Flights From My Terrace – Santosh Bakaya’s New Book Launched

Author Santosh Bakaya reading from her book Flights From My Terrace

The Delhi Chapter of The Significant League (TSL) launched Dr Santosh Bakaya’s much awaited collection of essays Flights From My Terrace on Sunday, March 12, 2017 amidst much bonhomie and camaraderie. The book’s teal and orange cover  has the picture of the terrace of Dr Bakaya’s old house from where many a tale has been woven telling us of her experiences, her observations of the routine activities, her people, her pet, her friendships, etc.

Dr Santosh Bakaya at the book launch

The event began with an introduction to the book by poet and writer Satbir Chadha. She said, “I have been privileged to have got the first copy of Santosh Bakaya’s book of essays, Flights From My Terrace to read, and what an experience it has been. The book contains her experiments and experiences, her mischief and mad missions, her observation of the mundane, and her spontaneous friendships. It’s uncanny, as I read, I saw my father in her father, my granny in her granny, and my cat in her pet dog. In fact I became so emotional I was in tears when I called her in the night and told her, ‘what have you done to me Santosh’!”

“A small dose of love turned the sad droopy puppy into a canine beauty fluffed with love. She shows how love is just love, spread it wherever you may . Curiously there’s always a beautiful bird in her vision whenever she looks from her terrace or steps out.  Such people I call Wodehouse-ans, who can spot hilarity in the colour of one’s pyjamas or the way you describe someone as a hard boiled egg. Tipplers beware, for Santosh can balk unabashed at an inebriated man’s tipsy idiosyncrasies to the embarrassment of her behaviourally correct daughter.”

Santosh Bakaya signing her books at the launch

“Each essay tells a beautiful story, making you forget the hardships of life. This basically sums up the feel and purpose of this book; which is to engage with the minimal pleasures life throws up and live in sync with nature, to live life with relish and fascination and pleasure.”

After the wonderful introduction by Ms Satbir Chadha, Dr Bakaya read from the book. Her voice boomed with passion, her eyes watered and she smiled as she read out excerpts from Flights From My Terrace.

Dr Bakaya presented a copy of the book to her daughter Iha Magazine to whom she has dedicated the book. What a beautiful moment it was! The sweet and spicy chemistry between the mother and daughter was so visible and enjoyable.

The event was attended by many eminent writers and poets including the publisher of the book Mr Sudarshan Kcherry. Ms Ipsita Ganguli flew in from Kolkata for the release. The other guests included Ms Monica Oswal, Ms Bushra Razzak, Ms Vinita Narula, Ms Lovita Morang, Ms Neha Chadha,Ms Kalyani Chadha, Ms Niti Chadha, Ms Madhumita Bhattacharjee Nayyar, Ms Payel Chatterji, Lt Col Shyam Sundar Sharma, Dr Jatinder Singh Bhogal, Shri Tribhuwan Kaul, Ankit Mishra, Mr Hemant Pillai, Joshua Immanuel.

The launch was followed by a poetry reading session by all the guests present. The poetry recited were both in Hindi as well as English. The theme was ‘memories’. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching session followed by interaction over tea. All in all,  a wonderful evening and a wonderful collection for the readers to lay their hands on.

Read Santosh Bakaya’s hilarious musings

No, Never!

Yummy, Mummy! Anything for a Hungry Tummy

Rise and Shine

The Red Towel

Din About Chins

Flurry About Egg Curry

About the Author

Madhumita Bhattacharjee Nayyar ( 1 Post)

Madhumita Bhattacharjee Nayyar, a Masters in English, is a bilingual writer (writing both in Hindi and English). She is a poetess, blogger, life skills counsellor, healer. She is also a social commentator and works with women and children. She started her career with the media, moving on to the perfumes and cosmetics sector and finally where her heart lay 'writing'. Her works have been published in various national and international magazines, newspapers, web magazines, journals, anthologies. The author of The Night Jasmine and Other Love Poems, she is also the winner of Icon of the Year - Lifeskills Counsellor 2015-2016 and Creative Writer of the Year 2016. An avid animal lover too, her motto in life is 'Live and Love Life'.
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