"It was a wonderful experience interacting with you and appreciate the way you have planned and executed the whole publication process within the agreed timelines.”
Subrat SaurabhAuthor of Kuch Woh Pal
‘Price of Refuge’, the fifth volume in the fiction series ‘Hypocrisy & Reality’ furthers the journey of the protagonist into the world when he returns to his paternal relatives and finds to his dismay that his father is absolutely incapable of arranging a dwelling of his own. Also, he finds himself to be a mute subject to child abuse at the hands of none other than supposedly an elder cousin of his, the son of his so-called benefactors who provided refuge in their vacant house. That was the price paid by the child for the indolence and handicaps of an unworthy father for seeking shelter under the tutelage of so-called relatives. Not only this, his sisters were abused too one by one by the same elder cousin nonchalantly – a paedophile as he was. No refuge seemingly looking innocuous goes without some price to be paid either by self, spouse or one’s children.
'Videh' Arvind Kumar
'Videh' Arvind Kumar
In variegated genre he has composed as many as 24 books so far, of which, 14 are in English and 10 in Hindi. Among the Hindi books, there are 03 story anthologies (Anapadh Lipi; Paashaan Yug; Nisarg); 03 poetry anthologies (Aaart Gaan; Kaal Krandan; Ananubhoot Kaal); 01 drama (Ambedkar Smriti); 01 collection of select poetic pieces (Praarthanaa evam Praanaansh). Aside of this, he has compiled, commented, edited and got re-published the first epic of the Khadee Bolee Hindi, the Priya Pravaas; and a book entitled ‘Mahaamuni Vaalmeeki Rachit Itihaas: Raamaayan -- Uttar Kaand’ which presents in succinct prose form the ancient history of India as narrated in the most ancient epic.
As regards English oeuvre of Videh, he has so far published 6 volumes of the long fiction series ‘Hypocrisy & Reality’ (Beyond the Pale; Wilderness of Literacy; Advent of Time; Devoid of Shelter; Price of Refuge; Hatred towards Love) with yet more planned to come. Besides, 01 Comedietta (Chambellion); 01 Short Story collection (Brainy Beasts); 01 Poetry anthology (Bewailing Muse); 01 Drama (Self-styled Sovereign, the Judiciary); 01 book based on the study of mythological volume ‘Shiv Puraan’ in the present day context (Procreation, the Adorable); 01 commentary book on the first novel – ‘A Pale View of the Hills’ -- of the 2017 Nobel Literature laureate, Kazuo Ishiguro (Nagasaki: Bomb & Aftermath) are other books.
Not only an original writer as well as thinker, but also a capable and versatile translator is Videh inasmuch as he has translated in English free verse form 02 Hindi poetry anthologies, viz. ‘Hatyaaree Sadee Mein Jeevan Kee Khoj’ of ‘Nirvikaar’ Mukesh Kumar, and ‘Adrishya Kaa Yathaarth’ of ‘Ashwaghosh’ Omprakash Sharma with the titles of the books being seriatim as ‘Search for Life’ and ‘Reality of Invisible’.
As a latest in his laurels, Videh has been honoured with their highest honour ‘Shubham Ratna’ by the institution ‘Shubham Sahitya, Kalaa Evam Sanskriti Sansthaan’ on the occasion of Hindi Divas, i.e. on 14th September, 2024.
