Ramendra Kumar

The Canine Chronicles Ramendra Kumar

This is the tale of Aryan, a six-year-old Labrador set in Covid times. Aryan is a Guppy or a Grown-Up Puppy. He is staying with his mumma, papa and his two siblings all of whom are working from home. This is the first time in 12 years that Aryan's fam has been together for more than three months. And they are having a blast despite the gloom, fear and anxiety all around. Aryan's fam bonds like never before. It draws from its huge cache of memories and recreated the fun, the joy, the togetherness which it has been missing for years come back. The book highlights that sometimes it needs the worst of times to bring out the best in us.

The book brings to the fore issues that have impacted our sensibilities as a result of Corona. It describes tongue firmly in cheek how our vocabulary has been enriched because of the pandemic, the various milestones such as 'coming together' of vessels, the 'masking' of humanity, the pandemic of apathy and the paradigm shifts from lockdown to unlock-down and back again. It touches upon the lessons nature is teaching us and how being inhuman in some cases has become the new normal.

USP of the book is the sometimes conditional, mostly unconditional love Aryan and his fam feel for each other. It is gentle tribute to all Guppies and their fams and the perfect connect they share.

Aryan is joined by Priyamvada or Pri, his partner as they together deconstruct love and laughter in the time of Corona. About Ramendra Kumar

Ramendra Kumar (Ramen) is an award-winning writer, a storyteller and an inspirational speaker with 38 books. His writings have been translated into 29 languages - both Indian and foreign. He has won 34 awards in the competition for writers of children's literature organised by Children's Book Trust, over the years. This tally is one of the highest won by any writer.

Ramen's stories have also found a place in anthologies and textbooks within the country and beyond. His stories have been showcased on several prestigious online platforms like www. Kahaanifestival.com, Radio Mirchi, Google & Apple Podcasts, Spotify etc.

Ramen has been invited to literary conferences & festivals held in Denmark, Greece, Sharjah, Sri Lanka etc as well Indian events including the prestigious Jaipur Literature Festival, Bokaroo, etc. He has been conducting Workshops for children and parents across the country and also taking sessions for institutions and corporates.