MAVERICKS OF HISTORY

ABDUL RASUL KASHMIRI
ABDUL RASUL KASHMIRI, a native of Srinagar who was in trade at Amritsar as a shawl merchant, was for a time a close confidant of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Sikh King of the Punjab deposed by the British in 1849. Kashmir! acted as the deposed Maharaja`s liaison man with governments of Turkey and Egypt. In 1860, `Abdul Rasul moved from India to Egypt, and thence to London where he joined the Nile expeditionary force as an interpreter. Owing to his secret connection with the Mahdi, he was discharged from the service. He was again in England to seek redress when he met the deposed Maharaja Duleep Singh who employed him to further his cause. When Duleep Singh returned from Aden to Europe he sent for `Abdul Rasul from London to Paris and through him met Assud Pasha, the Turkish ambassador in Paris.Abdul Rasul travelled to Constantinople with a view to contacting the Caliph. Through his good offices Duleep Singh seems to have befriended Patrick Casey, an Irishman, whose passport he used when travelling from Paris to Russia.

Summoned by the Maharaja, Abdul Rasul also arrived in Moscow and campaigned to rally the local Muslims to his cause. Early in 1890, Duleep Singh sent him to India. He was arrested on board the ship and upon landing in Bombay despatched to Asirgarh Fort for detention. A few months later, he was released and provided passage to go to London. In March 1892, `Abdul Rasul sued Maharaja Duleep Singh in a Paris court seeking a life pension for the services he had rendered him.

WOMEN ADMINISTRATORS OF INDIA

KAPILA VATSYAYAN

Kapila Vatsyayan (born 25 December 1928) is a leading scholar of classical Indian dance and Indian art and architecture.
Dr. Vatsyayan received her M.A. from the University of Michigan and Ph.D. from the Banaras Hindu University. She is the author of many books including The Square and the Circle of Indian Arts, Bharata: The Natya Sastra, and Matralaksanam. She was the founder-director of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (Indira Kalakendra) in Delhi. She has also served as secretary to the government of India and the Ministry of Education, department of Arts and Culture, in which she was responsible for the establishment of many institutions of higher education in India.
She served briefly as a Rajya Sabha M.P. in March 2006, and was reappointed to the Rajya Sabha in April 2007 for a term expiring in February 2012. She is the sister of poet and critic Keshav Malik.

INDIAN BUSINESS PIONEERS

KARAM CHAND THAPAR

Karam Chand Thapar (1900 to 1963) was the founder of the Thapar group of companies. He was originally from Punjab. He started his career in 1920 as a coal trader in Calcutta, and built up the family fortune through Karam Chand Thapar and Bros. He then started JCT Limited[1] that is into textiles as well as molasses and alcohol. He also took over The Oriental Bank of Commerce [2], and ventured into paper manufacturing with the Ballarpur Industries Limited. In 1956 he started the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Tech. In 2006 the college was made a university Thapar University[3].

INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS

KIRAN MAZUMDZR SHAW

Born: March 23, 1953
Achievement: Chairman & Managing Director of Biocon Ltd; Felicitated with Padmashri (1989) and Padma Bhushan (2005).

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is the Chairman & Managing Director of Biocon Ltd, India's biggest biotechnology company. In 2004, she became India's richest woman.

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw was born on March 23, 1953 in Bangalore. She had her schooling at Bishop Cotton Girls School and Mount Carmel College at Bangalore. After doing completing her B.Sc. in Zoology from Bangalore University in 1973, she went to Ballarat University in Melbourne, Australia and qualified as a master brewer.

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw started her professional career as trainee brewer in Carlton & United Beverages in 1974. In 1978, she joined as Trainee Manager with Biocon Biochemicals Limited in Ireland. In the same year, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw founded Biocon India in collaboration with Biocon Biochemicals Limited, with a capital of Rs.10,000. She initially faced many problems regarding funds for her business. Banks were hesitant to give loan to her as biotechnology was a totally new field at that point of time and she was a woman entrepreneur, which was a rare phenomenon.

