Children’s book launch & storytelling with Mandeep Samra

Saturday 5 August, 2pm-3pm

Venue: Sangam Gazebo, Food & Drink Festival, Greenhead Park, Huddersfield

Ticket price: Free

Age guidance: All ages

Access Information: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/countryside-parks-and-open-spaces/greenhead-park.aspx

Sangam Festival and the Huddersfield Literature Festival are delighted to host the launch of a new children’s book by local author and illustrator Mandeep Kaur Samra.

Aimed at children aged six to eight years old, The Boy Who Lost His Home But Carried Light is based on the true story of Mandeep’s father’s eventful childhood, growing in India, getting caught up in the partition of India, and then as a young man embarking on the long journey to the north of England to settle in Huddersfield. Exploring themes of loss, displacement, hope and arrival, this book is recommended reading for children and adults alike.

The book will be launched at the Huddersfield Food & Drink Festival in Greenhead Park during South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM). The launch will take place on Saturday 5 August at 2pm at the Sangam Festival stand, followed by a storytelling session with the author.

The story is told through the eyes of young Kulbir, who lives in a small village in West Panjab, India. On August 15th 1947, as India achieves independence, the vanquished British Raj divide the country in two. Kulbir and his family, as well as millions of others, are suddenly and without warning forced to flee their home. A terrible period of violence erupts throughout the country. As a child Kulbir experiences what it is like to lose everything, and to rebuild a life in a new place. After making the momentous decision to migrate to England in 1963, he must once again learn how to make a home in a new and unfamiliar environment.

As Mandeep explains: ‘The partition had a huge impact on many South Asian migrants who eventually settled in the UK in the 1950s and 60s in search of a better life, taking up employment in textile mills and foundries in expanding cities and towns like Huddersfield. This heartfelt story is about adapting to change and finding comfort in things that remind you of home no matter where you are in the world.’

Mandeep has previously led many heritage arts projects including TOWNSOUNDS and THE WHITE LINE but this is the first time she has put together a book for children.

Developed by arts organisation Let’s Go Yorkshire, the book forms part of ARRIVAL, an arts project commemorating the 1947 British India Partition. To find out more about the project visit: https://thewhitelineproject.wordpress.com/. The book also supports the national #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign, aimed at promoting greater cultural diversity amongst children’s literature.