Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 21 Feb: The Doon Library and Research Centre hosted a literary dialogue on Saturday evening, featuring Ruby Gupta, a renowned English literature professor, writer and academician, discussing her short story collection Love and Crime.
The event, titled “Desire, Deceit and Death: A Conversation on Love and Crime,” saw enthusiastic participation from the city’s intellectuals, students, and literature enthusiasts. Former DGP Uttarakhand, Anil Raturi, was the chief speaker, sharing insights on the psychological aspects of crime, the thin line between love and obsession, and the connection between literature and real-life crimes.
He stated that many real crimes have their roots in emotional tensions that literature attempts to express with its unique sensitivity. Gupta’s story collection is fully capable of leaving an impact on readers with these very characteristics.
Speaking about her collection, Ruby Gupta said that ‘Love and Crime’ explores the complex facets of human relationships—love, jealousy, betrayal, and obsession. She discussed her affinity for psychological suspense and noir traditions, the process of writing short stories, and the potential of crime fiction in contemporary India.
The discussion also touched upon the evolution of Indian crime fiction, the role of female characters in noir literature, and moral dilemmas. The Q&A session saw audience members asking about the inspiration behind the stories, research aspects of writing, and the interplay between reality and fiction.
Some readers appreciated the stories’ atmosphere, psychological depth, and plot intensity. At the bookstall, readers and literature enthusiasts purchased her books and asked informal questions while getting them signed by the author.
The event was part of the Doon Library and Research Centre’s ongoing initiative to foster meaningful dialogue on literature and contemporary writing, and was well-received by the audience.
The programme was attended by N Ravi Shankar, Director, Doon Library and Research Centre, Chief Information Commissioner, Radha Raturi, BC Pathak, Madhu Pathak, Kalyan Singh Butola, Surendra Sajwan, former Chief Conservator of Forests, Uttarakhand, Jai Raj, RK Bakshi, and Alok Sarin, along with Centre’s Librarian DK Pandey, Sunder Singh Bisht, Rakesh Kumar, and others.