Biocon's initial operation was to extract an enzyme from papaya. Under Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's stewardship Biocon transformed from an industrial enzymes company to an integrated biopharmaceutical company with strategic research initiatives. Today, Biocon is recognised as India's pioneering biotech enterprise. In 2004, Biocon came up with an IPO and the issue was over-subscribed by over 30 times. Post-IPO, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw held close to 40% of the stock of the company and was regarded as India's richest woman with an estimated worth of Rs. 2,100 crore.

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is the recipient of several prestigious awards. These include ET Businesswoman of the Year, Best Woman Entrepreneur, Model Employer, Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Life Sciences & Healthcare, Leading Exporter, Outstanding Citizen, Technology Pioneer, etc. Government of India also felicitated her with Padmashri (1989) and Padma Bhushan (2005).

INDIAN ENTREPRENEURS

KUSHAL PAL SINGH
[K.P.Singh]

Born: August 15, 1931
Achievement: Chairman of DLF Group; Recipient of the 'Delhi Ratna' Award for his valuable contribution to Delhi

K.P. Singh is the Chairman of DLF Group and can be christened as the real estate baron of India. DLF has a strong leadership presence in Indian real estate industry and the company is credited with developing the modern township of Gurgaon.

K.P. Singh (Kushal Pal Singh) was born on August 15, 1931 at Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh. After graduating in Science from Meerut College, he went to UK to study Aeronautical Engineering. While pursuing engineering in UK, K.P. Singh was selected to the prestigious Indian Army, by British Officers Services Selection Board, UK. He joined the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun and was later on commissioned into The Deccan Horse-a renowned cavalry regiment of The Indian Army.

In 1960, K.P. Singh joined American Universal Electric Company, a joint venture between Universal Electric Company of Owosso, Michigan and his family. Thereafter, K.P. Singh promoted another company, i.e. Willard India Limited in collaboration with ESB inc of Philadelphia for manufacturing automatic and industrial batteries in India and became its Managing Director.

In 1979, K.P. Singh joined DLF Universal Limited. When American Universal Company merged with DLF Universal Limited, K.P. Singh became the Managing Director of the new company. K.P. Singh had the vision to buy land in Gurgaon, which was then a barren village on the outskirts of Delhi. He had the foresight to saw the untapped potential of the place and today Gurgaon is one of the real-estate hotspots of the country. Presently, DLF has 100 million square feet under development in residential, commercial and retail projects all over the country.

Kushal Pal Singh also held a number of professional positions in India. He was the President of the ASSOCHAM (Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India) and the PHD Chambers of Commerce & Industry. K.P. Singh is also the recipient of the 'Delhi Ratna' Award for his valuable contribution to Delhi.

PROMINENT PUNJABI WOMEN

KIRAN BEDI

-A Sensitive Lady With Iron Spirit

I'm here to do my best for the day" - Kiran Bedi

Inspirational true life stories are tagged as favorite celebrities for decades. One such well known celebrity around the globe who is recognized for her courage, welfare strategies and tag line 'I Dare' is Kiran Bedi. She dreamt and worked for a better world and she achieved it. Read all about the inspirational icon who has always worn a smile in the battle of life.
Early Life
Kiran Bedi born on 9th June 1949 in Amritsar, as the second of the four daughters to her parents, Prakash Lal Peshawaria and Prem Lata Peshawaria. She completed her schooling and graduation in Arts from her native place itself. She earned a master's degree the following year in Political science from Punjab University. The ardent learner with active service in the Indian Police also acquired a law degree (LLB) from Delhi University. She was also awarded a Ph.D. in 1993 in Social Sciences by the Department of Social Sciences, the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.
As a child born in a well to do family, Kiran was aware of how special her life was compared to the majority of Indian children. Her parents sacrificed a great deal, so that their daughters could go to the best schools, learn sports, and be exceptional in the male dominated country.

