Dear Supporter 

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

I recently got an opportunity to visit Gujranwala in West Punjab - the home of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. I was also fortunate to visit the Haveli where he was born - built by his grandfather Charat Singh, the chief of the Sukerchakia misl. 

I was invited to speak about Maboli Punjabi at the Learning Hub College - a system of six schools and colleges with great education. I spoke to students at many grade levels and did storytelling sessions for them from the Undivided Punjab Edition as well as gifted all our books to the system to continue inculcating the love of the Punjabi language. 

My amazing hosts arranged with the DC office to open up the locked Haveli to hold a storytelling session there with the senior girls. You can imagine the emotions I went through. When I first entered the haveli - I cried -  at the fortune to visit the great Maharaja's childhood place, at the glory of our past, at the forlorn Sarkar-e-Khalsa.

But mostly because this place of such historical value - It is in ruins, plundered and encroached, many parts demolished and converted to residences, businesses, mosques and madrassas. What remains is not stable, waiting to demolish itself. No organizations are looking to preserve it. 

I cried more at the frustrations that Maharaja Ranjit Singh - the great son of the soil who gave huge grants to preserve mosques, gurdwaras and temples of his kingdom - is disowned by everyone and his own places and legacy suffer such atrocious neglect. 

The students I spoke to - didn't even have a clue about him. So we changed course. For two hours straight I told them tales of the great Maharaja - they came to me one by one as if I was his personal storyteller -- the girls were mesmerized -- by him, by their own legacy and by the power and sweetness of the Punjabi boli. By the end of the session they were left changed. Them vying for my autographs on any paper they could grab, even the 50 and 100 Rs bills - spoke volumes. But what I will always remember is when they said - "Ghar jaa key asaan sabh toN pehlaa apNey ghar valiaa nu set karnaa e - jinna ney saanu eh kujh nahin dassiaa..." 

My sincere hope is that these girls will be the change agents for preserving in West Punjab, the Punjabi language and the legacy of Ranjit Singh.

You have enabled this transformational hope through my work. Thank You for your continued love and support. 

Gurmeet Kaur 

www.folktalesofpunjab.com 

Dear Supporter,

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

This picture takes me to my childhood - ribboned pigtails, school uniform, immense desire to learn and read good books in my #motherlanguage; but no-one taught me #Punjabi nor I ever got to see such beautiful books in it. The stress of learning an alien language not sopken at home, i.e. English stole the whole childhood away. Such dual-language books would have made my life so much easier and richer - reading would have been a pleasure not a pain. 

So it delights me to see how these bilingual books are empowering our children in Punjab. Learning both the languages in a playful way - is the way to do it. Reminds me of the praise that is included at the back of this book:

"Gurmeet Kaur's books make me want to go back to the primary school and start reading all over again." - Dr. Surjit Patar

ਅਪਣਾ ਬਚਪਨ ਯਾਦ ਆ ਗਿਆ - ਕਰੇਲੇ, ਵਰਦੀ, ਭੋਲ਼ਾਪਣ, ਪੜ੍ਹਨ ਦੀ ਚਾਹ - ਪਰ ਮਾਂਬੋਲੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਸਿਖਾਈ ਹੀ ਨਹੀਂ - ਨਾ ਹੀ ਕਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿਚ ਇਜੇਹੀਆਂ ਸੁਹਣੀਆਂ ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ ਵੇਖਣ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲ਼ੀਆਂ - ਅੰਗ੍ਰੇਜ਼ੀ ਸਿੱਖਣ ਦੇ ਖੌ ਨੇ ਬਚਪਨ ਖੋ ਲਿਆ - ਇਹੋ ਜਿਹੀਆਂ ਦੋ-ਭਾਸ਼ੀ ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ ਹੁੰਦੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਜਾਨ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਸੌਖੀ ਹੋਣੀ ਸੀ ਤੇ ਬੋਲੀ ਕਿੰਨੀ ਅਮੀਰ।

“ਗੁਰਮੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ ਜੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਏ - ਮੁੜ ਕੱਚੀ-ਪੱਕੀ ਪੜ੍ਹਨ ਬਹਿ ਜਾਵਾਂ” - ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਪਾਤਰ

We have recently teamed up with Sanjhi Sikhia in Punjab - another non-profit organization which will be using our books to provide creative reading materials to government elementary schools in order to encourage learning in both languages. This picture is from one of their engagements at the GPS Chauth 64 in Patiala district. Last month they invited me to do a workshop with their volunteers on the imortance of learning in Mother Tongue. 

