Himalayan Wonderland
Travels In Lahaul And Spiti
In the summer of 1962, a restless young Indian administrator, Manohar Singh Gill, made an arduous journey from the north Indian plains to the farthest reaches of the Indian Himalayas—the Lahaul and Spiti valleys—and spent a year there, living and working amongst the people. Gill went on to a distinguished career in the civil services and government, but his experience of the relentless beauty of these spectacular Himalayan deserts and the generosity of the people of this land changed him for life.
Part memoir, part travel book and part anthropology, Himalayan Wonderland is a witty, opinionated account of Gill’s lifelong affair with this extraordinary region. The book, however, is much more than one man’s account of a place … it is a hopeful and enlightening view of the practice of administration and the joy of working with people.
Illustrated with more than forty photographs taken by Gill himself, and including detailed contour maps and information on trekking routes in Lahaul and Spiti, this is a remarkably illuminating and accessible account of this faraway land—from the 1960s, when few knew about the place, to today’s unpredictable world of receding glaciers and lost cultures.
With 16 black and white and 8 colour illustrations, Himalayan Wonderland: Travels In Lahaul And Spiti is published by Penguin India, 2010. Softcover, 20 x 14 cm, 296 pages. ISBN 9780670084135.
Tales From The Hills
Lahaul’s Enduring Myths and Legends
The district of Lahaul-Spiti, west of Tibet and south of Ladakh, presents the most spectacular view to the human eye. Dotted with high snow peaks, glaciers, rivers and vistas of inner Himalayan desert landscapes, it is believed that this region’s monasteries, friendly lamas and pristine beauty also hide ancient legends. The Mulkila Rakshasini, Barsi Nullah Bhoot, Chandrataal Fairy, a host of joginis and other mythical creatures have walked across its valleys. Manohar Singh Gill’s lifelong affair with this Himalayan wonderland has led him to collect its most enduring myths and folklore. Narrated in the gently prodding voice of a seasoned traveller, Tales from the Hills tells thirty-two stories that bring alive an enchanting world. An important repository of the culture and history of one of the world’s most beautiful spots.
Tales from The Hills: Lahaul’s Enduring Myths and Legends is published by HarperCollins, 2014. Softcover, 12.85 x 19.84 cm, 224 pages. ISBN 9789351363767.
Putting Bhagat Singh Statue in Parliament
This book is a record of the endeavour by Manohar Singh Gill to place the freedom fighter Bhagat Singh’s statue in the Indian Parliament. It contains correspondence between him and political figures across the spectrum of parties represented in parliament, beginning with his first letter to the Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, in 2007. The statue was placed there in 2008.
Putting Bhagat Singh Statue in Parliament is published by Chetna Parkashan, 2021. Hardcover, 22.3 x 15 cm, 69 pages. ISBN 8194861896.
ਯਾਦਾਂ (Yaadan)
In the words of Sanwal Dhami, “It’s about the Corona period. After reading the column ‘Wand de Dukhdre’ published in ‘Punjabi Tribune’, Dr. Manohar Singh Gill and others called. A lot of things happened. The love of a retired person who had enjoyed the post of minister after holding high positions for his village, area and Punjab felt like a rainbow. Then we started talking often. One day I asked – can I record your words? He asked in a soft, gentle tone – where did that brother come from? I told him in a low voice – someday I will write something about you. He liked my suggestion. We started talking for one and a half to two hours every day thinking of ‘writing something’. Gill Sahib’s words were like a rushing river. Punjab smelled in his words. His words were like the wind blowing, which was impossible to stop. I would ask small questions and he would give big answers. Finally, one day, he ordered in his own special way – enough is enough, brother. Now type it up and print it out! I kept listening to those things again and again, typing it out and also revising it as needed. The things we had said on the phone for about one and a half to two months, today have come before you in the form of a book under the title ‘Memories’. I hope that you will like these ‘memories’, which are written in the words of a former senior officer, a minister but a true Punjabi.”
Yaadan is published by Autumn Art, 2023. Softcover, 21.5 x 14.2 cm, 258 pages. ISBN 9394183973.