BY DEVIKA C. MEHTA
Children play a significant role in building cultural dimensions and what better way to teach them than good books, written by capable authors! Diksha Pal Narayan is one such author of a children’s book series- ‘Ved and Friends’, who intelligently captures Indian traditions and gives an intrinsic voice to South Asian culture in North America...
Children play a significant role in building cultural dimensions and what better way to teach them than good books, written by capable authors! Diksha Pal Narayan is one such author of a children’s book series- ‘Ved and Friends’, who intelligently captures Indian traditions and gives an intrinsic voice to South Asian culture in North America...
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with fun short stories. ‘Ved and Friends Celebrate Dussehra and Diwali’ is the first book of the series, which was officially launched by Consul General of India, Toronto Dinesh Bhatia on September 25. In this book one can find fun short stories about Navratri, Durga Puja, Ram, Sita and Ravana, Pandavas, King Mahabali, Kali Puja, Diwali and much more. The book also helps kids experience the rich and vibrant South Asian festivals. It is surely a tailor-made experience for both children and their parents.
Talking about her role and responsibilities as an author, Diksha, told IJ, “I loved writing `Ved and Friends,’ because with it I would like to believe I have taught all children including mine, world- unity. We all come from different regions and religions from South Asia, I hope that with this book your child will get to know more about his Bengali friends or South Indian friends’ celebrations. It’s a book that’s inclusive of everyone’s traditions and legends. It tells us it’s fine to be different and fun to explore others’ traditions too. Isn’t that what we truly want to teach our kids?”
Insisting on ways to reach out to the next generation, she mentioned, “I aim to repackage all our “good stuff” or teachings for the new generation who has so many distractions in their lives now, and educate them about their roots. My dream is to make our culture fun for our kids born in North America. There will come a time when they would like to know more about their identity and to be at a good place to explore their roots and be confident of where they come from, learning of the stories that we grew up with will be a unifying thing.” ‘But, what motivated her to try this genre?’ Diksha replied, “I love to read books in my spare time; ever since I had my son I tried to bring fun in all of his activities. Although my husband Karthik and I are both from the same country (him from south India and her from up the north), our festivities, culture and languages are completely different. So when we decided to give a glimpse of our childhood to our son, I felt there was some literature available but nothing that quenched my journalistic appetite for details.”
As a mother of a young child, she always wanted him to know and be in tune with his roots. “This doesn’t necessarily mean he needs to know all of his ‘slokas or mantras’, but the more deeper and more meaningful aspects of the culture that we have come from.”
Interestingly, ‘Like mother, like child’ stands true in her case! Narayan’s journey and her complete experience is the result of a powerful inspiration from her mother. “She is a writer and teacher. As long as I can remember she used to pen down poetry and short stories. In some of the stories I would like to change the outcome of the stories and my mother would ask me to make up my own story, which I would eventually do.”
She also credits her creativity to the shuttling life between beautiful lush green hills of Nainital, India and the equally beautiful yet barren sands of the country Oman, where her father worked.
Also a TV journalist, Narayan desires to meet new people, learn new things, get insights into the lives and careers, achievements and struggles of others and then garner the responsibility to fairly tell their stories to the world. Notably, television producer and columnist Narayan has also made her mark in the Canadian and Indian television industries as a producer of shows for the South Asian community. She has also contributed to a collection of short stories called `Canadian Voices.’ Significantly, in 2013, she and her husband won the Marty’s Jury Choice Award in the Emerging Artists Category. For more details: www.dikshapnarayan.com
Talking about her role and responsibilities as an author, Diksha, told IJ, “I loved writing `Ved and Friends,’ because with it I would like to believe I have taught all children including mine, world- unity. We all come from different regions and religions from South Asia, I hope that with this book your child will get to know more about his Bengali friends or South Indian friends’ celebrations. It’s a book that’s inclusive of everyone’s traditions and legends. It tells us it’s fine to be different and fun to explore others’ traditions too. Isn’t that what we truly want to teach our kids?”
Insisting on ways to reach out to the next generation, she mentioned, “I aim to repackage all our “good stuff” or teachings for the new generation who has so many distractions in their lives now, and educate them about their roots. My dream is to make our culture fun for our kids born in North America. There will come a time when they would like to know more about their identity and to be at a good place to explore their roots and be confident of where they come from, learning of the stories that we grew up with will be a unifying thing.” ‘But, what motivated her to try this genre?’ Diksha replied, “I love to read books in my spare time; ever since I had my son I tried to bring fun in all of his activities. Although my husband Karthik and I are both from the same country (him from south India and her from up the north), our festivities, culture and languages are completely different. So when we decided to give a glimpse of our childhood to our son, I felt there was some literature available but nothing that quenched my journalistic appetite for details.”
As a mother of a young child, she always wanted him to know and be in tune with his roots. “This doesn’t necessarily mean he needs to know all of his ‘slokas or mantras’, but the more deeper and more meaningful aspects of the culture that we have come from.”
Interestingly, ‘Like mother, like child’ stands true in her case! Narayan’s journey and her complete experience is the result of a powerful inspiration from her mother. “She is a writer and teacher. As long as I can remember she used to pen down poetry and short stories. In some of the stories I would like to change the outcome of the stories and my mother would ask me to make up my own story, which I would eventually do.”
She also credits her creativity to the shuttling life between beautiful lush green hills of Nainital, India and the equally beautiful yet barren sands of the country Oman, where her father worked.
Also a TV journalist, Narayan desires to meet new people, learn new things, get insights into the lives and careers, achievements and struggles of others and then garner the responsibility to fairly tell their stories to the world. Notably, television producer and columnist Narayan has also made her mark in the Canadian and Indian television industries as a producer of shows for the South Asian community. She has also contributed to a collection of short stories called `Canadian Voices.’ Significantly, in 2013, she and her husband won the Marty’s Jury Choice Award in the Emerging Artists Category. For more details: www.dikshapnarayan.com
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