Jagir Kaur launches her compilation of stories ‘Pinjara’ : The Tribune India

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Jagir Kaur launches her compilation of stories ‘Pinjara’

AMRITSAR: At 23, she became one of the few women from her town to come out from the confines of their homes and openly speak about citizen rights.

Jagir Kaur launches her compilation of stories ‘Pinjara’

Jagir Kaur (third from right) launches her book ‘Pinjara’ at the district library in Amritsar on Monday. Photo: Sunil Kumar



Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 18

At 23, she became one of the few women from her town to come out from the confines of their homes and openly speak about citizen rights. At 70, Jagir Kaur, a social activist, has made a debut as an author. Her first book, ‘Pinjara’, is a compilation of short stories based on social topics.

Releasing her book at District Library on Monday, Kaur said the book is a result of years of silent determination and a little nudging from her friends. “I always had a knack for writing my heart out and speaking my mind. I used to contribute actively for Punjabi newsletters and magazines. So, my peers and friends suggested me to compile a book, but owing to my busy schedule, I could only take out time now,” she says.

The book talks about some of the significant issues right from over-dependency on digital media, women empowerment and governance. “Pinjara is what symbolises our condition in this digital age. We are always hooked to our phones and that’s why we are shunning books and culture of reading,” she says.

Chairperson of Sanjhi Chaan, an NGO, that works in the field of education for needy, environment and consumer rights awareness, Kaur has been at the forefront of many projects running in city. Her proximity with politics through her son-in-law, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, who is the MP from Amritsar, has also made her aware of the gaps in social and political systems. “As a society, we are intellectually handicapped. The reason for this is the lack of education and we are still struggling to fill that gap,” she says.

“Average population in our country is not even educated till middle school. How can we expect to grow and develop with such a dismal literacy rate,” she wonders.

Another reason that she points out for this discriminatory mindset against women is that they have still not been accepted as ‘front runners’ in the development of the country.

“Women have been kept away from being part of the history for long. Its time we let them take authority, elect a woman Prime Minister or a Chief Minister and see the change happen,” she says.

Meanwhile, she still chooses to remain away from political limelight. “I am not a politician. I am happy to be working for the society from grassroots.”

Central Punjabi Lekhak Sabha and Punjabi Sahit Sangam held a special session on poetry and books to promote reading. The session was held at District library and the special guest was Jagir Kaur, who released her book Pinjara.

Stressing on making reading a habit, she said that books offer us an ocean of knowledge and a healthy society needs to build libraries.

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