As a teenager Kiran Bedi won Asian women's lawn tennis champion. Recollecting her childhood she sates in one of her interviews, "I came from a sports background where I was the only girl traveling with a batch of 20 boys." After few years she was recognized as the first woman to join the Indian Police service in 1972.
 Marital Life
Kiran Bedi with husband Brij Bedi

Kiran Bedi was determined to choose her own life partner at an early age, as the bitter shades of marital relationship of her elder sister always bid a nightmare to the term called marriage. Shashi her elder sister was a girl next door who dreamt of leading a normal life like any other girl. Sashi got engaged to a Canada-based Indian heart specialist while she was pursuing her Master's degree. The marriage was a disaster as the doctor was already engaged to someone else in Canada. But Shashi could not fight for her marriage but had to succumb to the doctors interest (like bribe) and stay with him for life in an unknown land. This bitter experience increased Kiran's determination to make her own way in her own country.

Read more about her marital life and her career as a brave heart Police Officer who even towed Indira's Gandhi's car for breaking the law and her most prestigious awards in the next page.

When Kiran and Brij Bedi learnt that their carers needed special attention both of them decided to lead a separate life by remaining soul companions. Both of them took delight in leading a life that reciprocates growth of an individual. When a far they took the delight in expressing their loneliness, unhappiness, and distance in the form of poetry. This kind of marital arrangement is unconventional in India even till this date. With both parental and marital support, Kiran strived to make a difference around her.

Kiran and Brij had a daughter, Saina, three years after Kiran started her career in the Indian Police Service (IPS). Saina is also involved in community service. She along with her husband Ruzbeh N. Bharucha, (a journalist by profession) produce short films and documentaries.
 Career

When asked in an interview why did she choose career in Police she promptly replied, " For me policing is not punitive. It always stood for social welfare. But tough welfare. Where I could command welfare, I could demand welfare, and I could produce welfare."

Kiran Bedi began her career as a lecturer in Political Science (1970 -72). She left the post soon after she got selected for the Indian Police Service in the year 1972. In the police service she served in a number of different and challenging assignments that range from Traffic Commissioner of New Delhi, Deputy Inspector General of Police in insurgency prone Mizoram, Advisor to the Lieutanent Governor of Chandigarh, Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau and also on a United Nationsdeputation.

Kiran Bedi did not fear anybody. For her the law was the same for all, be it the President of India or any commoner. It is said that she once towed the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi car for parking violation who was on tour of United States.

Kiran Bedi also influenced other areas like control of narcotics, traffic management and VIP security. During her transfer to Tihar Jail as the Inspector General of Prison she worked relentlessly to give jailed convicts a new lease of life through meditation and spiritualism. She initiated a number of measures in prison management some of them are yoga, vipassana meditation, and redressing of complaints by prisoners. Her humane and fearless approach has contributed greatly to innumerable innovative policing and prison reforms.

Kiran Bedi has set up two major voluntary organizations called Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation
with the objectives of improving the condition of the drug addicts and the downtrodden. Her organization has been applauded from far and wide. It was also awarded 'Serge Soitiroff Memorial Award' for drug abuse prevention by the United Nations. She has recently been appointed as Director General of India's Bureau of Police Research and Development. Earlier, she was Police Advisor in the United Nations peacekeeping department, and has also been honored with the UN medal for outstanding service.
 Awards Galore

• President's Gallantry Award (1979)
• Women of the Year Award (1980)
• Asia Region Award for Drug Prevention and Control (1991)
• Magsaysay Award (1994) for Government Service (also called the Asian Nobel Prize)
• Mahila Shiromani Award (1995)
• Father Machismo Humanitarian Award (1995)
• Lion of the Year (1995)
• Joseph Beuys Award (1997)
• Pride of India (1999)
• Mother Teresa Memorial National Award for Social Justice (2005) 

PROMINENT PUNJABI WOMEN

KEWAL KAUR

From the information provided by Amarjit Chandan, this is all we know about Kewal Kaur:
Kewal Kaur (c1940. Samrai BhodaN. Jalandhar – 1982)


