English poetry book titled “Lost in the Night Sky” penned by 16-year-old Sukhmani Brar was released in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma, Commissioner of Police Rakesh Agrawal, former VC of Guru Nanak Dev University Dr SP Singh and noted Punjabi poet Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill at Circuit House, here today.A student of class 11 at Convent of Jesus & Mary, Waverly, Mussoorie, Sukhmani, whose 16th birthday falls today, penned this book during her free time during the lockdown period in Covid19 pandemic last year. “Rather than spending my time watching TV, I wanted to do something concrete and positive, hence this book was conceptualised,” she said. She also thanked her father, Police Inspector Amandeep Singh Brar, mother Harpreet Kaur Brar and elder sister Nanki Brar for motivating her for this book.While speaking on the occasion, former president Punjabi Sahit Akademi Prof Gurbhajan Singh Gill said that Sukhmani’s family basically hails from Bhagsar village in district Sri Muktsar Sahib.
He said that rather than wasting her time in other unproductive things, she chose penning this book during lockdown period.Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma appreciated Sukhmani’s parents for encouraging her to express her thoughts through this book titled “Lost in the Night Sky”. He urged other parents also to encourage and motivate their children to channelise their energy in the right direction.Commissioner of Police Rakesh Agrawal congratulated Sukhmani Brar for penning this book and releasing it on her 16th birthday. He also urged the Deputy Commissioner to honour such young children during the district level Independence Day function so that other children also get motivated.Dr SP Singh said that it is a great start for Sukhmani Brar and hoped that she would contribute more such books in the future as well.On the occasion, senior photojournalist Inderjeet Verma was also honoured. Prominent among those present on the occasion included Assistant Commissioner Parleen Kaur Kaleka, DPRO Puneet Pal Singh Gill, besides several others.