Life is not easy
As I look at the array of awards and certificates arranged on a table -36 till now with Almighty ‘s Grace , I know deep down that the accolades that come my way are the result of the churning ad battering that my heart underwent after the sudden passing away of my young son . The loss was too gigantic , the vacuum too large . Words became my confidantes and words became my armoury . I write to express my bewilderment and my hurt ,my grief and my joyful memories . Words started flowing out of me like soothing lotions , caressing my wounds and giving me solace .I have four books to my credit in different genres and I write in four languages. My Teenage Titan and Young Turk son was suddenly diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It was a huge tumour weighing on his wind pipe. He was only 21 and in his last year of engineering .Our world shattered and crumbled.He was brave and unique . He used to teach slum children , create music as he was self taught and could play the guitar and five other instruments.He was adept at making android apps.as well . After a battle with the help of chemo and radiation , he fought the disease and was well for a few months when he suddenly passed away on a random tread mill test .We were caught unawares as death had crept up stealthily .After immersing his ashes and finishing his last rites , we went to get our daughter married as it had been already arranged much earlier . We thought we could go ahead with the wedding as the boy had recovered and was in complete remission .Life has its own plans Alas . It was a surreal experience . Dressing up and looking festive after losing a young child .i learnt forbearance and fortitude . I realised that we must accept pain and pleasure with equal equanimity …….
I was born in the capital of India in a private nursing home in Pusa Road since my maternal grandparents lived in Delhi .It was customary to have the first child in one’s maternal home .I went off as a dark haired and round faced baby to Chandigarh in my mother’s arms .I therefore had an enchanted childhood ,growing up in the City Beautiful .The sprawling leisure valley and the wide glistening tree flanked boulevards were my cradle . Born to a brilliant lawyer dad , who was in Matric when the partition of the country took place and to a breathtakingly beautiful ,gifted and gentle voiced mother , I count myself lucky .Dad was born in Wasu village in Mandi Bhauddin district of what is now Pakistan . He had leadership qualities and even courted arrest as a member of Sikh Students Federation . Adept at Urdu as that was an important medium of instruction as well as for official paper work , he made me learn up a lot of Urdu poetry by rote right from the time I was a little girl . Dad honed my English vocabulary with bombastic words as well .. Mother was the one who made me learn up my lessons and listened to my spellings even as she bathed and fed me and dressed me up nattily. She would knit socks for my school uniform and my red sweater too
I owe a lot of my literary inclination to my wonderful school ,Carmel Convent ..I was a plump child with two long and thick pig tails with ugly red ribbons . I was small built therefore always sat in the front rows eagerly lapping up the lessons like a sponge . Wide eyed and inquisitive I was but quite an imp .I am often reminded about the times I climbed on tables to dance to the songs of Helen with other naughty sparks gyrating along with me like the evil goons in Hindi films !! The other vivid memory is of mimicking the sounds of a puppy yelping in pain in the middle of a moral science lesson .
The school library was brimming with books which I gulped down in greedy mouthfuls . The wondrous world of Enid Blyton and Billy Bunter paved the way for P G Wodehouse and much later Thomas Hardy . Shakespeare used to roll of my tongue like dew from leaves . I forged a never ending bond with words , reading anything that I could lay my hands on . Mills and Boon were taboo so we would throw them down the cantilever in class in order to avoid them bring confiscated during raids by the nuns .The Reader’s Digest from dad’s collections opened up new vistas as did the National Geographic.Folk Songs from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the Sikh Holy Scriptures were also my learning grounds . My teachers in school helped me to dabble in elocution and dramatics . Soon I was a jack of all trades with a finger in every pie ! I won my first prize in literature at about 11 years of age when my short story titled “ Blood Transcends All Barriers “ got me a national prize . College opened up another world altogether .With Honours in English , Hindi and History elective and French optional , I was in literary heaven . Soon I became the student Editor of the widely read ,college magazine of Govt. College for Girls , named “Abha “. I have the fondest memory of interviewing the legendary Faiz Ahmed Faiz as he was a house guest in my Vice Principal ‘s home .Life was a roller coaster of extra curricular activities as well as studies . Heading clubs and societies and breezing in and out of poetry recitation, declamations and drama competitions in various colleges of the city and neighbouring states was fun . The college gave me a Gold Medal for being the “Best All Around Student “. My parents blessings helped me top in academics too. Those were merry days of knotted short tops and tailored trousers with custom made salwar kameezes thrown in for tradition’s sake . A formal affair meant wearing my mother’s saris to look all efficient ! Youth Festivals in the hinterland of Punjab were full of excitement and adventure .Giddha bolis became my new passion .
Next it was time to join the post graduation course in the English Department of the Panjab University. It was spelt with an “a” instead of “u”to differentiate it from the original one in Lahore .I soon got knee deep into the whirlwind of life in the Univ . A flurry of staging plays, reciting poetry and a bit of student politics for good measure.I also helped write some literature for adult education programmes . We started a Wall magazine in the department .Anyone with a creative bent of mind could write their hearts out .It was the era of open jeeps and parrot coloured turbans for boys and Multi coloured paraandas and bindis for girls . I got the honour of earning two University colours – one for Excellence in Histrionics and the other for Dramatics .
