Gurdwaras: The video introduction

How do you introduce a book that is a labour of love? Luckily, this was not my decision. It was made for me by the publisher. Rajiv Daswani of Gentry Press and his team performed a transnational miracle by creating this promotional video for us.

The book Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru has had a central place in my mind for the last five years or so; now it’s time to let it go. I have known meticulous people, but Rajiv is a cut above them. After pouring his soul into producing the book, he has shown equal passion for giving it visibility, from featuring it at the Frankfurt Book Fair to finding the right distributors worldwide, and now creating this promotional video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3qEXoyqDQ

Introducing Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru

He was also very specific about the people he would entrust to produce the video, the shots he wanted, etc. He even went into detail on the shades of the kurta and turban I was to wear, as well as Allan Quesada’s outfit. His trust in Jennifer Celdran is well-founded, and it was a pleasure to work with her.

On a hot Delhi day, we shot at multiple locations, including two Gurdwaras featured in the book. Sugin Charles, the photographer, flew in from Malaysia for the shoot and went back that very night.

Even during our vacation, the demands of the book took priority.

We had just come back from a “working-holiday” in Kerala, and after a day, we were in Delhi for the shoot. Jaspreet was there to help me and take care of so many things that needed to be done. At one point, she and Jenny were heard commiserating about how difficult it is for men to emote on camera!

Jennifer Celdran and Sugin Charles at work, making Allan and me look good!

We needed some videos of Harmandir Sahib, and for this, my friend, the Amritsar-based journalist Ravinder Singh Robin who, was forthcoming, providing the beautiful scenes we used in the video.

I knew Sukhpal Sukh as an outstanding music producer and anthem creator. Still, I discovered his mellifluous singing when he composed the music for this video and sang it, too.

Gosh, what it takes to produce a good video like this! The result is so seamless, so beautiful, that it’s easy to forget what it took to get there. Of course, it reminds me of Gurdwaras: Abodes of the Guru. The journey was long, and it had its challenges, but that’s not what you remember when you look at the finished book. You want it to reach readers’ hands.

I share this video as a curtain raiser for what has become the most significant book for me.