Two young writers, two books put interests of youth under the spotlight

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, September 29

Two young writers, Sakoon Singh and Rana Preet Gill, participated in a literary session hosted by Majha House.

In conversation with Belinder Dhanoa, renowned author, artist and teacher of English literature, the two discussed their latest books, which showcase their social and political concerns. Rana Preet, who is a veterinary officer in Hoshiarpur and author of three books, discussed her latest book Maya, while Sakoon, who is a teacher of English literature in Chandigarh, has raised subjects like drug addiction, memories of Partition in her first novel In the Land of the Rivers: A Punjab Qissa.

Both have young protagonists, who deal with the conflicts and interests of youth. Talking about the title of her book, Sakoon said, “Initially, the title was Nanaki: A Punjabi Qissa, as my protagonist is named Nanaki. But my editor thought people would associate it with the historical Nanaki. So, slowly I arrived at this title as Punjab is also a land of romance. And Qissa is a favourite genre of storytelling for Punjabis, still thriving after all these years.” She clarified that the book was not just about Nanaki but about all Punjabis. “If I am talking about today’s generation, I am also talking about Partition and displacement. I inherited these stories from my grandparents and also the disappointment they felt as their idea of a nation went awry,” she said.

Rana talked how she tries to make her protagonists and stories more relatable to young readers as they are her target readers. “Maya, the protagonist of my book, is very concerned about her looks because today’s youngsters are really obsessed with physical beauty. She is constantly trying different things in to ‘look better’. It is also centred around an infamous MMS scandal so technology also plays an important role. I mostly draw inspiration for my characters and stories from everyday life,” she explained.