A Life Apart release in Kolkata

With Urvashi Butalia and Kalyan Ray at the Book Release event

Kolkata, May 25: Yesterday I went to the Oxford Bookstore in Park Street Kolkata for the book release of my late mother's (Dr Prabha Khaitan) autobiography in English - A Life Apart. 

The book release was organized by publishers Zubaan and Oxford Bookstore.

Chief Guest Aparna Sen, who was ill could not make it for the release. However, it was a nice gesture on her part to ensure that her talented writer-actor husband Kalyan Ray did the honours on her behalf of releasing the book.

With Ira Pande

Padmashri Urvashi Butalia, Ms Namita Gokhale, Director of Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and Ms Ira Pande, writer and translator of the autobiography, Maina Bhagat of Oxford Bookstore, welcomed the guests and set the proceedings rolling.

Many dignitaries and eminent Kolkatans turned at the small venue including representatives of the French and US diplomatic and consular corps. Among others, present at the function, were Bharati Ray, Nabaneeta Dev Sen, Nandita Palchoudhury, Bani Basu, Sujata Sen and others. Kalyan Ray said that he was struck by the honesty and boldness of the autobiography. 

With Leena Kejriwal at the dinner party

The book launch program went beyond the time scheduled amid a questions and answers galore.

The Book, which is a translation of original autobiographical work in Hindi Anya se Ananya, was first launched at a special event on January 28th 2013 at the Jaipur Literature Festival by Sharmila Tagore and British Writer Aminatta Forna.

With Nayantara Palchoudhuri

Recently the Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi constituted Dr Prabha Khaitan Pravasi Rachnakar Puraskar in her memory. The award would be given to a non-resident Rajasthani writer each year.

Later in the evening I also hosted a dinner party at the Taj Bengal which was attended by most of the guests and dignitaries invited including Usha Uthup and Roopa Ganguly.

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