In the wake of the world’s largest COVID-19 lockdown, India witnessed one of the biggest migrant crises to ever hit the country. Lakhs of migrant workers were stranded in big cities, with no means of returning to their villages and hometowns. Amid all this, actor Sonu Sood took the responsibility of giving many such people a safe passage back home.
While his work still continues, he has been recording his extraordinary experiences and is going to write a book about this ‘life-changing’ journey. Penguin Random House India has signed actor Sonu Sood for his debut book, which is inspired by his rescue missions. This as-of-yet untitled book will be released later in the year.
Sonu Sood is one of the most popular actors in Bollywood who successfully crossed over to regional cinema and has several blockbuster hits to his credit. His debut book, written in the first person, will reveal the emotional and often challenging journeys he undertook along with the people he rescued. He will narrate the many stories he heard and the interactions he had, and will also share how this experience not only changed his outlook but also his life’s purpose.
Going above and beyond his professional capacity, Sonu launched an initiative to help reunite migrant workers who were stranded in Mumbai with their families in distant corners of the country. Personally financing the modes of travel and working around the logistical challenges of state border restrictions, Sonu and his team rolled out a toll-free number and a WhatsApp helpline to connect with and then arrange transportation for those desperately seeking a way out, other than walking back to their villages.
Commenting on his upcoming book, Sonu Sood says, “The past three and half months have been a kind of a life-changing experience for me, living with the migrants for sixteen to eighteen hours a day and sharing the pain. When I go to see them off as they begin their journey back home, my heart is filled with joy and relief. Seeing the smiles on their faces, the tears of happiness in their eyes has been the most special experience of my life, and I pledged that I’ll keep on working to send them back to their homes until the last migrant reaches his village, to his loved ones.”
He goes on to add, “I believe I came to this city for this—and this was my purpose. I want to thank god for making me a catalyst in helping the migrants. While my heartbeats in Mumbai, after this movement I feel a part of me lives in the villages of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Uttarakhand and various other states where I have now found new friends and made deep connections. I have decided to put these experiences, stories that are embedded in my soul forever, in a book, and I’m very delighted that Penguin Random House is publishing it. I want you to be a part of this journey, so that we can share these special stories and make them immortal. I’m excited, nervous and overwhelmed, and I can’t wait to connect with you through my book. I look forward to your support—and love you all.’
Milee Ashwarya, publisher, Ebury Publishing and Vintage Publishing, Penguin Random House India, says, “While most of us in our lifetimes wish to work to help others in need, only a few actually make it our life’s mission. Sonu Sood is one such person. For the past two months, he has been spending most of his time and resources in helping the migrants find their way back home. He is there with them, standing shoulder to shoulder, sharing their pain and giving them hope. The book will bring together the story of this amazing journey—of people who were suddenly left without security and livelihood; of hope and the feeling of oneness that binds us all together. I am grateful that Sonu is sharing these stories in a book, and I am proud to publish it.”