An activist of the Maoist-Naxalite CPI (ML) in East Punjab, Kewal Kaur was jailed during Moga agitation in 1972.
She was the Editor of a Punjabi magazine Ma (The Mother).
Kewal Kaur was forced to commit suicide in Jalandhar in 1982.
Photo by Amarjit Chandan, Jallandhar 1974

SIKH HISTORIANS

KARAM SINGH HISTORIAN

Karam Singh (1884-1930), pioneer of Sikh research in Sikh history was born on 18 March 1884, the son of Jhanda Singh (a Dhillon Jat), and Mai Bhisan Kaur, at Jhabal village 15 km west of Tarn Taran in the Amritsar district of Punjab. The family that claimed descant from Bhai Langhah, a prominent Sikh contemporary of Guru Arjan dev ji and Guru Hargobind, later shifted to chakk no.29 Janubi in shahpur (sargodha) district where Jhanda Singh on his retirement as daffadar (sergeant) from risala awwal (first cavalry) was granted 50 acres (200,000 m²) of land in the newly opened lower Jhelum community. Having received his primary education at Jhabal, Karam singh attended the school village and went on to matriculate from the Khalsa collegiate school, Amritsar, and then joined the Khalsa college, but left before taking a degree, devoting himself to life’s passion-research in the history of Punjab. Karam singh, considered oral history an important tool of research, left his studies in December 1905, only four months before the final examinations for graduation immediately to meet some of the old men still living who had been witness to the happenings of the Punjab under Sikh rule, and record their testimony. In 1907 he made out plans to go to Mecca and Baghdad in order to gather information about Guru Nanak dev ji’s visit to those places for centuries earlier and joined a hajji party as a Muslim( for no non-Muslim could take that pilgrimage), but had to return from Baghdad
Karam Singh began publishing the results of his research. The traditionalists schools opposed his critical and scientific approach, this left the young historian no patronage and he found himself in financial strain. In his effort to be economically independent, he put to use his knowledge of ayurvedic (indigenous Indian) system of medicine and opened an apothecary’s shop, Sanyasi Ashram, at Sargodha. In 1910 one of his friends, Kavala Singh, took him to Patiala where with the help of Sardar (later Sir) Joginder Singh, then home minister of that state, was appointed state historian. He later wrote a biography of Baba Ala singh (1692-1765), the founder of Patiala state, and also prepared Punjabi readers for school children. In 1921-22 he took on lease fairly wide tract of land in Noya gaon in Nanital district of Uttar Pradesh where he experimented farming with the help of modern mechanical implements, but not at the cost of his research. He continued visiting public libraries at distant places such as Patiala, Budaun, Darbhangra, Aligarh and Calcutta, and took extensive notes from books and manuscripts bearing on Sikh history. A large number of these notes were published in Phulwari, a Punjabi journal, during 1926-1930. Singh edited the Sikh Itihas magazine edition of January 1930. On 22 December 1929, at a meeting held at Akal Takht, Amritsar established the Sikh Historical Society of which Karam singh historian (epithet popularly suffixed to his name) had been appointed secretary. At the same time the management of Khalsa College, Amritsar planned to set up a department of historical search under Karam singh historian. But he was taken ill with tuberculosis. In August 1930 he had a severe attack of malaria. He was removed from Naya gaon to Tarn Taran for treatment, but an attack of pneumonia soon after soon after reaching there hastened the end which came on September 1930. A work which marked a turning point in Sikh historiography and which is typically illustrative of Karam Singh's methods of analysis was his kattak ki visakh (n.d., republished, Patiala, 1912) in which he subjects the Janam sakhi materials to critical scrutiny and arrives at the conclusion that Guru Nanak Dev ji was born in the month of baisakh (April) and not, as not as traditionally believed, in kattak (October-November). Among his other published works besides numerous articles in phulwari are jivan britant banda bahadar (1907), jiwan srimati bibi sada kaur (1907), Jiwan britant maharaja ala singh (n.d., republished tarn Taran, 1918), bib harnam kaur (1907), Kes ati sikhi, Gurpurb nirnaya, Chitthian te prastav (1923), Banda kaun si and Amar khalsa (1932).The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak committee has brought out a collection of his works under the title Karam singh historian di itihasik khoj.

