The Ganges In Her Platter (Dauntless Courage of a Teenage Widow)

I had made some jottings for writing this novel but somehow 'Pratrai 'ch Ganga', my novel in Punjabi, based more or less on the jottings in English, has already seen the light of the day while the original in English has still been on the anvil. Its Hindi version "Nari Ka Sach" has also just been published. The English version is not a translation from Punjabi or Hindi though I have felt greatly encouraged with the response to the Punjabi novel. Readers and critics have viewed and reviewed it very well. The noted Punjabi-Hindi writer, Jaswant Singh Virdi, regarded it as my Masterpiece. The leading light of Punjabi literature, Dr. Dalip Kaur Tiwana, recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award and Saraswati Samman, has opined that its characters remind us of those of Tolstoy and Dostovyski, adding further, that such a novel has not been written in Punjabi in the past. She also feels that the novel gives the cultural history of the Doaba Region (Areas of the Punjab, lying between the rivers Sutlej and the Beas) and would not be lost sight of by those engaged in research now or in the future.

The Punjabi novel was released by the Vice Chancellor of the Punjabi University, at Patiala. Seminars on the novel were held at Jalandhar and New Delhi. At the Jalandhar Seminar Prof. N.S. Tasneem, the leading English, Urdu and Punjabi writer, Sahitya Akademi awardee, and a noted critic compared it with many world famous novels of great literary value like those of Dickens. At the New Delhi seminar, papers were read by noted writers and critics, like Dr.Narinder Singh and Dr. Jaswinder Kaur Bindra highlighting the various aspects of the novel and Dr. Manjit Singh, the Head of the Punjabi Department, University of Delhi, who, speaking about the novel, stated that it had a great merit, a treasure trove of information about the cultural life of the twentieth century Punjab. He also announced its inclusion in the syllabus of the graduate classes in the University of Delhi. Late Dr. Sutinder Singh Noor, Vice President of the Indian Sahitya Akademi, who presided over the Seminar, observed that the name of the novel was quite apt and it appeared in almost all the languages of the country, including the tribal languages of Central India. The content of the novel showed the depth with which the writer observed everything minutely and had the ability to put it into words, he added.

The Hindi version has just now been brought out and I have received very encouraging feed back. Col. Tilak Raj, Chief Postmaster General, Punjab, and Chandigarh, and a well known Hindi-Urdu Punjabi Writer, in his 'Foreword' says, inter alia that the reader feels greatly touched reading about the indomitable spirit, high courage and sense of sacrifice on the part of the beautiful and daring woman, the main character of the novel, who defied adversity with great fortitude

Since I have translated a good number (85 so far) of Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu books into English, most of which have already been published, my well wishers and noted literary figures had suggested that I should finalize the original English version also. I have tried to shed lethargy and finalized it for publication.

The source of inspiration for writing this novel had been my late mother whose miserable but defiant life as a young widow always impelled me to write about the problems faced by a widow in our society. Human society consists of men and women; but a widow is not regarded a human being in the real sense. Though influenced by my mother's life greatly, this novel is about all the widows who suffer exploitation by lusty 'insiders' and voluptuary advances by 'outsiders' in the male-dominated society. Her life is reduced to a "tight-rope walking'. Draconian laws of chastity forbid her to live like an ordinary human being suppressing all the natural instincts and aspirations.

Thad made some jottings for writing this-novel but somehow 'Pratrai 'ch Ganga' in Punjabi, based more or less on these jottings in English, has already seen the light of the day while the original English has still been on the anvil. Its Hindi version 'Nari Ka Sach' has also just been published. This novel is not a translation of Punjabi or Hindi versions but it is as it was originally conceived. I have felt greatly encouraged with the response to the Punjabi novel. Readers and critics have viewed and reviewed it very well. Noted Punjabi Hindi writer, Jaswant Singh Virdi, regarded it as my Masterpiece. The leading light of Punjabi literature, Dr.Dalip Kaur Tiwana has opined that its characters remind us of those of Tolstoy and Dostovyski, Prof. N.S. Tasneem compared it with many world famous novels of great literary value like those of Dickens' etc. According to Dr.Narinder Singh, Dr. Jaswinder Kaur Bindra and Dr. Manjit Singh, Delhi University, the novel has a great merit, a treasure trove of information about the cultural life of the twentieth century Punjab. Dr. Sutinder Singh Noor, Vice President of the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi viewed that the name of the novel is quite apt as it appeared in almost all the languages of the country, including the tribal languages of Central India. It shows the depth with which the writer has observed everything minutely and has the ability to put it into most appropriate words. Col. Tilak Raj, retired Chief Postmaster General, Punjab and Chandigarh and eminent writer, feels that the novel is a wonderful story covering the first three quarters of the last century.

All this has naturally encouraged me a lot. am sure my readers would like to know about the social conditions and the fate of a young beautiful widow who fights against all odds and does not lose heart. The readers' response will help me greatly.

Born in 1934 at Jalandhar, Dr. Rajinder Singh studied at Jalandhar and graduated from Delhi University. He attended about 14 management courses in the leading Management Institutions of the country and abroad. He was awarded a fellowship in Advanced Management at International Management Institute, Sydney (1983) and went on a study tour to England in 1979. He served the Central Government in different Departments and retired as Senior Analyst (Management) from Ministry of Urban Development in 1992.

Besides 17 original writings, he has translated 85 books of leading Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu writers both Indians and Pakistanis into English. Numerous tracts, series of articles in magazines, review of books, editing of books (Punjabi and English) before publication. Edited English-Hindi quarterly Print (Govt. of India) for five years. Edited Khushkhabari, a Punjabi-Hindi-English monthly of Jalandhar for four years.

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