First Person

Born in Banbhaura village in Malerkotla, Mohan Bhandari came to the city in 1959 as a clerk in the Punjab Education Department. And very ...

Born in Banbhaura village in Malerkotla, Mohan Bhandari came to the city in 1959 as a clerk in the Punjab Education Department. And very soon he made his strong presence felt at a very young age with his short stories in Punjabi. And today after retiring from the department at a very good position he is a satisfied and complacent man. His high literary standards got him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi award for his anthology of short stories called, Moon di Akh.

So how does he feel about the award? 8220;It has been a long and tough journey. The award makes me feel good, but what is more important to me is that people read my work and recognise it also8221; he says shyly.

So what are his writings all about and what inspires him to write? 8220;Life has been my inspiration and is in itself my guru. I have seen so much in life that I want it to express it through my writing.8221;

8220;I was born in a lower middle class home and you can imagine the problems associated with it. My father expired when I was just eleven and it was a struggle for survival for me and my family. But what amazes me is the spirit of man, and his power of struggle to exist. It is this struggle, pains, existence that is reflected in my works.8221; says Bhandari.

He has described the nine to five routine of office life which has its shades of black and white very sensitively in his book Baraf Latarhe Rukh. He has also written a lot about the turbulent decade of violence in Punjab and also the partition which is very close to his heart. 8220;I saw the horrors of partition with my own eyes and felt it go deep down my soul8221; Bhandari remembers.

8220;I have tackled the hard times of violence in Punjab attempted, in vain, to break the age-old traditional Hindu Sikh ties in acclaimed stories like Paarh, Saanjh and the Kabootar. I am an optimist and believe that violence cannot separate people. The common must meet like water does. At least that is what I hope.8221;

8220;My stories are human8217;, as I have fought for survival all my life and have succeeded and have been satisfied. Satisfied because I have been honest, and true to myself and that has expressed itself in my works. I am genuine and have never worn a mask. And this is what gives force to my writings and makes it convincing8221; Bhandari asserts.

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And what does he have to say about the status of Punjabi literature? 8220;I know that the status is very discouraging. Western influence, vested political interests in some cases the onslaught of the media are responsible for the deteriorating standards. But I believe it is a challenge to keep our culture alive. I believe that what one can express in one8217;s mother tongue one cannot do it in a foreign language.8221;

And what about his prize winning collection Moon Di Akh all about? 8220; It is a collection of seven stories which tackles tragedies of Punjab, riots in Delhi etc. Some people felt that when the period has ended what is the relevance of such writing. But I feel that the basic human values and feeling that is expressed in the literature of movement can never be irrelevant. Hs the pain of partition gone irrelevant?8221; So what are his plans about the future? Does he plan to continue writing? 8220;Yes! The most painful period in a writer8217;s life is when he cannot write. I will continue to write and hope to begin my autobiography soon8221; says Bhandari with a never die attitude.

Parul

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