Jaspreet Singh, born in 1969, is an acclaimed Canadian writer and chemist known for his literary works that often explore deep, historical trauma. He grew up in the Indian state of Punjab and later moved to Canada in 1990. His journey from a chemical engineer with a PhD to an award-winning novelist is nothing short of extraordinary. Jaspreet Singh’s evolution from the laboratory to the literary world is a testament to the power of transformation, resilience, and the human spirit.
In a world where science and art often stand apart, Jaspreet Singh bridges this gap masterfully. His works delve into the intricacies of human experience, set against the backdrop of profound historical moments. He doesn’t just write stories—he crafts reflections of reality, allowing his readers to process, understand, and empathize with the wounds of the past.
Jaspreet Singh: From the Lab to Literature
Jaspreet Singh’s journey began in the field of chemical engineering, where he pursued his studies at McGill University in Canada. But even during his time as a chemist, he felt the pull of storytelling. His understanding of complex systems and reactions mirrored his curiosity about human emotions and societal upheavals. This parallel between science and literature is a common thread in Singh’s work. He uses his scientific background not just as a credential but as a lens through which he examines human complexities.
One of his key works, Helium, reflects this profound understanding of both the physical and emotional realms. The novel, set against the backdrop of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India, uses the inert element Helium as a metaphor for the suppressed emotions of the protagonist, Raj, a chemistry student.
Much like Helium, which doesn’t burn or react easily, Raj struggles with his internal turmoil, watching the flames of violence consume his world. Singh’s use of scientific symbols to depict emotional struggles demonstrates his unique ability to marry two seemingly unrelated fields.
Exploring Trauma Through Fiction
Jaspreet Singh is not afraid to confront difficult subjects. His works, like Seventeen Tomatoes: Tales from Kashmir and Chef, grapple with landscapes marked by conflict, particularly the region of Kashmir and the Siachen Glacier, which have long been sites of violence and tension. His characters inhabit these turbulent spaces, carrying the weight of history on their shoulders.
Jaspreet Singh’s writing does more than tell a story—it demands that readers sit with the discomfort of unresolved histories, forcing them to reckon with trauma, memory, and the pursuit of justice.
In Helium, Jaspreet Singh tackles one of India’s most devastating historical events: the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The book delves into the life of Raj, the son of a police officer complicit in the violence. The novel examines the generational trauma that follows such events, highlighting the deep emotional scars that children of perpetrators carry.
Jaspreet Singh’s decision to write from the perspective of a Hindu, rather than a Sikh victim, is a bold one. It allows him to explore guilt, denial, and complicity—elements often overlooked in historical accounts of such events. Through Raj’s internal struggles, Singh poses questions that resonate far beyond the pages of his novel: How do we cope with the crimes of our ancestors? How do we reconcile with histories of violence that implicate those closest to us?
Writing as a Form of Healing
Though Jaspreet Singh’s work grapples with deep trauma, his writing is also about healing. His characters often face monumental emotional obstacles but strive for resolution and understanding. In Helium, Raj’s journey towards acknowledging his father’s role in the violence is both painful and liberating.
By the end of the novel, Raj makes a significant decision to confront the truth, no longer remaining silent about his father’s complicity in the crimes of 1984. In this act, Singh explores the potential for healing—not through forgetting, but through remembrance and accountability.
Jaspreet Singh’s writing process is equally reflective of this theme. He has spoken openly about the difficulty of writing Helium, describing it as a project he often wanted to abandon.
But through perseverance, he found a way to tell the story in a new form, using the hybrid of fiction, personal narrative, and historical testimony. His work serves as a reminder that healing is not always linear. It requires confronting the past, even when it is painful, and searching for ways to make sense of trauma.
Impact on Literature and Beyond
Jaspreet Singh’s contribution to literature extends beyond the stories he tells. As a writer-in-residence at the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, he has influenced a new generation of writers, encouraging them to find their voice in the face of difficult histories. His play, Speak, Oppenheimer, and his poetry collection November, further exemplify his ability to traverse genres while maintaining a powerful connection to history, memory, and trauma.
Jaspreet Singh’s voice is one of empathy and introspection, exploring how individuals and societies grapple with collective wounds. His works encourage readers to examine their own relationships with history and to consider how past events shape present realities. In Helium, Raj’s final journey to The Hague, where the UN International Criminal Court is located, symbolizes a search for justice and accountability on a global scale.
The Power of Storytelling
Jaspreet Singh’s work is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. From the first story he wrote in 2000 to his latest novel Face, his writing remains a potent exploration of the human condition. Singh’s background as a chemist, combined with his deep understanding of historical trauma, gives his writing a unique perspective—one that resonates not just with readers of fiction, but with anyone grappling with the complexities of memory, guilt, and justice.
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