‘Satya’ returns home: Diaspora poet launches 3rd poetry collection in Mandi
In a poignant celebration of culture and literature, “Satya” — the third poetry collection by Hindi poet Jyoti Sahni — was officially launched at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) auditorium in Mandi on Sunday. Born in Mandi and now residing in New Jersey, US, Sahni continues to channel her deep emotional bond with her homeland through her poetry.
The launch event was graced by District Language Officer Revati Saini as chief guest and presided over by noted litterateur Dr Gangaram Raji. Supreme Court senior advocate Pandit Manohar Lal attended as the special guest. The book was formally unveiled by Sahni’s mother, Satya Devi, alongside Revati Saini, Dr Raji, Pandit Lal and Dr Vijay Vishal.
In her address, chief guest Revati Saini lauded Sahni for maintaining a strong connection to her cultural roots despite living abroad. “Jyoti Sahni’s life and work inspire us all. She upholds the legacy of her maternal grandfather, the revered scholar Pandit Bhavani Dutt Shastri and her mother, Satya Devi, by passing on these values to her children,” she said.
Speaking to the audience, Jyoti Sahni shared that although she lives in the United States, her heart remains in Mandi. “The mountains of Himachal call me back every moment. Whenever I find time, I return to my roots,” she said. She attributed her literary sensibilities to her grandfather, who translated sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads into the Mandi dialect — an influence that continues to shape her poetic voice.
Literary critic Murari Sharma offered an analytical reading of Satya, commenting, “Our first acquaintance with any author is through their writing, and Satya is our introduction to Jyoti Sahni. Her poems capture the emotional essence of diaspora life, filled with longing, memory and identity.”
Dr Gangaram Raji commended Sahni for preserving the literary legacy of her grandfather and for her heartfelt connection to her homeland, while Pandit Manohar Lal emphasised the social duty of writers to remain independent of political influence and aligned with truth and justice.
The event was thoughtfully curated by Sarita Sharma, who welcomed the guests and expressed gratitude to all attendees. Jyoti Sahni was accompanied by her mother Satya Devi, husband Jeetan Sahni, daughter Tanisha, son Harshul and other close family members. Adding a rich cultural dimension to the evening, the programme was hosted by renowned folk singer Krishna Thakur.
Multilingual poetry highlights the evening
A vibrant multilingual poetry recital followed the book launch, featuring poetic voices across languages and regions. Among the poets who recited their work were Krishan Chander Mahadevia, Pawan Chauhan, Rattan Lal Sharma, Surender Mishra, Dr Rakesh Kapoor, Jagdish Kapoor, Murari Sharma, Priyamvada Sharma, Latesh Kumar, Rajender Thakur, Nirmala Chandel, Krishna Thakur, Vidya Sharma, Purnesh Gautam, Shukla Sharma, Vijay Vishal, Manohar Anmol, Savita Kumari and others.
The event stood as a meaningful celebration of the enduring emotional and cultural ties between the Indian diaspora and their roots — brought to life through the power of poetry.
Himachal Tribune