(… wherever we went) we found a spiky creeper. It grows along the walls that surround public buildings and private homes; it is curled around schools, mosques, abandoned temples, half-asleep hotels. Concertina wire is the most widespread form of vegetation in Kashmir today. It grows everywhere, even in the mind.- Ranjit Hoskote in his Introduction to his translation of 14th Century Kashmiri mystic and poet Lal Ded‘s poems “I, LAILA”.
Author: RA
A human
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(… wherever we went) we found a spiky creeper. It grows along the walls that surround public buildings and private homes; it is curled around schools, mosques, abandoned temples, half-asleep hotels. Concertina wire is the most widespread form of vegetation in Kashmir today.
It grows everywhere, even in the mind.
– Ranjit Hoskote in his Introduction to his translation of 14th Century Kashmiri mystic and poet Lal Ded’s poems "I, LAILA".
Yaar Mera Haj Kara De
My recent book translated and published in Punjabi/Gurumukhi
Our visit to Lahore was a journey to connect with the past – the land of my parents’ memories, their ancestors, their city, teachers and friends, their home. Though it was our collective journey, yet this Lahore safarnama <Yaar Mera Haj Kara De> was written as a tribute to my father after he passed away. A few friends read the Hindustani version and wanted me to expand it to a book length. Some other friends found it ‘very interesting’ and wanted the travelogue to also be published in Punjabi and Urdu. While the original Hindi version awaits release (possibly Jan 2022), here is the Punjabi translation published by Unistar Books, Chandigarh @unistarbooks. The Urdu version is expected by Feb/Mar next year. The Punjabi language edition can be ordered online at http://www.unistarbooks.com/home/5477-yaar-mera-haj-kara-de.html
रात
किश्तों में कटी रात ले दे के इस तरह
आँखों ने बुने चाँद जो ख़्वाबों ने उधेड़े
Bindiya
One Sunday afternoon a granddaughter was talking to her grandmother about everything from apples to books to computers. Surprised that her grandmother knew so much the granddaughter asked ‘how do you know about everything in the world?’ Grandmother replied, ‘Because I have lived a long life.’
The young girl asked, ‘how long, and how old are you Grandma?’
The grandmother thought for a moment and said, ‘My sweet little Bindiya, I am as old as the Earth.’
‘Our planet Earth!’, Bindiya gasped and the conversation continued.
(#childrensbook #workinprogress)
Ankahi. Unsaid. 
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