maker Nakul Singh Sawhney read PANAJAB: Journeys Through Fault Lines and has this to say:

If you truly want to understand the glorious movement going on at the national capital border in a proper context, its origins, its history etc. I would strongly recommend that you read Amandeep Sandhu’s book, ‘Panjab: Journey Through Fault Lines’.

Amandeep travels through Panjab and takes you through the many crevices of the state. It’s not just a physical or a geographical travelogue but one that travels in time. The book helps contextualise the many aspects of contemporary Panjab by time and again taking you back to Panjab history and Sikh history. As a Panjabi Sikh born and brought up mostly outside Panjab, Amandeep’s special inside-outside relationship with the state helps the reader navigate the state with both an objective and a subjective view.

He takes you through the many important aspects of the state- partition, caste, farming, green revolution, the post-green revolution Panjab farmers, Khalistan militancy, the powerful left movements of the state, drug problem, water sharing disputes, Panjabi language and the attempts by Indian state to quash it, Operation Blue Star and so much else that has shaped the state.

If you truly want to understand the current farmers agitation and the reality of Panjab beyond stereotypes of Bhangra, Tandoori/Butter Chicken, Patiala pegs and Yash Raj films, this book is a must read.

For those interested in Panjab, this book is the best entry point.

Thank you Nakul. Ghut ke japphi.

Tags: Nakul Singh Sawhney