About this ebook
At the onset, the author wishes to clarify that it is not his intent to pass judgment on the American life or culture. The story described in this book is a story of only one of the thousands of Gujarati families settled in America. It is not the author's intent to imply that all Indian American families have similar problems. This story is based on real life events. The author spent a few months in the middle of the subject family to understand their pain and compulsions in order to write this book. He has made sincere efforts to avoid embellishments and exaggeration. America's capitalistic system and open democracy have definitely worked well for Gujarati and other Indian communities. While acknowledging their material success, the larger question is, those who breath and live the Indian sanskar, are they spiritually thriving or falling behind? The author leaves the answer to the discretion of the reader. The noted Gujarati Literature Rajnikumar Pandya was invited to America to write a story of two children of divorce and the corresponding hardship. The fate of a divorcing Gujarati couple in the nation of the dollar is very different. This is a story of green card complications, mountain of debt back in India, the influence of a very different American lifestyle and material calculations. This is a story of two innocent children caught in the web of divorce surrounded by fighting parents and conniving grandparents. The author thinks the main culprit of this story is not an individual, but possibly the “green card”. The story of the attempts to protect the children of divorce from the so-called green card fire, is this book – ‘Flowers in Flame’ or ‘Pushpadah’ in Gujarati. While reading this book, if the reader feels the pain of these children, hears their silent screams and sheds a drop of tear, the author will consider it a success. Ashok Thakkar Johns Creek, GA (USA)
At the onset, the author wishes to clarify that it is not his intent to pass judgment on the American life or culture. The story described in this book is a story of only one of the thousands of Gujarati families settled in America. It is not the author's intent to imply that all Indian American ...
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About the author
Rajnikumar Pandya, a multi-talented, versatile author was born in JETPUR ,Gujarat State of India on July 6, 1938. An Economics major from Gujarat University, Rajnikumar started his literary career in 1960. He left his job as a manager in a nationalized bank and took up full-time writing in 1989. So far he has published seven novels; twelve volumes of collected short stories; about a dozen anthologies of pen-portraits of known and unknown personalities and biographies of prominent people. One of his books is prescribed as a textbook in a postgraduate course in an Indian university. His published works include seven novels; six collections of short stories; three volumes of sociological epitaphs and two treatises on literature. Two of his books on Indian films and film music have been translated in English and Hindi Rajnikumar’s another expertise has been in the field of editing, digitizing and presenting ancient literature in modern media formats. These include ancient yet eternal Sanskrit plays “Meghdoot” and “Abhignyana Shakuntala” of the great poet Kalidasa, and a century old Gujarati magazines ‘Vismi Sadi’ (Twentieth Century) and ‘Prakriti’ (The Nature). Similarly, he has produced video documentaries on Juthika Ray, a famous singer of devotional songs and Poet-King Rusva Mazlumi. Rajnikumar has also produced video documentaries on the humanitarian work done by many voluntary organizations. As a journalist, Rajnikumar Pandya has written widely syndicated columns in Gujarati. Their excellence and impact on the society merited two state-level awards, which were given by the Government of Gujarat. Apart from that, Associations of Daily News Publications gave Rajnikumar two awards at different times. ‘Hari Om Ashram’ a human service charity and the 150-year old national English daily ‘The Statesman’ of Kolkata gave him their prestigious awards. In the field of literature, Rajnikumar has won top awards in all the five categories of Gujarati literature declared by Gujarat Sahitya Academy; a Gold Medal from ninety-year old Kumar Magazine; ‘Savita’ Gold Medal on two occasions; ‘Dhoomketu’ award for excellence in Gujarati literature as well as many other prestigious awards. Serious students of literature have written doctoral thesis on the literature of Rajnikumar as well as qualifying papers for M. Phil. Currently, two more postgraduate students are working on dissertation for Ph.D on Rajnikumar Pandya’s literature. Rajnikumar Pandya’s contribution in the field of television has also been significant. His novel ‘Kunti’ has been produced twice as Hindi serial on national TV. This docunovel ‘Flowers in Flames’ is also now under production as a Hindi serial. Famous movie personalities such as actress Asha Parekh; producer-director Govind Saraiya; Arvind Joshi; Satish Vyas and Nimesh Desai have produced many episodes and plays from Rajnikumar Pandya’s literature. In the year 2001, India’s premier performing arts institution, the National School of Drama, New Delhi staged a play on Rajnikumar Pandya’s short story in his presence. Music of that production was arranged by nationally famous composer, B.V. Karanth.
Rajnikumar Pandya, a multi-talented, versatile author was born in JETPUR ,Gujarat State of India on July 6, 1938. An Economics major from Gujarat University, Rajnikumar started his literary career in 1960. He left his job as a manager in a nationalized bank and took up full-time writing in 1989. ...
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