Offers for roles in films started coming, much to my parent’s discomfiture . Even before my M A results came , I got an offer to join as a lecturer in the prestigious Sacred Heart College , Dalhousie. It was a blessed existence to live and teach in this picturesque hill station with Irish and Belgian nuns . It was like a Swiss Finishing School . Soon I was teaching Julius Caesar to girls barely two years younger than me .I wore my highest heels and silk saris in order to be differentiated from the bevy of belles .
An arranged marriage to a bearded and turbaned handsome Sikh captain changed my life completely. Struck by the glamour of the brass button , I had wanted to marry an army man . A life of adventure and travel beckoned me . Every two years we were moving on postings to new cantonments. Uprooted continuously I enjoyed the Gypsy life after having lived the life of a small town girl . Army life was regimented and at times tough . My two kids were born in cantonments , the daughter in Dalhousie and my late son in Binnaguri .Fauji kids are strong and resilient . So were mine .My daughter changed 18 schools till she was 16.
Books
A Trellis of Ecstasy – Poetry( applauded by Chief Minister )
Lilies of the Valley – Essays
The Gypsy Trail – Novel (launched by Governor Punjab)
History on my Plate – non fiction
Awards
1.Reuel Internationaal Prize for Poetry 2016.
2.Global Poet Encomium of Peace and Universal Love.
3.Global Icon of Peace ( Nigeria).
4.Virtuoso Award.
5.Elizabeth Barret Browning Internationaal Award.
6.An Icon Award by Chandigarh Administration.
7.International Diploma by Temirqazique 2017.
8.Poetic Galaxy Award 2018.
9.Sarojini Naidu Award for composition and recitation.
10.Gold Double Cross Award for the book Complexion based discriminations.
11.Woman Of Substance Award.
12.Meritorious Poet and Author 2017.
13.Frang Bardhi International Award for exceptional poetry.
14.Certificate of Honour for disquisition on Metalanguage.
15.Certificate including Lily Swarn in World Directory of Literature,, History ,Art and Culture.
16.World Icon of Literature.
17.international Icon of Literature.
18.Certificate of Honour for outstanding qualities in Global Literary Excellence and Contributions.
19.FIGCDLS Readers Choice Pavement Lightt Gallantry Award for dedication and honesty in literature and for uplifting literary generations.
20.Diploma De Honor for outstanding participation in the Anthology of Venezuela.
21.Social Excellence Award 2017-2019 by Pinkishe Foubdation.
22.Pride Of India Award by Global Literary Society.
23.Certificate of Appreciation by International Humanity Conference 2019 for work and support.
24.Appointed Ambassador of Humanity by Hafrikan Prince Art World.
25.Nominated one of the “ Most Influential Women “ of Chandigarh by Brijbhumi foundation .
26.Living Legend of 21st Century by International Higher Academic Council of English Literature
27.Award of Honour by Chandigarh Management Association.
28.Memento of Honour by Plethora Magazine
29.Diploma de Honor by Poetas De Oriente
30.Certificate of Excellence by IFCH
31.World Poetic Star Honour by World Nations Writers Union .
32.Diploma awarded for writing Poetry about children and hunger issues in an Anthology in Chile
33.Amrita Pritam Award
34.Fellowship of Regal World of scribes
Awarded for co hosting international Malay Festival in Singapore
Attended as a delegate of SAARC Literary Festival 2019
I was happy to host a radio show in Raleigh , North Carolina , USA . I have host and moderate numerous stage shows both in the civil and army arenas. I was also interviewed by Red River Radio , New York .I have been speaking live on various issues on Sher e Punjab radio ,Vancouver , Canada.
Plethora magazine featured me in their cover story and The glossy magazines Urban Melange and Glimpse both featured my interviews .
With Almighty’s grace my poems have already been translated into 15 European . South American and Asian languages .
I am the administrator of international poetry groups and get published in literary websites with regularity .My columns are widely read and around 25 anthologies feature my poems all over the world .
Prestigious literary festivals invite me as Guest of Honour and as a speaker . International web journals like Our Poetry Archive feature me as Poet of the month and interview me . A gossamer sheet of love protects me . I am grateful and overawed by His benediction .
I have a memorial page for my late son . It is a meeting place god his friends and his memories . He is well loved and I think one of my next ventures will be a compilation of this into a book .
My message to all the lovely ladies out there is to accept the gifts life gives us . To be in a state of balance in grief and joy is a part of being human . I think we need to make the most of our pain by converting it into creativity . I am sure my don in heaven will be proud of me and smiling at his mother and her achievements despite the colossal tragedy .
Lots of love to all the achievers and believers !
Lily Swarn
Writers