You may visit the seminar here. We discussed many ways to overcome the social and political hurdles in the way of our mother language. May be your will have more ideas to contribute. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a70WrfJN0Ek 

I would love to hear on how you are engaging your children or grandchildren with learning in the mother tongue. 

We will continue to strenghten your support for this project by working hard with our partners on the ground. We will keep you updated. Until then, have a blessed 2022. 

Sincerely, 
Gurmeet Kaur 
@FolktalesofPunjab
www.folktalesofpunjab.com
pic: Harnoor Singh
via: Simranjit Singh Bhullar #SanjhiSikhiya at GPS Chauth 64 Patiala

Dear Supporter,

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh! 

Thank You, for your support this week to our projects on the Dasvandh Network.

Today is the last day of the #Dasvandhweek and DVN will contribute $50 for each new donor we bring to our cause; $100 if they start a recurring donation for as little as $10/mo.

So may I kindly request that you encourage a friend or a family member who has not donated to our cause before to contribute?

Since 2018, with this support, we have reached thousands of youth through our books in Punjab - either via subsidizing them heavily or giving them free of cost to libraries, schools and even at the Farmers Protest Morcha. If you are following up on our updates and Social Media pages - you probably know by now what a difference they are making.

Please encourage giving - any amount helps. But please do it NOW - so DVN can match the funds. Please don't delay as every match makes a big difference. 

https://www.dvnetwork.org/folktales

Thank you so much for all you have done this far. 

Guru Ang Sang,

Gurmeet Kaur
@Team PiPPAL

PS: If you would like to learn more about our other project - The Valiant Jaswant Singh Khalra book's Punjab distribution please click here: 

www.dvnetwork.org/valiant 

Dear Supporter,

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh! 

Overwhelmed by the pressure of learning Hindi and English, being put to shame for excelling in their own Mother-language -- these books have been a respite for thousands of children in Punjab -- re-igniting the love for the language and instilling a sense of pride in them and the credit goes to you. (And they teach them good English too as they are bilingual.)

Thank You, for your support in the past to our projects on the Dasvandh Network. We hope that you have been in touch via DVN updates or through our Social Media pages on what we have accomplished with your support thus far. 

In short, we have reached thousands of youth through our books in Punjab - either via subsidizing them heavily or giving them free of cost to libraries, schools and even at the Farmers Protest Morcha. We have shared pictures and testimonials from all age groups, all genders and educational backgrounds - our books have been so educational and life changing, you should be proud of this support.

Now that Covid restrictions are easing up - we plan to amplify our outreach with your help, ofcourse and expand the project to include other #FolktalesofPunjab books.

This week, DVN will be matching your one-time donations while matching funds last upto $400 per donation per person. 

Please consider giving - any amount helps. But please do it NOW - so DVN can match the funds. Please don't delay as every match makes a big difference. If you would like to give more, please consider asking your family member to do so. 

https://www.dvnetwork.org/folktales

May we also ask you to please take a few minutes after you have donated to reach out to at least five more friends and request them to make a contribution? 

This is the only week that we do our fundraising but it sustains us through the whole year because we have zero overhead expenses. All your donations go into creating these wonderful books and making them reach the masses. 

Thank you so much for your dasvandh. We know that you have a choice of many causes. But your strong belief in our educational endeavor to empower our Panth and Punjab, makes us want to continue our mission with more strength. May Waheguru bless you with Chardi Kala. 

