Naginder Sehmi

Naginder Sehmi was born in Kenya in 1937. A Kenyan-Swiss now lives in Geneva Switzerland having served in a specialized agency of the United Nations for 27 years in the field of water resources. He started as a teacher in Kenya and became a hydrologist in the Ministry Water in 1965. At heart he remains an Indian and a Sikh who has spent much of his life exploring and challenging the borders between eastern and western cultures and the frontiers between science and spirituality.

His first book, Twisted Turban centers on a heart-rending story of hardship and unfulfilled romantic love in a caste-based society. Through true-life accounts, it provides an unparalleled insight into the lives of Sikhs in India and the Asian diaspora across Africa, Europe and America. Full of humour, insight and keen observation, the book is an account of a personal journey and at the same time a commentary on some of the problems of today's society. As an intellectual and an academic, the author has never ceased to wonder at the cynical and often gullible cultural and religious assumptions of society.

Susheel Ram, a lawyer in the UK remembered him after more than 57 years: "This breaking news has engendered a certain degree of euphoria and elation in my mind and heart. Glad I am to note Naginder's rise to the ranks of writers of distinction and the fact that he hails from our Eldoret and being my esteemed contemporary makes me feel proud of his latest achievement. Mind you this is not surprising as right from the earlier days at the Schools in Eldoret he trailed the blaze of successes. It seemed that Naginder was designed/destined for accomplishments, engineered for success and endowed with the seeds of greatness from the humble beginnings. I vividly recall my misspent youth with Mohinder(his younger brother) whereas Naginder had a strong will, a settled purpose an invincible determination which produced best of successes for him, a real treasury of inspiration.

Naginder by writing “Twisted Turban” has demonstrated that key to life is not accumulation but contribution, an invaluable one.

I can go on to sing praises of Naginder Sehmi but I have to fight the temptation and convey my personal heartiest congratulations to Naginder on getting a literary entry into the annals of scholars. A crowning glory in retirement in Switzerland."