With thousands of titles and dozens of renowned writers,the current edition of the annual Rupa Book Fair is turning out to be a bestseller Heroes bore me while the bad guys have all the fun, smiles Ajay Khullar,as he talks about The Nothing Man,his debut novel published by Rupa,which chronicles the journey of Baru. In the city for the launch of the book at the Rupa Book Fair,which is on at Lajpat Rai Bhavan,Khullar shares the platform with other authors for an informal interaction with readers and booklovers. An annual affair,the book fair presents a variety of genres and new titles,with the evenings reserved for interactive sessions that draw serious readers and students of creative writing. Its a great ground to reach out directly to readers,to know their mind and understand what they are looking for, says 33-year-old Khullar,who is a travel writer and a TV,print and web journalist all rolled into one. As with The Nothing Man,the inspiration for this novel came from an unfinished script that Khullar had started writing 12 years ago. The story was about a writer who stops writing and returns to redeem himself. In The Nothing Man,Baru moves through dark alleys,fighting many demons,internal contradictions to fulfil a creative dream,which becomes an obsession,one that knows no emotions. Baru wants to write and hes willing to do anything to see his novel in print. Khullar will interact with readers on Sunday evening. A panel discussion on Thursday evening on Ishtiaq Ahmeds The Punjab: Bloodied Partioned and Cleansed brought to fore the painful accounts of the Partition in 1947. Ahmed,a Pakistan-born author,sheds new light on the events through secret British reports,and poignant accounts by eye-witnesses and survivors from both sides of the border. The book brings alive the tragedy of Partition. It was the most traumatic event in the Indian history,and for our generation,who bore witness to the horror and pain,the search for answers never stops. We still belong nowhere, says 75-year-old Kundan Mehta,an interviewee in the book,as he looks back with moist eyes. Chandigarh-based author Khushwant Singh chatted with author Neel Kamal on Friday evening about his recently-released biography Turbaned Tornado,capturing the indomitable spirit of Fauja Singh,the 100-year-old marathon runner. Fauja Singh either walks or sleeps. He doesnt sit, smiles the author. It was Fauja Singhs coach,Harmander Singh,who requested him to write a biography to commemorate 100 years of the legend. Khushwant Singh manages to trace the runners roots and capture his lifes journey. The book includes accounts of Faujas training sessions,his stubbornness to win,his humility and how at 89,he ran the London Marathon and beat a veteran runner by an hours margin. He will be one of the torch-bearers for the London Olympics 2012 and is now looking forward to run a full marathon at 100, adds the author. Besides book reading sessions and interactions,there are many discounts and deals on the titles. And if you happen to be a believer in destiny,then Lara Shah,author of Miracle Cards: A Guide Book,will help you read your own tarot on Saturday evening. A lucky few will get a free reading session. The Rupa Book Fair is on till October 3 at the Lajpat Rai Bhawan,Sector 15,Chandigarh,11 am-8 pm.