Guru Ang Sang,

Gurmeet Kaur
@Team PiPPAL

PS: If you would like to learn more about our other project - The Valiant Jaswant Singh Khalra book's Punjab distribution please click here: 

www.dvnetwork.org/valiant 

www.pippal.org
www.folktalesofpunjab.com

www.facebook.com/ FolktalesOfPunjab/
www.facebook.com/pippalorg/

Dear Friend,

Schools have thankfully re-opened in Punjab. Children are back to connecting with each other, real teachers, and books. And we have resumed reaching out to them via our Engage Punjab project that takes the Fascinating Folktales of Punjab books to the government elementary schools. 

Simranjit Singh, our Punjab volunteer, has been visiting schools for the last three years now, engaging children in story telling sessions and conversation around the tales, the land of Punjab and our Maboli. "Most of these children come from underprivileged and backwards strata of the society," he reports. "They don't have access to beautiful and engaging books such as these, that even the children in private schools would envy. They have a  thirst for knowledge but not many avenues ... their excitement while holding and reading from these books cannot be explained." 

Simran leaves multiple copies with the teacher, for  their library and for lending to the children to take home so the children can read to their siblings and parents. 

Because these books are bilingual it gives  them an opportunity to read and learn the English language as well. 

Because these books have Shahmukhi script as well, if the children are ambitious - sky's the limit as far as learning is concerned. 

Soon, we will be printing our books 6-8 in Punjab as well and children will have access to more dual-language books that are world class, a source of entertainment, learning, and bonding with each other and connecting generations together. 

Thank you, for all your support and believing in us.

Gurmeet Kaur 

www.pippal.org
www.folktalesofpunjab.com

www.facebook.com/FolktalesOfPunjab/

Dear Friend,

While the Punjabi language is continually being degraded in private schools in East Punjab, where it is an optional subject after grade eight in CBSC and ICSE schools with Hindi slowly replacing it and while the students in such schools are being punished for speaking in Punjabi -- our hopes rest on the government schools in Punjab where it is the language of choice and a language loved and respected. [ See news item on CBSC rejecting Punjab Government's ask to make Punjabi compulsory till grade 10 here ]

Yet, the government run elementary schools do not have beautiful and engaging books that the children can hold in their hands and be proud of their mother - language and its script. 

There are certainly no books that are dual-language, that teach them both great Punjabi and good English - at once. Those that are beautifully illustrated, playful, attractive and give wings to children's imaginations, teach them good values while teaching them basic things about the Undivided Punjab -- it's two scripts and our common heritage.

So, we continue to doing our part to instill the pride for Punjabi and Punjab amongst these children so they can stand up for their Mother language and homeland when the time comes.

Our volunteer on ground Simranjit Singh continues to go to the government primary schools and does storytelling sessions for children from our Undivided Punjab edition and donating books to their schools, encouraging children to borrow them from their teacher thereby instilling a culture of reading at home. 

If the kids are ambitious, they further explore the Shahmukhi script. They learn good English through translations. This books becomes a whole world for them.

And we have you to thank for doing your part so we can continue to do ours. This year we will be reprinting another batch of 3000 books and continue to distribute them.

Please don't forget to go to our Facebook Page to check out more pictures.

Chardi Kala,

Gurmeet Kaur
www.folktalesofpunjab.com
www.pippal.org

Dear Friend,

A lot of Government Primary Schools in Punjab don't have libraries. Others don't have books that attract children and inspire them to read. There are certainly no books that are dual -language, heavily illustrated, playful, attractive and those that give wings to children's imaginations, teach them good values while teaching them basic things about the Undivided Punjab -- it's two scripts and common heritage.

 So when Simranjit Singh goes to government primary schools and does storytelling sessions for children from our Undivided Punjab edition, they are not only mesimerized, they are inspired to learn - good Punjabi, good English, know about Shahmukhi and much more. 

By donating books to their schools and encouraging them to borrow them from their teacher we instill a culture of reading at home. 

If the kids are ambitious, they further explore the Shahmukhi script. They learn good English through translations. This books becomes a whole world for them.

And we have you to thank for doing your part so we can continue to do ours. This year we will be reprinting another batch of 3000 books and continue to distribute them.

Please don't forget to go to our Facebook Page to check out some of the pictures.

