Pam Handa Nee Kochhar

Why I write
Ever since I was a little girl (now I am 70), I loved writing, especially poems. My subjects were varied and my work contained thoughts on any and every subject. I have lived amidst a multicultural milieu all my life as well as traveled extensively. Most people I met on the train of life did not know much about India and bombarded me with a host of questions.

One day it occurred to me that why not satisfy their curiosity and enlighten them through a book. This brought about the inception of my novel, Of Kismet and Karma. In its pages I decided to share my thoughts about the three cultures I was familiar with- The Indian, English and African. Since my aim was also to find similarities and differences, in my novel as well as poems, I try to throw light on the diversity of our beautiful world and drive home the fact that though we all differ in looks and ideologies, the color of blood is always red!

Once the seed was sown, I soon realized that cultural explanations on their own can be sometimes boring so in order to enrich my narrative, I decided to spice my work with real life happenings and personal experiences. Though most of my characters are drawn from the people I have come across in my wanderings, there are fictional people and incidents too. The result: a kind of memoir which is a blend of fact and fiction.

To be quite honest, ours is now a modern global village with so much interaction between diverse peoples of the world. I am sure readers will be able to take away much in the form of knowledge about varied customs and traditions as well as the commonality of humanity.”

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1S6Ajve

An Enigma
What is this marvel we humans call life?
What is this wonder that motivates and drives?
Is it simply an inevitable journey we all must tread
Or is it a transient dream to which we mortals are wed?
Is it an unreal, unpredictable hallucination
Or is it a figment of the human imagination?
Is it the water bubble in scriptures we’ve read,
That bursts in time and we are finally dead?
Why for some does it brings only joy not sorrow,
While for others does it bring nothing but horror?
Why do a chosen few its brilliant hues enjoy?
Why do some life’s disappointments destroy?
Why can’t loved ones forever live happily together?
Why can’t they forever survive both fair and stormy weather?
These questions and many more tease my fertile brain,
Often bringing bewilderment but sometimes creating pain.
I often ponder on where and how it all begins;
I often ruminate on why and when it ends.
If life is merely a dream that temporarily lasts,
Why worry about the grim shadows on us it casts?
Why blame destiny for giving its preferred shot?
Why not soak in the pleasures that fall to our lot?
Methinks life is an enigma no one can ever fathom ,
Such strange puzzles no intellect can ever solve them.

Thank you Jean. Glad you enjoyed the read.

Pam Handa's OF KISMET AND KARMA, intersperses her autobiography with pauses for explanations of Indian customs, philosophy, and religions, providing deeper understanding of her life perspectives. The importance of strong family connections is a central theme. There was special fascination for me in her description of her life in Chandigarh, a city where I was a temporary resident. We shared the same paths, though not at the same time. We also shared similar responses as we settled in new countries: mine to India, hers to Ghana and then England. OF KISMET AND KARMA was a fascinating read for me. Jean Durgin Harlan, author of LANDING RIGHT SIDE UP IN NEHRU'S INDIA.