LITERATI INVITES YOU TO A BOOK READING
AUTHOR OF ON FRIDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2015 AT 7 P.M. AT LITERATI Award winning poet, folklorist, writer, artist and teacher, Randhir Khare grew up in the turbulence of the 1960s and early 70s in West Bengal, sharing in Kolkata's literary, theatrical and artistic excitement. As a poet and writer, he has published more than thirty volumes of poetry, fiction, translations, essays and educational books and contributed to national and international publications. His work has been adapted for contemporary puppet theatre performances, set to music by A.R.Rahman and used in creative arts and educational workshops in Ireland and England and as part of the exhibition Nehru & The Making Of Modern India at The Victoria and Albert Museum (London). He has had six solo exhibitions of his collages and drawings and paintings and his work is in private collections in India, Europe and the USA. His cultural work has included archiving of the folkloric traditions of the Bhil, Bhilala, Kota, Toda, Irula, Mullu Kurumba, Nari Kurava, Katkari and other tribal and traditional communities, translation of tribal folklore and poetry and the promotion of traditional music and lore. He has founded The Living Heritage Movement which financially supports performers and practitioners of traditional forms and lore. A film, THE WORLD IN A STORY, based on his folkloric work, is about to be released. He has represented the country as poet and writer in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Indonesia, the Republic Of Ireland, UK and Belgium. His work has been translated into French, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi and Bulgarian. STRANGERS ON THE SHORE is his 5th novel. He is Founder, The Living Heritage Movement Founder, FOLK WAYS COMPANY promoting traditional lore Founder, KAHANI INDIA, promoting the traditional art of story-telling Director, Gyaan Adab, a centre in Pune which celebrates literature and the arts. ABOUT THE NOVEL Old Arnie, son of a long dead possessive mother keeps the memory of her alive, fighting her, loving her, afraid of her. His half-sister Chrissie frets and fusses over her son Luke and the choices he makes or doesn't make. Luke resists his mother's tendency to control and leaves her in order to discover himself. Melissa's life journey is shaped by the influence of a dominant, perverted grandfather. Sabby isn't able to come to terms with his son's preferences. Their paths cross and re-cross, dramatically negotiating each other and the myriad lives who touch them, weaving an intensely emotional and psychological story about people who find themselves and lose themselves in an effort to discover who they really are. Strangers on the Shore reveals the dark underbelly of so-called sacrosanct relationships and filial ties and draws the reader into exploring realities that are most often brushed under the carpet or scrupulously avoided in 'polite' society. Randhir Khare, explores the average Indian's obsession with life-long family ties and the tendency to blame parents for any failure that visits his or her life. His robust and compelling fictional narrative expressed through brilliantly created voices will touch a chord deep within those who pick up this book and read
