‘Hymns in Blood’ is an English translation of a Punjabi novel ‘Khoon de Sohile’ by legendary Punjabi author Nanak Singh, first published in February 1948, and now translated for the first time into English by his grand son Navdeep Suri, a former diplomat who has served in India's diplomatic missions in Washington DC and London. He was also India's ambassador to Egypt and the UAE.

Navdeep Suri in conversation with broadcaster Achala Sharma says dealing with the trauma of partition of India in 1947, the novel provides a message of healing that is as relevant today in the context of Hindu-Muslim communalism as it was 75 years ago and provides a timely reminder of the grief and trauma that a religious divide brings in its wake.
The novel tells the story based in 1947, Chakri, an idyllic village on the banks of the Soan near Rawalpindi, surrounded by stalks of golden wheat and festive songs. Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs eagerly await the end of winter and get together to prepare for Lohri.
Amidst this joyous bustle, Baba Bhana, the erudite village elder, worries about the future of his foster daughter, Naseem. Life comes to a halt when news of a possible partition of India reaches the village. Amid a frenzy of communal violence, Baba Bhana and his family must reluctantly leave their beloved village. They embark on a long and dangerous journey, slowly coming to terms with the fact that their lives may be changing forever.

The novel ‘Hymns In Blood’ written by Nanak Singh of ‘Pavitra Papi’ and ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’ fame, translated from the Punjabi by Navdeep Suri has been published by Harper Collins India in 2022.