The Swing and Other Stories

The Swing and Other Stories is the first collection of stories of the Author written in English. The rare quality of her writing is the lucidity and the subtle depth of her prose. The suffocation which prevails in human relationships in modern times, has been brought out very effectively in her stories, especially through women characters. Her women characters are found searching their identity. The vivid reality of the naked truth of life which she portrays sends shivers down the spine. The Author's language has a lyrical quality and at the same time, it has the dramatic impact of the prose, which makes the themes of her stories immensely readable. The psycho-analytical approach gives special depth to them. The subject matter of these stories are of this world known to us and experienced by us. They are like food for thought. They make one think about human relations at the various phases of life. Born in Delhi, Dr. Santosh Goyal was awarded a gold medal for achieving the first position in her Masters Degree in Hindi and a scholarship for further research. During her tenure as a lecturer in Miranda House College, she went to New Castle Upon Tyne, England for a sabbatical in linguistics. She later got a diploma for the same from Delhi University. Currently she is pursuing a diploma in creative writing from Indira Gandhi Open University. At present she is working as Reader, Department of Hindi, Miranda House, University of Delhi. Her writing till now has been in Hindi in which she has excelled not only in research and critical appraisals but also fiction. Several of her stories and articles have been published in literary magazines and have also been relayed on Television and Radio. She has attended several national and international conferences and presented scientific papers. Her stories have been translated in Urdu and Assamese. Her story called "Rassi" was selected as one of the acclaimed story for the year 1996.

Her publications in Hindi include Nirala ka Kavya (Research), Dharashayi (Collage novel); collection of stories are Sulagti Nadi, Siriya Aur Anya Kahaniya, Samne Wala Admi, Jhoola; and edited collection of stories are Meri Teri Zamin, Apna Apna Vishvas; and collection of poetry includes Abhi Kuch Nahi Beeta and Nishedh Kahin Nahi. She got the award of Lok Sanskriti Sansthan for the poetry.

I had the privilege of reading some of the stories of Dr. Santosh Goyal while compiling a collection of stories translated into Assamese. What struck me as the rare quality of her writing was the lucidity and the subtle depth of her prose. The suffocation which prevails in human relationships in modern times, has been brought out very effectively in her stories, especially through women characters. Her women characters are found searching their identity. The vivid reality of the naked truth of life which she portrays sends shivers down the spine. Santosh Goyal has been writing since the age of twenty-two and has many collections of stories written in Hindi to her credit. This story book The Swing and Other Stories is her first collection of stories written in English. The first story in this collection 'Negative' opens the door of complicated human mind, where many plans are made and shelved to gain the highest position at the place of work. Working places are like the game of chess where one wants to win by hook or by crook. In the story 'The Stare' author reveals the true share of mind of an unmarried thirty-five years old lady, who is travelling in a train. The stare of the man opposite pricks her deep which opens the inner world of that lady and is true retrospect of her mind. In the story 'The Rope' the mental condition of an old lady is described. In the real sense it is a story of the childhood incidents and happenings which are responsible in moulding the personality of a person. When one starts enjoying hurting oneself because the near and dear would get hurt, no medicine can come for rescue. Another story 'The Punishment' depicts the dilemma of an old woman, who has lost her husband, only daughter is married and now the only son has gone to live in the foreign land. The feeling of loneliness, and root lessness in her is a meticulously woven web of prose. I quote one para of this story, "Hom.. Home . which home?. where is her home? She been searching for her home all her life . Does a woman find her own home?" and move.

**Contents and Sample Pages**