Inheritance of loss

There's no armour against fate and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

KL Zakir8217;s 8216;Akhri Adhyay8217; is a touching take on AIDS orphans

There8217;s no armour against fate and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIDS. Millions of lives are being lost to what health workers term as an epidemic around the world. But it8217;s not the physiological but a humane aspect of AIDS that renowned Urdu writer and scholar KL Zakir has shared in his new novel, Akhri Adhyay, which will be released on World AIDS Day December 1 at the India Habitat Centre. 8220;This is the first novel on AIDS orphans in the sub-continent, as no one has done fictional work on this subject,8221; it took Zakir as long as eight years to complete Akhri Adhyay, which involved extensive research, consultations with several doctors and travelling. While the idea was in Zakir8217;s head and heart for a long time, a conference on AIDS orphans, Children On the Brink, held in Africa in 2002 got his plot and characters in place. 8220;I also read many first-hand accounts of people suffering from AIDS, including a young African woman whose story was heart-rending,8221; recalls Zakir, who feels this is an issue that needs not only the attention of the government and health agencies, but involvement of common people who can spread awareness about AIDS and also clear many misconceptions. 8220;I travelled to the interiors of Punjab, Africa, America to get a true picture of the suffering of people and wanted to drive home the message that unprotected sex is not the only cause of AIDS, but many innocent people lose their life because of unsafe blood transfusions. We cannot alienate victims of AIDS,8221; rues Zakir.

The novel, which has been published in Urdu by Penguin is set in Chandigarh, with the main characters who are friends, passing out from Panjab University and one getting into the civil services and the other working with a multi-national in Mohali. 8220;An accident in Kanpur lands the friend of the civil servant in hospital and he has to go through a blood transfusion. The blood is AIDS infected and his wife too is infected and both know nothing about it, until after the birth of their son complications arise and their life is shattered. Both husband and wife pass away in a matter of few years and their son is left in the care of the civil servant friend,8221; Zakir tells the touching story. 8220;The friend has a daughter and the boy is brought up as a son and it8217;s when the boy is in MA that they discover that he too is suffering from AIDS and passes away. It8217;s a shock that the family just can8217;t to come in terms with and the daughter and her friend, a Kashmiri refugee, decide to join the movement against AIDS, become volunteers and dedicate themselves to the cause,8221; Zakir begins the novel with the last chapter 8212; father and daughter returning from Kashmir after immersing the ashes of the young boy and the novel continuing in flashback8230;

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