I am privileged enough to encounter one such charismatic Writer – Bommadevara Sai Chandravadhan. Fondly known as Author Vadhan, he is a prolific reader.
A few years ago, his fingers clutched his pen, while his creative stories flowed on the paper. Shatru is his first published book, which is a prequel to his yet unpublished Fantasy Series.
Shatru: Kronikles Book-1
Shatru was half Asura. That was not the reason why he was the best Hunter for the most powerful peace keeping force in all fourteen worlds. If he did not do their bidding, they would kill the one person he loved.
That was just the way it was.
The Devas and Asuras, the most powerful of the Primordial Tribes shadow-controlled the financial, political and cultural lives of all of humanity just for one reason, domination over each other through control of terrestrials.
When the brittle line between adversity and aggression was broken they were set on a collision course. Shatru was the only one standing between them. To stop the Primordials from destroying each other, Shatru had to go after an ancient sentinel of Chaos ready to do what it takes just to destroy.
Vengeance was rising. Shatru was in the way. It was not only his loved ones in danger if he could not stop Armageddon.
Agniputr: When Agni First Spoke (a Bloomsbury Publication), his second published book and a multi-genre thriller has won the hearts of numerous readers as well as critics from some of India’s leading national newspapers – Hindu, The New Indian Express, Deccan Herald, Deccan Chronicle, Asian Age, Millennium Post, Eenadu; several literary platforms and top-end Bloggers and Vloggers; and literary magazines like the Muse, Sakaal Times and Writer’s Melon amongst others.
Agniputr: When Agni First Spoke
A tantric uses the entrails of a dead prince to perform an irreversible act of evil.
Years later, Sheila, a quantum physicist, finds a source of energy unparalleled in human history under an old castle in a remote village. It just might make India the next super-power. Or it might end up destroying the world.
Govind Kiromal, an all-powerful politician, is hell bent on taking over the old castle to harness the energy.
Ace lawyer, Raghuram Surya, files a case to stop the takeover of the castle because it is the only remnant of his ancestry.
Rathaya, a blind old man, dies clutching a piece of cloth. On it is ancient knowledge that can stop the approaching end of times.
Raghu and Sheila must stop the impending apocalypse by using quantum science to interpret the knowledge.
Through it all, they have to be one-step ahead of Kiromal just to stay alive.
Now is the time of final reckoning. Will Kiromal succeed in his plan to harness the unfathomable energy in Gudem?
Will the evil succeed in eradicating the planet?
Or, are Raghuram and Sheila merely pawns in an even deadlier game? A game as old as time!
Mr Vadhan is a Lawyer and Director responsible for regulatory risk practice in one of the world’s largest professional services firm. Though his roots belong to Eluru in Andra Pradesh, his birth and early years have been spent in Chennai and Tamil Nadu. After spending twelve years in Delhi, he has currently shifted to Mumbai lavishly tasting different flavours of India.
He has travelled extensively across the world in his professional capacity having worked for clients in Europe, Middle-East, Africa, North America, Asia Pacific and South East Asia. His writing encapsulates the essence of his travels and understanding of different cultures. He is living a happy life with his soul mate – Sonia and twinkling stars – Shayanthri and Rudhvir.
His recently published Crime Thriller – Fear Of God is an amazing Courtroom Drama story published by TreeShade Books.
Fear Of God
The brutal murder of a Minister has shocked the nation. The reason for the murder appears bizarre.
Those who were considered above the law are scurrying for cover as videos of the slaughter of several corrupt politicians goes viral on social media.
The vigilante’s next target is a war hero and top constitutional lawyer who took three bullets for the country. Why is he a target?
Jagan Jigyasi and his Special Crimes Division of the CBI have to race against time to stop the killings.
The legendary lawman has never failed to solve a crime.
The war hero is as brilliant in a courtroom as he is fearless facing a speeding bullet.
The vigilante is as devious as he is effective in instilling the fear of God into those who think they are above the law!
They are on a collision course. Who will be the last man standing?
So, let’s meet the fearless …
Author Vadhan!
With a happy-go-lucky style, he has shared valuable, fun-loving and interesting information and anecdotes.
Regarding online groups, here’s what he shares –
When I was beginning my stint as a writer, I joined many online groups. Some of them were very useful in helping me to structure my sentences and presentation of my work. It was a long time ago. Right now I am a part of groups on Facebook but they haven’t had much of an impact. They are only used for advertising books. I am not too impressed with them.
Let’s hear about his upcoming writing projects and his yet to be published Fantasy Series.
I just finished a new project that I have been working on for a while now. It is based on Indian temples. It is a thriller and I am liking the way it has turned out. Lot of work left with editing. I have a fantasy series that I think is my one big thing. Shatru, my first book is the prequel to the fantasy series. I am not sure when and how I am going to bring the series out into the world right now. I want it to be right and I want it to be successful. Let’s see. I am writing a detective book with which I also intend to tickle the funny bone. It is work in progress.
When I asked him, “Imagine, your story/novel has transformed into a brilliant movie. How would you react?”
I signed the movie rights for Fear of God so it has transformed. It is a very big moment for me. A dream come true! I believe in what I write and I think a lot of my spirit goes into my books. To see them appreciated enough for someone to bring them out into the world as a movie adaptation is fulfilling. At the same time it is a humbling experience.
