Each writer has a unique beginning and despite being pushed into the medical stream by his father, Sumit Raj, now a well-known name in Shimla’s writers’ circle and fondly called as ‘Summit’ by his Britisher friends, decided to do Arts and then got a degree in Tourism from the Delhi University.
Life is never as you envision, but over a period of time either you adapt or circumstances make you change your course. In love with the hills, Sumit’s writings are inspired by nature, and as he rightly puts it, “Shimla shehar mere ander basaa hua hai.” (Shimla City and I are synonymous.)
Prachi Kaushal, a BSc graduate, who is currently preparing for competitive exams, engaged Sumit in an interesting conversation to know more about his life and work. The talk focused on Sumit’s start as a Ghazal and a poetry writer, and he then went on to write stories and how Shimla became his inspiration and passion for penning ten books till date, more to follow soon. His interest in walking and hiking in the hills fed his pen’s ink, while at the same time gave him the commercial viability to work in the tourism industry and a tour guide. To see the conversation, click the link shared below.
FACEBOOK LIVE FEED: Click to see
YOUTUBE LIVE FEED: Click to see
To know more about his 31 jobs, a question he left us with to be answered in the future, we hope you will track him too…
Stay tuned for weekly episodes and subscribe our channels. Next Saturday, 26 August, 2023, we will have our fourth guest, Ranjodh Singh, who will be interviewed by a school student Ms Prachi.
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“व्यक्तित्व – बातचीत का कारवां” talk show is specially curated for children and young writers/readers, to give them the opportunity to engage with senior writers and artists in a very casual and unpremeditated manner. During fifty-two weeks starting August you will meet with fifty-two personalities, and all our interviewers will be school, college or university students. These interviews will be held offline at Brews & Books Café, Shimla, that also offers an open library for all to use on the concept of ‘Borrow, Exchange, Donate,’ and will be streamed LIVE for all our patrons which can be watched on Keekli’s Facebook Channel and HimachalTonite’s YouTube Channel.
Keekli Media Channel was founded 10 years ago in 2013 by Vandana Bhagra, which provides a platform to promote creative writing and reading among children. Over the years, she has organized several inter-school competitions and skill building workshops like elocution, story writing, poetry for the children of Shimla city. Another positive step in this direction was the introduction of Keekli Book Club especially for young readers. Today, under the aegis of this club, in collaboration with media partner HimachalTonite, Association of Book Clubs and Food4Thought Foundation, the first episode was broadcasted.
CLICK TO SEE EPISODE 2