FAMILY
His father Sardar Jhanda singh worked as a tradesman besides being a Daffadar (Sergeant).
Singh was married three times. First he married to a woman of the village of Bhakna in Amritsar district of Punjab.. He had no children with his first spouse. He was then married to a woman of the village of Bohona near Moga in Punjab. They had three children. He was then married to Mata Prem kaur, a lady of the village of Maksoodra in Ludhiana district of Punjab, She died in 1926 leaving behind four sons.

A DETERMINED GENIUS
He was the sage of Punjab in his era. Blessed with power of doing untiring hard work, power of bearing all woes, and power of having a firm determination of serving his community. This reason that the renowned people of Punjab like Dhani Ram Chatrik,Bhai Veer singh,Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, Bhai Jodha Singh, Sardar Hira singh Dard, Sardar Jawala singh and the list goes abiding gave him tribute in the karam singh number fulwari (october 1930) . He once said “I have never ever considered the errors in my writings. Making my writings impressive and enriched with vocabulary is a talk of free time but my objective in life is to make a clear road of Sikh history in front of my readers. I am indulged in agriculture from dawn to dusk and after this to do language mistakes in my writings is a not a big deal.”
This reveals his virtue of humility that even after such good writings and his back breaking hard work he was so down to earth. Even today readers appreciate his work and many have followed his spontaneous style of writing. He has been known for his way of writing articles after the release of book Amar Khalsa. Worked as a historian, as a producer of ayurvedic medicine, as a painter, as an agriculturist where he produced new types of seeds he died at a very early age of 46 years but left behind immortal imprints in the people of the Punjab. Sikh community will always realize the absence of such a great devotee.

PUNJABI STORY WRITERS-1

KARTAR SINGH DUGGAL

DISTINGUISHED PUNJABIS-1

Sirdar PARTAP SINGH KAIRON

Partap singh Kairon was a political leader of wide influence and chief minister of the Punjab from 1956 to 1964, was born on 1 October 1901 in the village of Kairon, in Amritsar district of the Punjab, in a farming family of modest means. His father Nihal Singh, who had been active in the Singh Sabha movement, was a pioneer of women's education and had founded in his village a Sikh school for girls. When still a student of the Khalsa College at Amritsar, Partap Singh left home for the United States of America. There he had to earn his own way by working on farms and in factories. He eventually took a Master's degree in political science at the University of Michigan. He simultaneously concerned himself with the problems of Indian freedom and worked with groups determined to advance independence, if necessary by revolutionary activities.Partap Singh was deeply influenced by the American way of life. Mile upon mile of oranges, grapes and peaches he saw in California planted in his mind the vision of a fruit-laden Punjab. He believed that affluence on farms was within reach of the Punjabi villager only if he had an independent and vital government. Partap Singh evolved a pragmatic, determined approach to political, economic and social issues. Returning to India in 1929, Partap Singh started from Amritsar a weekly paper in English, The New Era, the first issue appearing on 13 April 1931. But he soon entered active politics and closed down the paper. He joined the Shiromani Akali Dal, party of Sikh activists. He was also a member of the Indian National Congress, the main all-India party associated with the independence movement. As a Congress worker he was jailed in 1932 for five years for participating in the Civil disobedience movement. In 1937, he entered the Punjab Legislative Assembly as an Akali nominee, defeating the Congress candidate, Baba Gurdit Singh of Sarhali. He was general secretary of the Punjab Provincial Congress Committee from 1941 to 1946, a period of acute crisis in the freedom struggle. He went to jail again in the 1942 Quit India movement. He was president of the Punjab Congress from 1950-52; a member of the Central (All-India) Working Committee from 1945, and was elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946.  Kairon dressed up as Akali With the achievement of Indian  independence in 1947, the  Congress chose Partap Singh  to turn his faith and influence to  the construction of the new  Punjab. He held office in the  elected state government continuously  from 1947 to 1949 and from 1952 to 1964. First as development  minister and then as chief minister, Partap Singh Kairon led the  Punjab in all-round progress and change. Much of his work in the government was concerned with vital details, the removal of  hurdles, the creation of opportunities, and the psychology  and will for work, and the belief in change.Several of his  programmes carried the mark of his individuality. He was  associated with relief and rehabilitation, following the  mass movement in 1947 of millions of refugees from  Pakistan. Over three million people were in a brief  period reestablished in the Punjab in new homes and  often in new avocations. Partap Singh took up the  consolidation of land holdings, which was made  compulsory by law, and by completing the operation  at high speed laid the base on which was founded  the spurt in production on farms in the 1960's. He  belonged to, and was of, the Punjab village which  ensured for him strong mass backing. He  experimented, worked,tried everything that  was new and possible. He became the tornado  round which the new and the old clashed in  contradiction  and friction, and yet merged briefly and decisively  in action, He certainly changed the administrativ e structure and methods of decision-making  inherited from the British system. In 1964, following the report of the commission  of enquiry which had exonerated him of the bulk of the allegations made against him by his  political adversaries, Partap Singh Kairon resigned his position as chief minister of the  Punjab. On 6 February 1965, he was assassinated as his car coming from Delhi  was waylaid near the village of Rasoi on the  main highway from Delhi to Amritsar. BIBLIOGRAPHy Copyright © Harbans Singh  "The encyclopedia of Sikhism."

