- Books & Novels
Literature
Navdeep comes from a family that has deep roots in Punjabi literature. His grandfather Nanak Singh was widely regarded as the Father of the Punjabi novel and wrote an astounding 55 books in his lifetime. Navdeep has translated four of his novels into English, published as The Watchmaker by Penguin India and as A Life Incomplete, Hymns in Blood, and A Game of Fire by Harper Collins. His translation of Khooni Vaisakhi, the epic ballad written by Nanak Singh after surviving the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, has received critical acclaim.
Khooni Vaisakhi: A Poem from the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, 1919
On 13 April 1919, twenty-two-year-old Nanak Singh witnessed the horrors of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, an experience that transformed his life forever. Surviving the massacre, he went on to write Khooni Vaisakhi, a powerful Punjabi poem condemning British rule and capturing the spirit of resistance and unity among Indians. Banned shortly after its publication in 1920, the poem was rediscovered decades later and translated into English by his grandson, Navdeep Suri.
Watchmaker, The
A moving tale of love, guilt and sacrifice, The Watchmaker follows Kedar, a young man whose new job unknowingly destroys another family’s future. As he tries to make amends, he finds himself caught between duty and forbidden love. Beautifully translated by Navdeep Suri, this timeless classic by Nanak Singh remains one of Punjabi literature’s most unforgettable stories.
Hymns in Blood
Set in the idyllic village of Chakri near Rawalpindi, Khoon de Sohile captures the warmth of a land where Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs once lived in harmony. But as the shadows of Partition loom large, Baba Bhana and his family are forced to leave behind the only home they have ever known. Poignant and deeply moving, this timeless novel is a haunting reminder of love, loss and the human cost of division.
A Game of Fire: The classic Punjabi novel, a sequel to Hymns in Blood
Set in the haunting aftermath of Partition-era Amritsar, A Game of Fire is a gripping tale of humanity, loss and resilience amidst one of history’s darkest chapters. Through Satnam Singh’s struggle to protect compassion in a city consumed by communal violence, the novel paints a deeply moving portrait of courage and survival. A powerful sequel to Hymns in Blood, this Punjabi classic by Navdeep Suri remains as relevant and unforgettable today as when it was first published in 1948.
A Life Incomplete
British agitations, are thoughts of going home to his wife. When he returns, he finds out that his wife has died, leaving behind their infant child. As Kuldeep’s world collapses around him, he negotiates the divergent pulls exerted by people around him: a holy man who advocates renunciation; his childhood friend Saroj, who has always loved him; and the tempestuous Prakash who hides an unsavoury past. Sahitya Akademi Award-winning author Nanak Singh draws on personal experiences to create this compelling portrait of Punjab in the 1920s. Originally published in Punjabi in 1940, Adh Kidhiya Phool is an intense meditation on the choices people make and the consequences these may have.
