Prembabu sharma
In a rare journey down the memory lane, Indians got a glimpse not only of the life and times of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, but also that of India’s own paradise on earth – Kashmir- as it was in the early years after the country’s independence.
Rare photographs of one of the world’s tallest statesmen has been brought to life in the book “Nehru’s Kashmir” by lensman Sati Sahni published by Wisdom Tree. The book, which has a captivating montage of this charismatic world leader, was released earlier in the week by Dr. Farooq Abdullah – Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy and son of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah, and Dr Karan Singh, Sadr-i-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir from 1949 right up to Nehru’s passing away on 27 May 1964.
India’s first Prime Minister was indisputably the most cosmopolitan leader that the country has had. Though a Kashmiri by ancestry, he was born in Allahabad, and went on to win the hearts of Indians all over the country, second only to Mahatma Gandhi.
Shobit Arya, Founder & Publisher of Wisdom Tree said, “Nehru’s Kashmir is more than a fascinating glimpse into the life of India’s historical events and the first Prime Minister—it is a reminder to us about what Kashmir was and can be—the most scenic and joyful place on earth.” He also thanked Mrs. Prem Sahni, wife of Mr. Sati Sahni for bringing back those invaluable pictures back from Kashmir and sharing with us.
Dr Singh who was awarded Padma Vibhushan Award (2005) described Sati Sahni as a true journalist and photographer, adding “Nehru’s Kashmir reminds him of the days when thousands of people used to gather at Lal Chowk in order to hear one of the greatest political gurus of the century Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the valley echoed with slogan – Hindustan Zindabad”. Dr Singh – who himself hails from this northern state – points out in a Foreword to the book, ‘Nehru loved Kashmir perhaps even more than his hometown Allahabad. He was captivated by its natural beauty and therefore, welcomed any opportunity to visit the Valley.’
Dr Abdullah was all praise for Shobhit Arya, Publisher of Wisdom Tree, for taking the initiative and for depicting the tenderness Jawaharlal had for Kashmir. According to him, the book is a true representation of Nehru’s love to Kashmir.
Mr Navin Sahni, son of Sati Sahni, said his father was an eminent social activist who actively participated in the Quit India movement and was also the Founder member of the Press Council Of India (J & K). Mr Navin Sahni talked about the fabulous collection of over 500,000 photographs of Jawaharlal Nehru‘s visits to Kashmir in his possession and expressed the hope that Wisdom Tree would come with more books of this kind.
Sahni has captured the many moods of Nehru, and his love affair with Kashmir and its people. The book depicts Nehru in Kashmir in the years during his Prime Ministership, capturing moving, powerful and amusing moments, many of them never seen before.love affair with Kashmir and its people.
Sati Sahni (Sat Paul Sahni) was educated at Punjab University, Lahore. He is one of the few multimedia journalists to have handled, with equal facility, the medium of print, radio, TV and photo journalism. For eight years, Sahni was Director General of Information, Publicity Public Relations and Tourism Publicity, Jammu and Kashmir.
Starting in 1944, Sahni has taken and preserved more than two hundred thousand photographs—virtually a visual record of the history and landscape—of Jammu and Kashmir. The author of four books, he has also participated in many national and international exhibitions. Sahni has received several awards for his outstanding work, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Press Club (2007), the Gandhi Award (2006) and the International Rotary Outstanding Member Award (1980).
About Wisdom Tree:
Wisdom Tree is an independent Indian publishing organisation that believes in creating books which are Indian in essence and global in appeal. For Wisdom Tree publishing is a passion and the process of it an art.
Wisdom Tree’s books reach across the globe having been translated into several foreign languages and being sold in all the English speaking countries of the world. Eminent and acclaimed writers who have chosen Wisdom Tree to showcase their work include Karan Thapar, Shubha Mudgal, Kapila Vatsyayan, Amit Dasgupta, Ashwani Lohani, Suresh Oberoi, Jaya Jaitly, Bharat Thakur, Sonal Mansingh and H.Y. Sharadaprasad among others.
