The Ghosts That Come Between Us : Pre-Order

I'm glad to inform everyone that my website was just upgraded from where you can now Pre-Order my book.

Pre-Order - http://www.bulbulbahuguna.com/?page_id=34

The Author Up Close

Hi Everyone! 

I'm really excited to release my second video today called “The Author Up Close” in which I talk about the novel, why I chose the topic of abuse, and much more! Hope you enjoy it. Can’t wait to read your comments! 

http://youtu.be/E_4ajIMJWoA

The Author Seen Here With HRH The Prince Of Wales At A British Asian Trust Event At The Windsor Castle

Several of my blog readers have enquired if I ever posted about the efforts of Bollywood personalities targeting child abuse and trafficking in India. The short answer is: Yes. I did post a note along with a link on the subject that was forwarded to me by a friend affiliated with British Asian Trust. I am reposting the note for those who missed it on Dec 10, 2012. 

Child Sex Abuse is receiving enormous attention in India. The leading Indian filmmaker, Aamir Khan, has vividly portrayed the plight of abused children through his recently concluded TV series 'Sataymev Jayte' (Truth Alone Prevails). I commend the work of British Asian Trust in tackling the girl abuse and exploitation throughout South Asia.

I am proud of my association with the leadership of British Asian Trust which, under the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales, is doing defining work in reaching out to the vulnerable and at-risk girls. American India Foundation (www.aif.org) and BAT are collaborating on several projects that aim to improve livelihood opportunities, through skill upgrades, among marginalized girls and women in India.

http://www.britishasiantrust.org/news-events/latest-news-and-events/trust-tackling-crucial-concerns-in-india/3083/

 

One Billion Rising!!!

First, Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers.

As someone said, V-Day presents a good opportunity to focus the world's attention on what happens when "love" goes wrong. Violence against women remains, unfortunately, one of humanity's biggest problems and shames. In my blog postings over a month ago, I talked about a remarkable woman Eve Ensler, the award winning playwright and activist, as she brought her cause "One Billion Rising" to India in support of the massive protests held to deliver justice to the gangraped, and murdered, Delhi Braveheart. Worldwide, one in three women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. That is one billion women...the inspiration behind "One Billion Rising".

Eve Ensler prophesied, "They are saying if India can do it, so can we. India now is really the vanguard. And I believe we are going to see a massive rising in India with regards to violence against women issue."

Today, India staged one of the biggest showings of the uprising to break the chain of violence against women as she participated in "One Billion Rising" events around the world on this V-Day. The indefatigable Eve Ensler couldn't have been prouder. "I don't get tired," Ensler says. "Because every time a woman doesn't die or doesn't get beaten or raped or honor-killed or acid burned, it's a huge victory."

Yesterday, it was heartbreaking to hear as Anoushka Shankar, the daughter of the sitar legend Ravi Shankar, opened up about her own story as a victim of childhood sexual abuse. Today, she was at the forefront of the V-Day "One Billion Rising" celebrations dancing with millions of school-going girls as they promoted awareness of violence against women. Way to go Anoushka!

Latest Book – “The Ghosts That Come Between Us”

“The Ghosts That Come Between Us” is a first-person narrative that follows the life journey of a girl named Nargis. The story starts in the Himalayas in post-independence India, spans through Communist Russia, and ends in a Chicago suburb in the United States.

 

This debut novel by Dr. Bulbul Bahuguna is a gripping account of family drama, dynamics, and dysfunction. Can one experience define your entire life? 

 http://www.bulbulbahuguna.com/
Dr. Bulbul Bahuguna is on staff at North Shore University Health Systems, which is affiliated with The University of Chicago and Mayo Clinic. She is a National Trustee of the American India Foundation --- a leading charity involved in accelerating social change in India.

The Ghosts That Come Between Us : Prologue

I am really excited to release the prologue of my book "The Ghosts That Come Between Us" to all my readers ahead of its launch on March 15th.

Download: http://www.bulbulbahuguna.com/Prologue.pdf

Remember to share it with as many people as you can using the Facebook and Twitter buttons conveniently placed throughout the PDF, and remember to share your comments on my Facebook page.

