Asha Singh Gaur’s Fifteen Months and Seven Stories- Life through closed doors and masks- draws a picture of the Pandemic that we failed to see. The story of normal people trying to go through life one day at a time. As Gaur says, it is the story of the in-betweens. It is not about the pandemic but about people; their emotional and financial setbacks, the losses they couldn’t avoid, and separations they couldn’t fight for.
We all know what happened during the pandemic. It was a global catastrophe that we failed to control. Everything changed in December 2019 when the entire world had to face a global epidemic of COVID-19. People lost their freedom, their loved ones, jobs, and relationships. Stepping out of the home became a luxury, and for those who travelled by public transport, it was a nightmare. With newspapers swelling with the stories about death, not in tens or hundreds but in thousands, life looked more precious and relationships the prized possessions. Life had come to a standstill. There was a record number of separations, as for the first time in years, couples realised they could not spend time together with their partners. Many got stranded in different parts of the country, and some in foreign lands, away from their families, and some from their ailing old parents.
As the author very clearly puts it, ‘A lot was happening around us, and more than that, a lot was happening with us, physically, mentally, and financially. No one was ready for it, neither the medical fraternity nor the governments. Everyone was fighting a personal battle. Some battled for every breath, waiting for an oxygen cylinder, and others for daily essentials.’ But this book is neither about the pandemic nor about COVID-19 infection. Award-winning author Neelam Saxena, who has written the foreword for this book, says, “Asha Singh Gaur’s ‘Fifteen Months And Seven Stories’ is a poignant and deeply personal memoir that captures the tumultuous emotional landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic through a series of seven interconnected stories, offering a heartfelt exploration of loss, resilience, and self-discovery.
Fifteen Months and Seven Stories: Life through locked doors and masks is a book of perseverance in an unprecedented and grave situation. The memoir’s structure, centred around seven stories, mirrors the fragmented yet interconnected nature of life during the pandemic, each narrative thread weaving together moments of despair, introspection, and triumph. Gaur’s account of losing her job is not merely a tale of financial hardship but a catalyst for rediscovering her creative passions—writing poetry and painting. Her first book of poetry, published during this period, and her participation in virtual art exhibitions mark a turning point, transforming personal loss into artistic achievement.
These stories are bursting of a sense of authenticity, as Gaur does not shy away from the emotional toll of her experiences, from the overwhelming weight of uncertainty to the quiet joy of reconnecting with her family. Her reflections on living away from her parents resonate deeply with readers who, like her, found themselves geographically or emotionally distant from loved ones, making the book a powerful testimony to the collective struggles of a generation caught in the pandemic’s grip. Ms Gaur very candidly mentions that he lost her job during the pandemic but found herself. The rat race of corporate life had pulled her away from her passions, but losing the job brought her back to them as the building stress forced her to pick up the brush and vent on the canvas, creating a masterpiece which was waiting to be discovered. Since then, she has authored three books, edited quite a few and exhibited her artwork in more than ten art exhibitions in various cities across the country. There are many such stories of loss and self-discovery from the pandemic.
If you are looking for drama and pace, stop right there. “Fifteen Months And Seven Stories” is a powerful and uplifting memoir that transforms the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic into a narrative of hope, creativity, and human connection. The book moves ahead at its own pace; it is a slow burn that pulls you in with its relatable storytelling. Asha Singh Gaur’s ability to weave her personal experiences into a broader reflection on the shared challenges of the time makes this book a vital contribution to the literature of the pandemic era. Its exploration of loss and self-discovery, coupled with its celebration of artistic reinvention, resonates with anyone who faced uncertainty during those unprecedented fifteen months. For readers seeking solace, inspiration, or simply a reminder that they are not alone in their emotional journeys, Gaur’s memoir is a heartfelt and enduring testament to the power of storytelling to heal rather than excite the readers. It is a book that not only captures a moment in history but also celebrates the resilience of the human heart, proving that even amidst global turmoil, we can find ourselves and sail right through it to peaceful shores.
Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/-/hi/Asha-Singh-Gaur/dp/B0FF3D4LGL
About Asha Singh Gaur
Asha Singh Gaur is an author, translator and editor. After a decade-long corporate career, in 2015, she set out to pursue her passion and started writing professionally. Her work is inspired by her surroundings, people, nature and important incidents. Asha is also an artist and certified Dream Analyst and therapist. She loves helping people deal with stress and trauma through her Dream Analysis and Art Therapy.
Her work includes a book of Hindi poetry, ‘Surkh Laal Barf’. A novella, ‘The Sign’, and around four poetry anthologies, out of which three are edited by her. She has contributed to a futuristic anthology on India, ‘India@1947’ and her latest book, ‘Fifteen Months and Seven Stories‘, is a compilation of stories from the Pandemic. She has translated two novels, several stories and more than forty comic books.
In 2015, the manuscript of ‘Surkh Laal Barf’ was awarded the Radha Awadhesh Saahitya Smriti Samman. She received the Poet of the Year Award from Ukiyoto Publishing in 2023, and in 2024, she was awarded the Sahitya Ratna Samman for poetry by Indianet Books, Delhi. Her poem, Sarhadein, was awarded by the Poetry Society of India.