Chardi Kala,

Gurmeet Kaur
www.folktalesofpunjab.com
www.pippal.org

Dear Supporter,
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Thank You for your support to the Fascinating Folktales of Punjab. Have you heard about our new and exciting book on the life and times of Jaswant Singh Khalra that teaches children about the history of 20th century Punjab in an inspiring way? 

Please click here to watch the book trailer and learn more about how we want to take this book to every child in Punjab.

https://www.dvnetwork.org/projects/the-valiant---jaswant-singh-khalra-punjab-distribution

From NOW (Nov. 13 2020 12:00 EST) until the funds run out into The Dasvandh Week, your donations to our project will be matched (see details below).

Upto $250 per person will be matched by DVN until their matching funds run out and the code DVWEEK20 is entered. 

Please remember:
Matching Code, DVWEEK20, during the checkout process must be entered at checkout to receive matching fundsSingle donor matching limit is $250.

If you want to donate more, please split the donation with your family members or friends. Please ask your friends or family members to do the same. Any amount is appreciated. 

Thank You,

Gurmeet Kaur
Team Pippal
www.pippal.org

https://www.dvnetwork.org/projects/the-valiant---jaswant-singh-khalra-punjab-distribution

Dear Friend,

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

I know it's been a while that we had a chance to interact. At DVN you will shortly hear about our upcoming project - The first of its kind but I wanted you to hear it directly from me. 

Here is a  video trailer of the upcoming book(s) for your children ages 12+ that I have been dilligently working on. This is the book you had always wanted -  many of you have written to me to write on 1984. Recently, I got an opportunity to do just that through an illustrated biography on the life and times of our hero The Valiant - Jaswant Singh Khalra. You can find more information about the book on www.pippal.org

Back to the Fascinating Folktales of Punjab - Engage Punjab Project. We have almost run out of our first edition prints, we have been busy distributing the books in Punjab even as Covid has slowed us down some. Your donations will help us print another edition for the upcoming year.

Here is an interesting review of our Undivided Punjab Edition that we recently ran into that we thought you may enjoy,

Book Review By Naujawani

Hope you stay safe this winter and get to read a lot of cool books.

Much Love,

Gurmeet Kaur

www.pippal.org

www.folktalesofpunjab.com

Dear Supporter,

Since we launched our Audio Stories for Children, we have had thousands of hours of listening from SoundCloud and hundreds of direct downloads from parents around the world. Finally our children have beautiful audio stories in their Ma-Boli Punjabi to listen to -- Stories, that get their imagination going, while teaching them important language skills and good values in an entertaining and engaging way.
 

The audio versions are absolutely free for everyone to listen, download, or share. Have you shared them with your families and friends yet?
 

Listen to them Online - 

Or Download them from our website for Offline listening:

http://www.folktalesofpunjab.com/audio/

ਹੁਣ ਆਡੀਓ ਵਿਚ - ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੋਹਣੀਆਂ ਬਾਤਾਂ ਕਲਪਨਾ ਦੇ ਉਸ ਦੇਸ ਵੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਜਾਣਗੀਆਂ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਮਾਣਸ, ਜੀਅ-ਜੰਤ, ਪੰਛੀ-ਜਨੌਰ, ਵਣ-ਤ੍ਰਿਣ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿਚ ਪਿਆਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਾਤਾਂ ਪਾਉੰਦੇ ਵਿਸਮਦੇ ਨੇ।
ਸੁਣੋ, ਸਾਂਝੀਆਂ ਕਰੋ ਤੇ ਡਾਊਨਲੋਡ ਕਰੋ!
 

Enjoy!
Gurmeet Kaur
Author, Fascinating Folktales of Punjab

www.folktalesofpunjab.com

ਹੁਣ ਆਡੀਓ ਵਿਚ - ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੋਹਣੀਆਂ ਬਾਤਾਂ ਕਲਪਨਾ ਦੇ ਉਸ ਦੇਸ ਵੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਜਾਣਗੀਆਂ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਮਾਣਸ, ਜੀਅ-ਜੰਤ, ਪੰਛੀ-ਜਨੌਰ, ਵਣ-ਤ੍ਰਿਣ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਵਿਚ ਪਿਆਰ ਦੀਆਂ ਬਾਤਾਂ ਪਾਉੰਦੇ ਵਿਸਮਦੇ ਨੇ।
ਸੁਣੋ, ਸਾਂਝੀਆਂ ਕਰੋ ਤੇ ਡਾਊਨਲੋਡ ਕਰੋ!
 