Malala Yousafzai discharged from the hospital.

Just heard the great news that Malala Yousafzai has been discharged from the hospital in England. As expected, Malala has made excellent progress and will now be undergoing rehab therapy at home. Her doctors do not see a need for further surgery at this time. In a press briefing Malala said, "Today, you can see that I'm alive. I can speak. I can see you." Our world will now be a richer place for Malala's unwavering voice and intense gaze as she fights for girl education in Swat and elsewhere.

Bulbul Bahuguna at Jaipur Literature Festival with Bhanwari Devi

 

One of the key highlights from my recent trip to DSC Jaipur Literature Festival is meeting up-close with a feisty woman named Bhanwari Devi. She has to be one of the most courageous women I have known my entire life. From her demeanor you'd never guess what she has been through.

Bhanwari Devi, a low caste Dalit, was employed as a village-level social worker in Rajasthan, India. The causes she championed were the eradication of girl exploitation and child-marriage custom prevalent in her village. This invited the wrath of the upper caste Gujjar community that wanted this custom to continue. When the repeated intimidations by the village Gujjars failed to diminish Bhanwari Devi's resolve, she was gangraped by five Gujjar men in 1992 while she was working in their fields alongside her husband. What followed is a sad commentary on India's medico-legal system as well as the sickening biases demonstrated by the political, law enforcement and judicial establishments at that time. The accused were acquitted and Bhanwari Devi was revictimized not only by the Gujjars but also by her own fellow Dalits who pressured her in vain to leave the village since she had tainted their reputation.

Undaunted, Bhanwari Devi continued to appeal her case in the superior courts and refused to leave her village even though the Dalit community had excommunicated her... so much so that she was refused the traditional funeral meal at her father's funeral by her own brothers. While deprived of the means to make a living in her village, she declined to accept any compensation from the accused in exchange for withdrawing the court case against them. Her fight and plight were picked up by the media. This galvanized several advocacy groups across the country culminating in filing of a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court against the Governments of Rajasthan and the Union of India. The petition resulted in a landmark judgment in 1997. For the first time in the history of the nation, the basic definition of sexual harassment at the workplace was established. While Bhanwari Devi is yet to receive justice against her perpetrators, the judgment is already seen as a significant victory for the causes she stands for. To read her full story please visit http://mitzsoul.blogspot.com/2010/08/bhanwari-devi-with-husband-mohan-lal-at.html

It was very magnanimous of DSC, a major infrastructure company and the chief sponsor of  DSC Jaipur Literature Festival, to invite Bhanwari Devi, along with leading actress Sharmila Tagore to give away the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature to Jeet Thayil for his novel Narcopolis. In a future posting, I'll have more to say about Jeet and his novel that was shortlisted for 2012 Man Booker Prize.

Women's issues occupied a huge mindscape at the festival. It clearly reflected the mood of the country in the aftermath of gangrape and murder of Delhi's Braveheart. There was a very thoughtful discussion about women on the spiritual path of Buddhism. The panel discussed Buddha’s initial hesitation in ordaining women, until persuaded that they too ‘have the potential’ to reach Nirvana. There was a provocative conversation between Rohini Nilekani, Kishwar Desai and Jayshree Misra on the issues of surrogacy in India. Kishwar talked about her novel Origins of Love that deals with the issue of surrogacy and cautioned that India was at risk for becoming a designer baby factory.

Personally, it was very gratifying to see women's issues reverberating through out the festival. It was even more gratifying to spot the large numbers of males attending the forums on these issues. Now that's what I call reassuring.
 

 http://www.bulbulbahuguna.com/

Endorsement from New York Times Best Selling Author

"You need to read Bulbul Bahuguna's novel, The Ghosts That Come Between Us, if you are receptive to being moved and inspired by an intelligent and quite artistic writer. Once this wonderful woman, Nargis, enters your mind she will stay there forever. I cannot wait for her next book."

- Dennis Smith
Author, Report from Ground Zero, A Decade of Hope