Intro_Beas Press_Jul 23 2025

Isn’t it interesting how once you implant an idea in your head, you romanticize the rewards and gratification that’ll come from doing it—but when you actually start working, you only think about the process (or at least in a romanticized way)?

I’ve wanted to put my work—at least my writing—out there for so long. I wanted it to be perfect. But it wasn’t a sudden revelation or a "we only live once" moment that made me do it. I think I just got frustrated and tired of holding things in. I got tired of not being able to show you how I see things.

I can’t wait to tell you about my Vienna trip and the Panjabis there. I genuinely can’t wait to tell you about the Babbu Maan concert. I can’t wait to tell you how my PhD supervisor made me feel recently. I can’t wait to tell you how much one Arjan Dhillon song is making me rethink Panjabi literature. And I really can’t wait to tell you how much we let our fathers* (derogatory) get away with.

I also haven’t put out my design work since starting my PhD—and it’s been very intentional. I think you’ve boxed me into the image of being strictly a designer. And I know one of you—even after I told you repeatedly not to label me that way—your trifling ass kept doing it. That pissed me off. I stopped creating and sharing my design work because of it. And honestly? It hurt.

But I think Beas Press will be where I explore my design side again. Not through the lens of what you think I should do, but where my work (research and non-research) leads me.

Creating the branding and assets for Beas Press brought me so much joy. Realizing how good I was at this shit? Amazing. But I hit my design ceiling early—and that’s okay. I’m at peace with how much I accomplished in my design career so young.

* If you have/had a healthy relationship with your father, this isn’t for you. Also, how fucking dare you lol.

My name is Imroze—or as Manvinder sometimes calls me, ami-roj—and I’m really glad you’re here. I can’t wait for you to join this journey where I open doors and close doors (Jhumpa Lahiri reference). I call it Beas because:

First, I’m obsessed with my pind (village) Goindval. So obsessed, I changed my last name to Goindval. (Also, no way I’m carrying on my fatherly lineage, lmfao. My fucking big nose begs to differ.)

Second, I want to honour my times with the Beas River. Growing up, it was always there. Whether I remember it or not, it witnessed my life—even when we left the pind for Amritsar, then Amritsar for Canada. I have so much to tell you about the Beas.

Anyway, thank you for joining me. You’re walking onto the most vulnerable stage of my adult life.

Currently reading- Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Currently listening- Clipse: Let God Sort Them Out (Album), Arjan Dhillon: Raah Warga (Single), Miles Davis: Sketches of Spain (Album)

P.S. I hope my upstairs neighbours get a life. I’ve never seen the term "brat" manifest so vividly in real life—and no, I’m not referring to Arjan Dhillon’s Brat album. My king would never commit the atrocities that couple has inflicted on me. I feel bad for their French bulldog. Also? Get a real dog.