Subhechcha Ganguly 
Harinder Cheema is an author who has the perspective of making the world a better place to live in through positive literature. His hobbies include swimming , travelling and exploring new places .Let us know more about her in this interview .
Q1) What inspired you to become an author ?
Writing has been a passion with me since my childhood. My father was a man of letters and he was the one who identified this talent in me and guided and motivated me to participate in the Creative writing competitions in the school. I started winning these competitions and brought laurels to my school. In College I became the Managing Editor of the College magazine and also received the College Colour in Public Speaking. Soon I was anchoring on the stage and a little later became a very active poet at the India Habitat Centre.
People loved my work and urged me to become a published author. It was the love and adulation that I received there that inspired me to become a published author.
Q2) Tell us about how you decided the plot for “The Temple shop “? And also attach the buying link
TTS is a unique love story of a soldier and the sacrifices of his family. I am a soldiers’ wife who has witnessed the kargil war. There were so many emotions that I wanted to share when we were in the thick of the war. I started writing and reciting war poetry. It is much later that I wrote TTS which is a work of fiction but the emotions are very real. Here I would like to share a poem which is a preamble to my Book, entitled “The Temple Stop” to give you some idea .
Let Us Stand With Our Soldiers
This is for all those, who have not seen war from close.
It is a story of a soldier who with memories of his wife and children,
Marches to the front along with his brethren.
How he remembers the innocent questioning look on the faces of those whom he has given life !
How he longs for a little chide from his wife !
With memories fresh and clear of those near and dear ,
He moves forth showing great mirth and cheer .
We salute the same faceless soldier in his coffin ,
Watching a TV channel over a cup of tea and a piece of muffin .
With an occasional tear in our eye and choked throat pretending not to be rude ,
Someone suggests to change the channel and also the mood .
In a nation where we worship the reel life heroes ,
We have little time to pay respect to the real life heroes ,
Who do not return to the comforts of home after a shoot ,
To watch their performance over wine and good food.
He knows not, how his death has changed the life ,
Of his widow , who was once his wife .
Fighting in the battlefield, his last thoughts are of his country and countrymen ,
And not of his widow and his orphans .
Such is the sacrifice of a soldier who puts everything aside ,
When he fears danger to his motherland and her pride .
We try to remember him but he is gone,
The family lives unsung, forgotten .
Wake up for the sake of that selfless one ,
Wake up all ye selfish ones !
Q3) Tell us about your book The Soul Chants and also attach the buying link .
Soul Chants is a collection of poems written on varied subjects traditionally published by Ukiyoto Publishing. It has brought many laurels to me in the shape of awards and recognitions and has now been selected for the World Book Fair 2023. Soul Chants” is about God, Divinity, Love, Nature, Social issues, Women empowerment, philosophy, Life lessons , World Peace and it also celebrates the great and immortal works of some Literary giants from the past.
It has been loved by the readers and poetry lovers.
Q4) Travelling is something you have always liked .Tell us about some recent place you have visited .
I recently visited Manali . I love hills as I get inspired to write when I am close to Nature .
Q5)You have received the “Queen of Era Award-2022”.Tell us about your book experience .
This is one of the many prestigious awards that I have received and let me begin by saying that every award is very precious to me because these are indeed the sweet fruits of my hard labour. I am also a co- author of 35 poetry anthologies and writing is as natural to me as is breathing.
Q6) Enlighten the readers about your journey of an author so far.
Today I can proudly say that it has been a very rewarding journey and I have thoroughly enjoyed it because writing as I told you is a passion with me , so there has always been a sense of fulfillment and creativity definitely makes you a better version of yourself. It is a journey of self-exploration where you are discovering things outside and inside you. It is a whole learning experience, learning from life which is the real teacher and becoming wiser with the better understanding of life. I am a very strong person and have always followed my heart. Today I am a proud recipient of many National and International recognitions, honours and awards. I am also the only Indian to receive the Naji Naaman International Literary Honor Prize for Complete Work in 2022 and I have also received the Award and Title of “Star Ambassador of World Poetry 2022”. All glory comes from daring to begin.
Q7) There is a large section of the youth that wants to take up writing as a career option .What are your views on this .
If one wants to take up writing as a career then I would say that one has to be extremely patient and original. Try to do something different and it is very important to connect with the reader. The impact of your writings on the reader determines your success as a writer.
