Pankaj Bhargava’s travelogue titled “Khanabadoshiyan,” published by Vani Prakashan, was recently unveiled by Hans Jacob Frydenlund, the Ambassador of Norway to India. The launch event, which was held at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi, was hosted by Aditi Maheshwari-Goyal, Executive Director, Vani Prakashan Group. “I am happy to see that for the first time a travelogue about Norway has been written in Hindi.
It is hoped that through this book, Norway will become better known as a nation of friendship and hospitality, “rejoiced Ambassador Frydenlund.”
Arun Maheshwari, Managing Director, Vani Prakashan Group, who was also present on the occasion, averred, “In my opinion, nomads are that light scent of a natural fragrance that shakes the dream of life. I am certain that the Vani Prakashan Group’s relationship with Norwegian literature, which has been flourishing for almost 25 years, will reach new heights with Pankaj Bhargava’s travelogue. “ A book reading session was also held as part of the event, wherein Bhargava read out some of his favourite sections from the book. “I hope that my travelogue will inspire young people to visit Norway. “I would like to dedicate the travelogue to my readers,” said Bhargava.
While recounting his experiences of travelling across Norway with his friends, Bhargava recollected the challenges that they had to face to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, coined by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei as’ aurora borealis’ in 1619—after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas.
They are a natural phenomenon found in both the northern and southern hemispheres of the Earth’s sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions. Auroras typically display dynamic patterns of brilliant light that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky.
Sharing her thoughts about Bhargava’s travelogue, noted theatre artist and writer Rama Pandey opined, “‘Khanabadoshiyan’ is a sweet book and such sweet books, which are light in weight, relieve you from stress.” I must congratulate Pankaj Bhargava and the Vani Prakashan Group for bringing out such a book. “ Noted poet Aalok Shrivastav said,
“When a journalist associated with the visual medium writes, the observation is bound to be very good in his writing.” In fact, ‘Khanabadoshiyan’ is so visually rich that it is not just a book but cinema in 70mm.”
Praising the travelogue, noted writer Bhagwandas Morwal asserted, “Pankaj Bhargava’s book is a travel memoir. More such travel memoirs should come out in Hindi.
The veteran poet Suman Keshari, who was also present on the occasion, congratulated the author and said, “From what Pankaj wrote about Norway in his book, it was as if we had seen the city through his own eyes.