LITERARY GIANTS-1

Babu Devaki Nandan Khatri

            
Devaki Nandan Khatri (1861-1913) was the first author of mystery novels in Hindi. He wrote Chandrakanta, Chandrakanta Santati, Kajar ki Kothari, Narendra-Mohini, Kusum Kumari,Virendra Veer, Gupt Godna, Katora Bhar Khoon and Bhootnath. He is also known as Babu Devakinandan Khatri. Bhootnath was incomplete and completed by his son, Durga Prasad Khatri, who also wrote the concluding volumes of Bhootnath saga as Rohtasmath

Khatri was born at Samastipur, Bihar. After his earlier education he moved to Tekari Estate in Gaya. He became an employee of the Raja of Benares. He started a printing press called "Lahari" and started a Hindi monthly, "Sudarshan", in 1898. There is also a book shop with the name Lahari Book Depot. Lahari Press is situated at Ram Katora Road, near Ram Katora Crossing, Varanasi, India. Durga Prasad Khatri's son, Kamlapati Khatri, and grandson "Sonny". The various works of Khatri and his son are still published by Lahari Press.

Khatri made a strong contribution to the learning of the Hindi language by the people of the times. People were so mesmerised by the works Chandrakanta, Chandrakanta Santiti andBhootnath that they started to learn Hindi just to be able to read the works. Khatri did not write any work at one go and then publish the same. He used to write "bayaans" - chapters - on the run from the British and these were published and distributed widely. People would enthusiastically await the new "bayaans" and congregate around those who could read Hindi to hear the latest exploits in the continuing saga.

An AIYYAR (male) or AIYARRA (female) is a spy, in the service of a king, who specializes in making disguises. A TILISM is a kind of maze containing many secret locations, passages and prisons. Words like these were contributed to the Hindi language by the popular novels by Khatri, the first author of mystery novels in Hindi.

Khatri had a home called Khatri Haveli in Ramapura, Varanasi. He was living in Musakhand area when he was writing Chandrakanta.

PROMINENT PEOPLE: Punjabi Poetess-1

A Brief Autobiography

I was born in Pothohar, Rawalpindi - now in Pakistan. My grandfather was the prime minister of Sir Baba Gurbaksh Singh Ji - a descendent in the lineage of Guru Nanak. It was a period of turmoil and my mother used to say that hoards of Muslims used to come to our village 'Kallar'(near Rawalpindi) shouting 'Ali, Ali' and we used to hide wherever we could. The Muslims used to take girls forcibly from the villages.