Dear Supporter,

How often has this happened?  Your children are in a long car ride or getting ready to go to bed and you wished that they had beautiful audio stories in their Ma-Boli Punjabi to listen to -- Stories, that get their imagination going, while teaching your children important language skills and good values in an entertaining and engaging way.
 
Your wish has come true.

For the last two years, My team and I have been working hard to complete the audio version of the Fascinating Folktales of Punjab books on request of many parents who are second or third generation Punjabis and have difficulty pronouncing the 'Theth Punjabi' in these books or simply because they love the way I narrate these stories.

These stories will transport children to their Punjab - where animals and birds, human beings and trees - all interact with each other in Punjabi -- the language of love.

The audio versions are absolutely free for everyone to listen, download, or share.
 
Enjoy!
Gurmeet Kaur
Author, Fascinating Folktales of Punjab
Listen / Download Here

Parent Review

Fascinating Folktales of Punjab series are stories written at a level, same as the scripts written for Hollywood animated films for children. Absolutely childlike with heights of intellect in them, which makes them age-appropriate for ALL.

The author, Gurmeet Kaur, has made them twice as lively in the audio version by adding her expressive voice along with a true sentiment from the heart.

Music composer, Jitin Bajwa, has created exactly what artists Susanna Dong and Chaaya Prabhat have created for printed version of these stories; simply a mesmerizing resonance for the words through musical instruments and through
paint brush, respectively.

And last but not the least is Liv Kaur, who pops up out of nowhere at the end of audio version of each story, just to make you crave for another.
- H. Singh, U.S.A

Listen / Download Here
 

Dear Friend,

Wish you a very happy 2019.

Our team has been busy not only taking the Fascinating Folktales to the schools of Punjab that you can see the testemonies of on our Youtube channel and Facebook Page but also - on another important mission that we need your support on.

I was in Kartapur Sahib, West Punjab (the last earthly abode of Baba Nanak) in Feb. 2018 and felt a deep connection to the sacred space because unlike East Punjab the Gurdwara Sahib complex and the fields of Baba Nanak still made you travel back in time and connect to the time and space of Guru Sahib. 

With Kartarpur Corridor opening news, I got a bit worried when I saw the overly commercialized plans for the village. Long story short, after knocking on several doors to take the preservation of the sacred place - I decided to do something about it. I cannot in my lifetime bear to see this important place become a city of marbleized structures in the name of religous tourism that has spoiled the serenity of Darbar Sahib, Amritsar and Nankana Sahib.

I have written to a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan. Please read my letter here, draft your own and send along. All the details on addresses etc. are provided.

👉https://bit.ly/2VIqUyA👈

I have also set up a Facebook Page - ਥਾਨ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ - Kartarpur - The Abode Blissful and stared on Online Petition. Please be a part of this noble cause. Spare a few minutes - read about our ask, connect with us, spread the word, write letters, sign and forward the petiton. 

I appreciate you being there for this cause for the sake of our heritage and our future generations.

Many Thanks,

Gurmeet Kaur 

www.folktalesofpunjab.com

Dear Friends,

Thank You, for supporting our project. Your contributions are at work already. We celebrated Gurpurab in Nankana Sahib by gifting books to children from Peshawar, Sindh, Baluchistan, Lahore and ofcourse the ones that live right there at the Janam Asthan. In East Punjab, we continue to reach out to government schools in the remotest areas without access to good Punjabi literature for children. 

With our Sanjha Punjab Edition, we hope to revive a lost dream in the children of Punjab — of the love of Undivided Punjab and its beautiful Mother Language Punjabi..and to instill in them that Punjabiyat transcends religious, class, geographical and dialectical boundaries.

Please see more pictures from the field and meet some of the children from both sides of the fence here. It will bring a smile on your face. Click Here.

Happy commencement of the 550th year.

Gurmeet Kaur

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