A Birmingham author has launched an epic fantasy novel, the culmination of 35 years spent meticulously crafting a unique universe steeped in Indian mythology and spirituality. Gurd Chahal, 69, has released 'Cha'nir and the Light of Nam', the inaugural book in a planned trilogy that introduces a powerful South Asian superheroine as its central character.
Chahal, who moved to the UK from rural India at the age of eight, drew inspiration from the traditional stories he heard as a child, combined with his later fascination for Western epic fantasy. He explained that the protagonist, Cha'nir, is a tribute to the strong women within Indian communities who were pivotal in holding families together during the challenges of settling in the UK, particularly in the face of the overt racism he experienced in Birmingham during the 1960s.
His journey to becoming a published author was unconventional. Despite an early passion for reading and comics like Fantastic Four and Spider-Man, Chahal initially pursued a career in pharmacy after studying at Aston University, even pioneering in-store and drive-through pharmacies in the UK. However, the narrative for his fantasy world continued to develop in the background, driven by a desire to create a significant mythological story rooted in India and the East.
The story of 'Cha'nir and the Light of Nam' follows its heroine as she survives a massacre in 1970s India, is rescued by a cosmic guardian, and raised in a mystical realm. Chahal emphasises that the book's originality and unique perspective are what truly set it apart, aiming to expand the epic fantasy genre. He draws a parallel between his world-building and that of J.R.R. Tolkien, noting that his work, while similarly grand in scope, is distinctly rooted in Indian spirituality.
With the manuscript for the second book already complete, Chahal harbours ambitions for his created universe to extend beyond literature into various other media, including music, film, and visual art. He believes that after decades of dedicated development, the world is finally ready to embrace the story he has carried since childhood.