A conversation with Kamlesh Chauhan-By Dr. Parvin D. Syal
“There is a perception, particularly in India, that the streets in the U.S. are paved with gold,” maintains Kamlesh Chauhan, in a recent conversation with me, “but when reality bites, the truth is rather disturbing.” Kamlesh was talking about her novel in Hindi, “Saat Samundar Paar”, which was recently published by Unistar Publications of Chandigarh, India. The publication caused a stir in Indian literary circles for its innovative and bold approach in storytelling. The novel grips the reader from the very first sentence which finds Sundari, the protagonist, seated in front of a mirror, studying the crags of an ageing face, searching for meaning in a life spanning decades across three continents. And through her reminiscence is told the story of different characters of different generations – in India, Britain, Canada and the U.S. Kamlesh maintains that this is not an autobiographical novel, but is inspired by numerous encounters she had with people whose anecdotal stories and vigne