*** Special Feature - March 2015 ***
About the Author
She
was ten when she was caught reading in the bathroom late into the night. Her mother banned her from reading ‘story
books’ for a whole month. She decided if she couldn’t read, she’d write her own
stories. That night in a naval apartment in the then city of Bombay, Veena
Nagpal’s passion for writing was born.
She
now lives in a small house with her husband and lots of plants in a suburb of
New Delhi.
The
Uncommon Memories of Zeenat Qureishi is Veena’s third novel to be published.
She has also penned four books for children and numerous short stories. Her two previous novels are, Karmayogi (Jaico) and
Compulsion (Sterling).
Her
four children’s books are, Adventures in Sapace and Time Travellers (IBH),
Smuggler’s Isle (Hemkunt), Tenderella and the FoFs (EEP) and Garbie Garbyhog –
The Worm That Wanted To Fly (EEP).
Contact the Author
Fun Facts about the Author
ELEPHANTS AT SEA
That’s right - at sea. There was an occasion when these land lubbers had to sail the seven seas and I was their shipmate.
It was sometime in the 1980s. I had accompanied my naval husband on one of his sojourns in a merchant naval ship. Part of the cargo the
ship was carrying back to then Madras was the Gemini Circus – the trapeze artists, the jokers and yep, the animals too. Lions, bears,
elephants…
It was at Kuala Lumpur that the Circus embarked our ship - an experience I never forget. The loading of the other animals was relatively
simpler – their cages just had to lifted by cranes like any other container, but elephants were a different matter altogether.
Each elephant had to be cajoled by his mahout and amidst terrified screams, uncontrolled tears, shit and urine, each one had to be harnessed
and hoisted on to the ship’s deck. Their panic stricken eyes are still a vivid memory as they trumpeted wildly and ran to the wall bounding
the jetty, banging their head against it, trying to find some way out of the terrifying situation. There was none. The mahout’s stick led them
into the harness. The fight went out of them the moment they found themselves hoisted by the crane, hanging in the air. Then they were
absolutely still – until unharnessed on the ship’s deck when they made another attempt at protest, a feeble one this time because one foot
had quickly been chained to the deck.
I don’t think I ever wanted to see a circus ever again.
About the Book
Two young cousins hell-bent on restoring Muslim glory, even if it means importing terror. An incendiary Hindu religious leader with one mantra, 'Break-mosques, build- temples.'
Zeenat Qureishi has one question, "What's my name? Why can't you tell me my name?"
Traumatized in the aftermath of the London Tube bomb- ing, the phobic 20-year-old comes to India. Long before Zeenat was born, the eldest Qureishi brother, his wife, and six-year-old daughter Zainab were murdered.
Zeenat's family believed the Mehras, their Hindu family friends, responsible and the friendship turned sour. Wild and impetuous Zeenat promptly falls in love with Ajay Mehra. Faced with proof that he was involved in the demolition of a mosque, she scorns him.
Disturbed, Zeenat undergoes regression therapy in an atmosphere of paranoia and uncovers memories so powerful that she can project them. Communal bitterness that has simmered for centuries threatens to explode around her and Zeenat tries to find answer in the past that will help her understand and heal the present.
Book Trailer
Find the Book
Goodreads * Amazon.com * Amazon.in * Flipkart
First Giveaway
One Signed Copy of the book to a lucky Indian Resident
Second Giveaway
Submit a Video clip
(Not more than 2 minute)
The reader should say what he/she liked about the book and should read aloud your favorite quote from of the book.
Entrants must:
1.‘Like’ the Uncommon Memories Facebook page
2. Post their video clip on the Uncommon Memories Facebook page and
3. Send a copy to veena.nagpal@rediffmail.com.
All submitted material will become the property of the Author who may use it for publicity purposes.
The Entry that receives the maximum ‘Likes’ (by 31st March) will receive the
PRIZE of a £20 Amazon Gift Coupon from the Author.
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