Beyond Boundaries

“Paldi is a symbol of tolerance,pluralism and multi-culturalism,a dream of being free yet bound in tradition,” Spencer addressed the students. The novel lives the great Sikh diaspora dream in Paldi,founded in the beginning of the 20th century and becomes the West’s fascination with Indian mysticism. The novel is based on this mutual cultural curiosity,which forms the leitmotif and crux of Paldi. “It’s important to me because of the friendship between two women from different cultures,for the successful meeting of cultures,the ability to imagine and create and to go beyond the mundane,” said Kathy,as the engrossed students listened on.

The novel also bears experiences from Kathy’s life. As a child,her interactions with the Sikh children from the Canadian Paldi and her country’s openness to multi-culturalism formed the basis of her understanding. The migrants’ struggle to keep up with the pace of the West,yet trying to cling on to their tradition; the pronounced gap between India-born and Canada-born Indo-Canadians is also addressed in the book. Prabhjot is all for Western traditions and Ella,though believing in her culture,aspires for the Eastern culture. “Ella finds her culture too cold and seeks warmth and mysticism in Punjab’s culture. But,what’s warmth for Ella is Prabhjot’s shackles and in the coldness of Ella’s culture,she seeks her freedom,” explained the author as Mitul Dikshit,the school’s director pitched in,“Unlocking creativity is about finding the magical in the ordinary.”