Inside the authors head,close to their thoughts and processes,you search for new meanings,read between the lines,as creators not only read passages from their creations,but share the intimate and intrinsic process of writing and get between the covers. Face-to-face with authors at book reading sessions,words come easy,as do images,emotions,characters,influences and the agony and ecstasy of it all,as we experienced in the last two-three months,which saw many interesting book launches and absorbing sessions with authors. Mukul Deva read passages from his latest book Salim Must Die at Browser,Githa Hariharan and Manjula Padmanabhan discussed their works Fugitive Histories and Escape,at Chandigarh Arts and Heritage Festival,Aatish Taseer was here to read excerpts from Stranger to History: A Sons Journey Through Islamic Lands at Capital Book Depot and apart from reading,had an interactive question and answer session with the audience,as did Madhu Trehan,here to share her labour of love,Prism Me a Lie,Tell Me a Truth,Tehelka as a Metaphor. Going a step further,The Hamsa Yoga Sangh,screened a documentary Wings to Freedom,about Himalayan Master Yograj Siddhanaths journey into the Himalayas in his quest to meet Mahavatar Shiva Goraksha Babaji and also a conversation about Yogirajs autobiographical book,Wings to Freedom at Browser. Apart from bookshops,play,poetry and story-reading sessions are an integral part of the monthly schedule of the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi,Sangeet Natak Akademi,local libraries and its an interaction thats starting to attract people across ages.
Talking of which,author Mukul Deva remarked how such interfaces give instant feedback to authors about their book,its impact,reach and food for thought for future projects. It was a pleasant surprise to have so many women ask me questions and a deep interest and understanding of my books,which essentially deal with terror and terrorism, Mukul appreciates publishers policy of not restricting launches to only metros.
Book reading sessions for Manju Jaidka,Chairperson,Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi,is a way of getting people together in a meaningful manner,sharing ideas and initiating critical debates on whats on in the literary world. There is a connect,which places a variety of people on the same platform,there is dialogue,cross-flow of ideas and the trick is to make sessions short and interactive,leaving the audience clamouring for more, Manju is all set for Gathering of Nightingales,a poetry reading evening on Friday.
Pankaj P Singh of Browser believes in experimenting with ideas and genres,making the interface spontaneous. There are many proactive individuals initiating the process in the city and as far as audience goes,its a mixed bag. For authors and publishers,the publicity works well,but if it makes any numerical difference in sales,I have my doubts, Singh hopes to soon have something on similar lines for children.
A sea of thoughts and questions enveloped Gursheek Kaur as she sat engrossed listening to Manjula Padmanabhan reading from her novel Escape. For Kaur,who teaches at SGGS it was a unique experience,as if reading the authors mind. The pauses,stress on sentences,choice of paragraphs,all of it led to feeling the book and its texture and also made me analyze where its all coming from,apart from it being an exciting experience to see the face behind the book, smiles Kaur.
Giving readers a choice of genres,relaxed ambience to lend an ear to the author,Ajay of Capital Book Depot who invited Aatish Taseer and Madhu Trehan recently,is happy with the response and involvement of the audience. Many have not read the book that is being discussed and this many a time prompts them to pick it and also gives authors publicity, Ajay adds many authors go behind the scenes and thats a fascinating process for all.
The third dimension in the creative process is paramount,Kamal Tewari emphasises. The creator and his creativity are for the audience and such reading sessions are an appreciation of aesthetics. In play-reading, contact between the dramatist and actors and sharing the process of writing,lead to a better performance,as it helps the dramatic content to emerge, and in poetry,the reading makes the audience find the story between verses…
Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India.
Professional Profile
Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions.
Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025)
Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture:
1. Public Health & PGIMER
"PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx.
"Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare.
"Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area.
2. Education & Institutional Governance
"Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms.
"Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking.
3. Art, Culture & Heritage
"Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status.
"Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful."
Signature Style
Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions.
X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More
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