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‘Wings of Fantasy’- a collection of short stories by a twelve-year-old Delhi schoolgirl

© UNICEF/India/Omesh Matta/2005

Cecilio Adorna, Representative, UNICEF India, releasing Ragini Bali's collection of short stories 'Wings of Fantasy'

by Savita Naqvi

New Delhi, August 2005– ‘Wings of Fantasy’, a collection of short stories by Ragini Bali, a sensitive, twelve-year-old Delhi schoolgirl, was launched at the International Book Fair at Pragati Maidan (27 August to 04 September 2005) on Sunday, 28 August.

Cecilio Adorna, Representative, UNICEF India had the pleasure of releasing this insightful book before a group of admirers of the young author who spent most of her twelve years in Poland and New York and is now based in Delhi. The book takes the reader through the author’s flights of fantasy and cultural explorations… definitely a rich experience for both young and old who love to read and dare to dream.
"A wave has hit, yes, but maybe we’re a little better off than before.”

The range of Ragini’s interests and concerns is impressive. About Betty, the 10-year-old protagonist of The Prisoners, she says, “This little girl should not be here! She is still a child.” The young author touches on issues in the realm of juvenile justice and child rights in a forthright and innocent way that a child alone can.

Ragini chose to read her favourite short story Sunset to her fans at the book launch and left them with the lingering beauty of this “magical barrier between night and day”.

A Wave Has Hit, is another poignant story where Ragini’s indomitable spirit manages to see the positive impact of the 26 December tsunami. “Whatever natural disaster heads our way, we will stand together like the big, united country we truly are. A wave has hit, yes, but maybe we’re a little better off than before.”

The book has been published by Niyogi Offset Pvt Ltd.