Footprints and Other Stories
Brajinder Gulati & Manmohan S. Gulati (Eds.)
Book Review by
Dr. Devinder Pal Singh
Book Title: Footprints and Other StoriesBrajinder Gulati & Manmohan S. Gulati (Eds.)
Book Review by
Dr. Devinder Pal Singh
Translators & Editors: Brajinder Gulati and Manmohan S. Gulati
Published by: Sapatrishi Publication, Chandigarh, India
Year of Publication: 2022; Price: US$15, Pages: 272
Reviewer: Dr. Devinder Pal Singh, Director, Canbridge Learning, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Footprints and Other Stories: A Testament to Punjabi Diasporic Identity
Footprints and Other Stories is a remarkable anthology that unites a vibrant selection of Punjabi short stories translated into English by the late Brajinder Gulati and lovingly completed and edited by her husband, Manmohan S. Gulati. Published by Sapatrishi Publications, the book stands as both a literary milestone and a moving tribute to Brajinder’s creative legacy. More than a translation, it serves as a cultural bridge, connecting generations, languages, and continents and illuminating the emotional and cultural depth of the Canadian Punjabi experience.The anthology gathers works by twelve eminent Punjabi writers: Balbir Sanghera, Brajinder Gulati, Gurmit Panag, Jarnail Singh, Dr. Jatinder Randhawa, Kuljit Mann, Major Mangat, Minnie Grewal, Parveen Kaur, Rachhpal Gill, Surjit Kaur, and Dr. Waryam Singh Sandhu. Each story, distinct in tone and theme, contributes to a collective mosaic of identity, migration, generational tension, and the search for belonging. Through these narratives, readers encounter the lived realities of Punjabis in Canada, oscillating between nostalgia and adaptation, tradition and modernity, loss and renewal.
In his Preface, Manmohan S. Gulati describes the project as Brajinder’s “dream book.” A multifaceted writer of fiction, poetry, and advertising prose, she believed Punjabi literature must transcend linguistic barriers to reach new audiences, especially the younger diaspora unfamiliar with Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi. Her untimely death in 2019 left the manuscript incomplete, but Manmohan, recovering from the same accident, fulfilled her vision with devotion and precision. The result is not only a collection of stories but a testament of love, perseverance, and cultural continuity.
Dr. Waryam Singh Sandhu’s scholarly introduction, “Footprints on the Touchstone of Canadian Punjabi Story,” provides critical and historical grounding. He situates these stories within the evolving canon of Punjabi diasporic literature, defining the Canadian Punjabi story as one merging Punjab’s cultural heritage with Canada’s multicultural realities. His essay contextualizes the anthology within a broader literary evolution, in which displacement, adaptation, and identity formation define the immigrant narrative.
At its heart, Footprints and Other Stories examines the human condition within migration, how individuals and families navigate tensions between inherited Punjabi values and Western liberalism. The stories reflect a constant interplay of adaptation, resistance, and rediscovery across generations.
The first story, “A Slice of Sun” by Balbir Sanghera, is a deeply moving and emotionally layered story exploring love, loss, migration, and generational conflict. Through Kiran’s introspective voice, Sanghera captures the ache of loneliness, the disillusionment of immigrant parents, and the cultural rift between tradition and modernity. Vivid imagery, like the black couple’s daily walks, mirrors resilience amid decay. The story’s realism and empathy make it a poignant portrayal of aging, motherhood, and the fragile bonds of family in diaspora life.
Brajinder Gulati’s own story, “Footprints,” forms the emotional core of the anthology. Told through the tender voice of a mother, it narrates the anguish of watching her son, Dr. Deep, return from war, wounded but unbroken. The footprints —from playful childhood to war-torn survival —become metaphors for impermanence, courage, and maternal strength. Gulati’s lyrical symbolism transforms grief into dignity, turning personal tragedy into a universal meditation on motherhood, sacrifice, and the futility of war. The story’s recurring imagery of toy boots and snow prints lingers as a metaphor for resilience and the enduring human spirit.
The next story, “The Pancakes” by Gurmit Panag, explores friendship, memory, and migration through Monique’s visit to her ailing friend Gayle. The recurring symbol of potato pancakes ties themes of nostalgia, love, and belonging, reflecting empathy and human connection across cultural divides. Panag’s delicate narrative transforms a simple encounter into a profound reflection on displacement and compassion.
Several stories center on women’s struggles for identity within patriarchal and consumerist settings. Jarnail Singh’s “Lest the Fig Leaf Falls” is a compelling and gritty exploration of the high-stakes world of fashion. The story masterfully contrasts artistic integrity with the industry's growing demand for sensationalism and nudity. Protagonist Manisha's internal conflict is palpable and relatable, making her journey a poignant critique of ambition, ethics, and the price of success. A thought-provoking read that questions the true meaning of art and self-respect in a compromising environment.
The following two stories, Dr. Jatinder Randhawa’s “Privacy” and Kuljit Mann’s “The Breakup,” probe interpersonal and generational divides. Dr. Randhawa’s Privacy is a poignant reflection on the emotional distance and moral numbness of modern life. Through the narrator’s sleepless night and strained family ties, the story exposes how “privacy” has evolved into isolation, blinding people to suffering, whether it occurs around them (in their neighbourhood) or within their own family. The layered narrative, shifting between past and present, powerfully contrasts the community empathy of old with today’s detached individualism, leaving readers unsettled yet deeply introspective. The story dissects the Western obsession with privacy that clashes with Punjabi collectivism. The latter’s portrayal of a mother struggling to understand her Canadian-born daughter ends with a plea for balance and mutual respect, a quiet manifesto for intergenerational harmony.
