Burden of Tomorrow

Japanese warplanes are bombarding Burma constantly, putting several Indians employed by the British in grave danger.

Goldram, a senior railway officer, is offered the opportunity to get on an aeroplane with his immediate family and escape the carnage. However, he feels equally responsible for the safety of his extended family, comprising more than 40 people, and decides to make a journey out of Burma on foot. Goldram’s wife supports his somewhat incomprehensible decision to assist his relatives at the risk of his own family, but it comes at a considerable expense to her and their children.

In Burden of Tomorrow, the author navigates masterfully between the past, present and future, adding depth and intricacy to the characters’ unique stories and perspectives. The narrative delves into how families react when they are teetering at the precipice of an abyss and serves as a testament to the power of determination, resilience and the strength that lies within a united family.

Will Goldram succeed in his daring escape, or has he made the biggest mistake of his life? Find out in this moving tale about family, friendships and displacement where limitless possibilities await those who dare to dream.

Dr S.C. Narula completed his undergraduate studies in Physics and Astronomy, followed by a postgraduate degree in English Literature. He went on to earn his PhD from Delhi University. His doctoral dissertation focused on Christopher Fry and was later published as the Theocentric World of Fry's Drama. His work on Milton was published as the Milton Handbook: Analysing Poetry in the Context of the Pulpit & the Ludlow Masque, along with several shorter poems. The chapters comprising this work originated as presentations at academic conferences and Milton Seminars, garnering global recognition for him.

Having extensively travelled, he has contributed numerous research articles to distinguished international literary journals. His initial venture beyond academia was The Third Passenger, a collection of poems published in 2016, which has now entered its second printing. In the same year, he published his second compilation of poetry, titled Inheritors of Broken Sky. Furthermore, he has penned several volumes of short stories, a novella titled Damyanti: Woman of Substance and a novel, The Ranas of Solan.

Dr Narula has earned acclaim for his skill in translating Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi poetry into English, a role he undertook for the esteemed Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters) and Rupa Publications. He is also honoured with the Dhaka Translation Fest (2018) Lifetime Literary Award.