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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