Wednesday, January 28, 2026
News

"Abba Aur Main: Ek Anokhi Dastan" - Urdu translation of Neelima Dalmia's memoir launched at Jashn-e-Rekhta fest

SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend    Print this Page   COMMENT

| December 9, 2025 5:18:03 PM IST
PNN

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], December 9: The air at Baansera Park in New Delhi was thick with poetry and passion as the 10th edition of Jashn-e-Rekhta set the stage for a remarkable literary unveiling. Among the ghazals, dance, and vibrant cultural tapestry, a poignant chapter of personal and political history was shared with the world.

The Urdu translation of Neelima Dalmia Adhar's memoir, "Abba Aur Main - Ek Anokhi Dastan," was launched to an eager audience. Originally penned as "Father Dearest: Life and Times of R K Dalmia," the book offers an intimate window into the life of one of India's towering industrialists.

The gala launch saw the book formally unveiled by Sundeep Bhutoria, Kolkata-based culturist and Managing Trustee of Prabha Khaitan Foundation, and Huma Khalil, Trustee and Creative Director of the Rekhta Foundation, in the presence of the author herself.

In a session that bridged memory and history, Neelima Dalmia Adhar revealed a little-known facet of her father's life: his close friendship with Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. She shared that R K Dalmia had supported Jinnah's bid to become the first Prime Minister of an independent India - a move he believed might have altered the course of history and perhaps averted the Partition.

"It is a great honour to launch a great book which, I am sure, will touch the hearts of Urdu audience," remarked Mr Sundeep Bhutoria. "Jashn-e-Rekhta has become one of the largest annual cultural gatherings in the Capital. The event has its own cachet and has come a long way since 2015 in popularizing Urdu among the masses."

Translated by Naresh Nadeem, the memoir is described as a candid reflection on family, legacy, and the intricate ties that bind personal lives to national narratives.

The launch was a highlight of Jashn-e-Rekhta, which this year celebrated a decade of glorifying Urdu's multifaceted beauty. The three-day festival was a sensory feast--from soul-stirring mushairas and qawalis to classical dance, book discussions, Sufi poetry, art, crafts, and the ever-popular Aiwan-e-Zaiqa food festival.

With over 200 artists, writers, poets, and performers, the event also paid a special tribute to legendary lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi, ensuring that the language of love and longing continued to resonate across generations.

This Urdu translation not only brings a daughter's tribute to a wider audience but also adds a deeply human thread to the vast tapestry of South Asian history.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)

 
  LATEST COMMENTS ()
POST YOUR COMMENT
Comments Not Available
 
POST YOUR COMMENT
 
 
TRENDING TOPICS
 
 
CITY NEWS
MORE CITIES
 
 
 
MORE BUSINESS NEWS
IIMW 2026 Mumbai Becomes the Global Stag...
Ketki Pandit, Remo D'Souza and Mohaan Na...
TVS Motor Registers Highest Ever Sales, ...
Can Technology Be Sustainable? Youth Del...
Bombay Canvas and the Rise of India's Mi...
FSM x GSG Band-It 2025 Grand Finale Cele...
More...
 
INDIA WORLD ASIA
Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugu...
'Offered everything to liberate Mother B...
SDRF rescues pet Pit Bull dog that guard...
Odisha bandh: NNKS workers block Puri-Bh...
'Towering national figure': Kharge remem...
Budget Session Day 1: President to addre...
More...    
 
 Top Stories
India Legends defeat Sri Lanka Lege... 
"Very unfortunate incident": Madhya... 
Sarthal Valley to host grand Winter... 
"Ajit Pawar will be remembered for ... 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi intera... 
"Historic victory is in making for ... 
"Great loss not only for Maharashtr... 
Senior Tibetan Buddhist Lama missin...