I initially studied in 'Kallar 'and then moved to Rawalpindi where I continued with my studies till the sixth standard, after which we came to Lahore. My two sisters and I joined a school there but unfortunately I fell sick and could not complete my studies although my mother wanted me to go to college and graduate but her and my dreams were further shattered as in a couple of years I was married off to Dr. Gopal Singh Puri who was a PhD in philosophy. He got a scholarship to do his second PhD in botany to go to London in 1945, just after the Second World War. I joined him in 1946.
In those days there was no air transport available for the public - the air service was only for the armed forces, so I came to England in a steam ship 'Princess of Scotland'. In this ship I reached Liverpool where my husband welcomed me. While passing through the streets of Liverpool I noticed complete serenity and people minding their own business. After the hustle bustle of India this came as a complete surprise to me and a thought came to my mind, "Is this England?" - what a contrast!
That very day we reached London in a mail train and went straight to a bed-sit which my husband had rented. It was not easy even in those times to rent a place by an Indian and that also a turbaned one, but still the grace of the Maharajas was etched in the minds of Londoners and we were treated with respect. There was no question of racism in them days. In fact we were given preferential treatment in some stores during the 'Rationing days' while buying groceries or vegetables, which was indeed an honour in those days.
Being a newly wed bride, I was a very shy girl and let alone speak in English even to speak in my own mother language, Punjabi, was a matter of concern. But my husband never ever made any comments on it and even when some distinguished guests would arrive and I was my own shy self, he would never put me down, make any derogatory remarks or furthermore ask me to attend any English classes. He was a very patient and an understanding man.
My son was born in England and the three of us went to India in 1950. After the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, nearly all of our relatives had migrated to India and were living in different parts of Punjab - a time of great suffering.
My husband got a job in Dehradun as a Conservative Forest Officer and we breathed a sigh of relief. Then we went to Pune where my husband got a job as a director of Botanical Survey of India and it was here that my literary pursuits began to take shape. I started to write and wrote a few small articles, which when my husband read, asked me to send them to Prof. Mohan Singh in Jullundur to be printed in his magazine 'Panj Dariya'. I was very sceptic about all this that my immature writing would be accepted by such a learned person. But to my surprise a letter was received after some time praising my work and professor sahib asking for more similar writing which was going to be used in the 'Nari Sansar' column of the magazine. The encouragement given by a great scholar like Prof. Mohan Singh was the beginning of my literary journey.
To date I have written thirty seven books, performed the role of an agony aunt, a referring sexologist, novelist and written poetry and held poetical symposiums, my most memorable being with Shiv Kumar Batalvi. My articles have been printed in various English and Punjabi magazines and I have been broadcasting and debating various issues on TV and the radio mediums.
I owe all my achievements to the efforts of my esteemed husband and mentor who encouraged and helped me in my all ventures - to him I am sincerely indebted and pray for his blessed soul.

Mrs. Kailashpuri, now in her seventies is a very charming personality. A person with immense wisdom in human psychology and various other subjects belies her academic knowledge to standard sixth. Her achievements in the literary and the human world are an example in itself. A lovely person who is sought after by the media whenever the question of 'women 'is raised. (Kanwal)
I am proud to present a fraction of her model life.
She has been decorated with the following awards:
Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid, Literary Award 1982
Shiromaini Sahitkar Award - Bhasha Vibhag 1989.
Shiromani Award - Institute of Sikh Studies, Delhi 1990.
Personality of the Year Award, Khalsa College, London 1991
Woman of Achievement Award 1999.
Millennium Woman Award. Mayor of Ealing 1999.
Ambassador for Peace- Women's Federation for World Peace 2001
All national Papers have interviewed and published Columns in their papers.
Many times attended and presented papers in International Conferences in Korea, Japan, Americas, Cairo, United Kingdom and many Indian Universities.

Kailash Puri with Shiv Kumar Batalvi with the Mayor of Liverpool when Shiv visited UK. Her husband Dr. Puri stands behind her.

Kailash Puri on the mike itntroducing the versatile Shiv Kumar Batalvi in a Poetical Symposium held in his honour. Kailash Puri and her husband were responsible for Shiv's visit to UK. They have been know to entertain many other artistes from the sub continent