Kuljit Mann’s “The Breakup” is a deeply introspective tale exploring love, ambition, and moral conflict in the immigrant experience. Through Jogi’s emotional entanglement with Helen, the story examines the fragile boundaries between art and life, loyalty and self-discovery. Richly layered with psychological depth, it portrays the artist’s inner turmoil, cultural guilt, and yearning for identity. Mann’s narrative is poignant and human, revealing how dreams can both liberate and imprison the soul.
Major Mangat’s “The Inner Voids” is a heartfelt, intergenerational story exploring parental expectations, cultural identity, and the yearning for freedom. Through Neeti’s reflections and her daughter Alisha’s cosmic dreams, the narrative bridges the emotional gap between tradition and modern aspiration. It poignantly captures the struggle of immigrant families torn between inherited beliefs and personal autonomy. Rich in emotion and realism, it reminds readers that true love allows dreams to soar, unbound and fearless.
Minnie Grewal’s “Pearl-Studded Black Pumps” is a haunting, multilayered story that intertwines the lives of women across time and space through a single, symbolic object, a pair of black shoes. The narrative masterfully explores love, betrayal, abuse, and the eternal resilience of womanhood. Grewal’s poetic prose transforms trauma into transcendence, connecting generations of pain and passion. Deeply symbolic and emotionally charged, the story becomes an ode to women’s enduring spirit and their unyielding quest for dignity.
Other moving stories like Rachhpal Gill’s “The Pink Dress” and Parveen Kaur’s “Why Ask Me?” examine fractured homes and the emotional scars of urban isolation. Rachhpal Gill’s The Pink Dress is a tender, emotionally layered story about a teacher’s compassion and a child’s silent yearning for love and identity. Through the symbol of the pink dress, the narrative delicately explores cultural belonging, emotional deprivation, and the longing for acceptance. Shannon’s drawing without arms poignantly captures her inner helplessness, while the teacher’s empathy restores her strength. The story beautifully intertwines innocence, loss, and the quiet power of understanding across cultural and emotional divides.
Parveen Kaur’s “Why Ask Me!” is a profoundly moving story that traces George’s journey from a bright, affectionate boy to a broken man, lost in life’s harsh realities. Through a motherly narrator’s eyes, Kaur exposes the emotional decay caused by loneliness, societal pressures, and failed relationships in modern immigrant life. The story’s realism, compassion, and quiet tragedy leave a profound impact, making it a poignant reflection on love, loss, and the human need for belonging.
Surjit Kaur’s “The Scarlet Sunrise” offers a delicate portrait of aging, loneliness, and rediscovery through Simone’s struggle with Parkinson’s disease. The scarlet sunrise emerges as a symbol of renewal and resilience, affirming that hope can rise even from decline. The story transcends despair with grace, offering quiet optimism amid cultural alienation.
Dr. Waryam Singh Sandhu’s “Jamraud” stands out for its historical and moral depth. Blending personal tragedy with collective memory, Sandhu explores Punjab’s postcolonial psyche, from colonial deportations to modern diasporic ambitions. Through Amar Singh’s silence over his son’s death, Sandhu evokes the haunting paradox of a people seeking dignity abroad yet losing roots at home. Jamraud becomes a profound meditation on displacement, pride, and the enduring costs of ambition.
A unifying thread through the anthology is the process of cultural adaptation. Characters stand at various crossroads of assimilation, some striving to preserve Punjabi identity, others reshaping it within Western frameworks. The generational divide between collectivism and autonomy is sensitively portrayed, yet the anthology avoids romanticizing either side. Instead, it proposes understanding and coexistence as the path to cultural evolution.
This convergence gives Footprints and Other Stories remarkable sociological depth, making it not merely a literary collection but a cultural document of the Punjabi diaspora. Through translation, Brajinder and Manmohan Gulati make regional stories globally accessible without losing linguistic nuance. Their translations preserve emotional texture, idiomatic rhythm, and cultural resonance, ensuring the spirit of Punjabi expression thrives within English syntax.
Stylistically, the anthology is diverse and sophisticated. It ranges from linear realism to experimental symbolism, reflecting the richness of contemporary Punjabi fiction. The translators’ bilingual sensibility adds authenticity, while editorial care, including the Preface, Sandhu’s introduction, and a helpful Glossary, provides both emotional and intellectual grounding for readers unfamiliar with Punjabi culture.
Beyond literature, Footprints and Other Stories stands as a work of love and memory. It immortalizes Brajinder’s creative voice and her commitment to cultural preservation. Manmohan’s editorial role imbues the book with poignant intimacy, transforming it into an act of devotion and continuity. Together, the Gulatis accomplish what few translators achieve: preserving the spirit of a language while expanding its reach.
Dr. Sandhu’s framing positions the anthology within the evolving canon of Punjabi-Canadian literature, comparable to other global immigrant narratives. The stories collectively reveal a Punjabi identity that is no longer static or nostalgic but dynamic, plural, and deeply human.
Ultimately, Footprints and Other Stories transcends translation. It is a cultural archive of resilience and reinvention, chronicling how Punjabi consciousness transforms under the More than a book, it is a bridge of empathy; a testimony to the endurance of language, the elasticity of culture, and the power of storytelling to unite worlds. True to its title, Footprints leaves lasting impressions on the heart and mind, guiding future generations across the terrains of memory, migration, and human connection.
