Academic Prof Maninder Sidhu releases book on novelist Nayantara Sahgal’s works

Chandigarh, May 12, 2023: Professor Maninder Sidhu, Head Department of English and Centre for Research at PGGCG-11, released her new book titled ‘Nayantara Sahgal: A Century of Political Insights’ today at the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, Chandigarh. The book was launched by Professor Rudrangshu Mukherjee, eminent author,historian, journalist and currently Chancellor, Ashoka University in the august presence of Ashok Mittal, Member Parliament and Chancellor, Lovely University; Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor, Chandigarh University; Madhu Chitkara, Pro-Chancellor, Chitkara University and Ramesh Vinayak, Executive Editor Hindustan Times.

The book launch was followed by a discussion between the author and Professor Mukherjee on how the book captures the political and historical aspects of Sahgal’s works and analyzes it alongside the works of prominent 20th century thinkers and writers like VS Naipaul, Salman Rushdie and Arundhati Roy. Special critical attention is given to the representations of historical events such as the Freedom Movement, Partition, Emergency, reorganization of the state of Punjab, Naxalism and nationalism in the book.

The book will be of interest to academicians, literati, theorists and historians.

Professor Sidhu observed, “Sahgal has witnessed different ideologies and regimes unfold and shape modern Indian and world history for nearly a century. Her writings capture the political ebb and flow and remain a vital link in the History-Fiction tradition, particularly in the post-colonial domain”.

Also in attendance were notable personalities from the world of literature, education, art, administration and journalism like  Manraj Grewal Sharma, Resident Editor Indian Express; Pranav Gupta, Co-founder Ashoka University; Viswajeet  Khanna, Chairman Punjab Power Regulatory Commission; and Neelkamal Puri, author. 
 
About the book: 
Nayantara Sahgal: A Century of Political Insights, published by the Taylor and Francis Group, is a comprehensive critical re-reading of Nayantara Sahgal’s works. One of the most significant Indian English writers, her fictional and non-fictional engagement with historical events and political dilemmas links her to the colonial, anti-post-neo-/colonial discourse in India. Tracing the subtle tendencies in her writing to Gandhian humanity and Nehruvian pragmaticism, the book moves beyond clichés of feminist criticism and genealogical ties to unveil a unique artist who has folded nearly a century of Indian experience in her work.
 
About the author: 
Dr Maninder Sidhu is Professor and Head, Dept of English, Govt College for Girls, Sector 11, Chandigarh. Prof Sidhu is the coordinator of the PhD Research Centre affiliated to the Dept of English and Cultural Studies, Panjab University. She has been published in the academic journals of Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, and the IACLALS Journal. She contributes articles to the Hindustan Times and has been published in other national dailies like the Daily Post and Tribune.