The Bestselling Author … The Reader’s Favourite … How does this make you feel Mr Vadhan?
Exhilarating and fulfilling. A writer’s job is a lonely one. It is bereft with disappointments, failures, frustration and so forth. When suddenly, it all pays off and your work is appreciated, it feels that all of that was simply worth it.
Read along to know more about the mystifying Author Vadhan.
Any incidences happened during the writing of your books that affected you personally or affected the flow of your story?
Every incident is a story to tell. Anything I learn finds its way into the book in some sequence. A conversation I had with a stranger about traffic conditions in the NCR instigated me to write Fear of God. Another conversation about illegal sand quarrying became a part of the book. My own life and emotional experiences I have had translates to the emotions that my characters feel. Raghuram Surya’s emotions in my book Agniputr is largely based on my own emotions, inadequacies and limitations.
What’s unique about you?
Everyone is unique. There is nothing ordinary about any of us. We just need to find that uniqueness from within. My life has been a series of very different experiences. Be it spiritualism, love, career, etc. I have been fortunate in many ways, but I have also been deprived of many things. All of those experiences make me unique. It is really amazing if you see it. There are so many of us and if we take time to know at least some of them, there is something unique about each one of us. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a selfish way and in other times in an indifferent way. The key is to identify that uniqueness in us and explore the possibilities it throws up.
I am sure in your illustrious Writing Career you must have come across upmteen challenges. Would you like to share them? Who stood by you during your tough times?
My first book took ten years to publish. It was a very frustrating time when publishers were not interested in publishing Shatru, a book by a first time author. Finally, the one publisher I got did not give me the comfort as a publisher. I was very disappointed and terminated that relationship. I was in an all-time low when I came across my literary agent, SuhailMathur. He got Bloomsbury to publish my second book, Agniputr in three months. He took less than two months to find a publisher for Fear of God. TreeShadePublishers are like a breath of fresh air. They are passionate and proactive and I am very happy with them. Suhail was and continues to be of tremendous support to me. My Kids and Wife are very, very supportive and keep encouraging me to keep at it. My Family backed me up and believed in me. At the end of the day, the doubts I had were my own. One of those doubts was – Am I a writer at all or am I just fooling myself? Well, I can strike that one out now!
I believe there are numerous people in your lives you would be thankful to. However, there might be some really special ones, whom you will cherish lifelong. Do share their names and designations.
My children, Shayanthri and Rudhvir. My Wife and soul mate, Sonia. My parents, siblings. My sisters, especially Taruna Reddy and Satish Raghupathy were and are still very supportive of my writing. My Friends always believed in me. Sometimes, they were frustrated too. Obviously, sometimes my obsessiveness to write got to them as well. In the end, we all prevailed. We are lucky we get to continue the journey.
Imagine your 12-year-old self. What was going on in his mind, when he first thought of a story. What was the reason or the inspiration of that story? Why did it take so long to see the light?
The urge is not to write a story. The urge is to write. Period. To express. Maybe I couldn’t express myself in words. Maybe there was no one to listen or maybe people did not take me seriously. Maybe I was too shy as a boy or withdrawn. I do not really know why I had the urge to write. At the end of the day, I had an artistic inclination. So, I started to write. Poetry at first. That went into short stories and finally a story called Agniputr. I completed it thirty years later and one of the biggest publishing houses in the world, Bloomsbury, published that book.
Who are your best and worst critics?
My Wife is my biggest critic. She rips me apart when I give her the concept manuscript. My manuscript goes through several iterations. I am not one of those genius authors who can sit down and write an entire manuscript to perfection in one go. Thus, when she sees my initial drafts, she is ready to shoot me dead. But then, I go back, I work, I toil until I am happy with the draft. It takes me close to 6 to 8 months to finish a book. That’s a lot of hard work. Every one of the drafts are reviewed by my Wife and Kids before they are satisfied that the book is as good as done though at the end of the day, it is my call when I send it to my literary agent. My readers are critical. Some of them write to me. Some put up posts on Instagram and Facebook. Read the Reviews on Amazon. I am more interested in reading the critical reviews rather than the regular ones. The critical reviews give me the opportunity to improve.
How do you take the criticism, if ever, pouring over you?
Nobody likes to be criticized. Everyone needs it. It’s like medicine. It is a great way to do a reality check just when the ego starts bloating out of proportion. I am not overly apprehensive of criticism and just like praise, I take it with a pinch of salt. Life is too short to take anything too seriously. Not taking criticism seriously is also not a good sign. Criticism is like life, it hurts but the lesson behind that pain is everlasting. One doesn’t tend to forget it.
If not a Writer and a Lawyer, what would you have been?
I would have loved to teach English. I was always good at the language. I even started a Bachelors course in English Literature but I got admission to Law and let it go. I would have loved to continue my course in English Literature. It is a simple language and is capable of such power!
Please share your Hobbies.
Hobbies include sports, cricket, tennis, shuttle badminton, table tennis. Reading. I am a big movie buff. My passion of course is Writing.
Your favourite holiday destination?
I love travelling in India though I have travelled the world on work. I would like to go to Munnar, or Shimla or Kodaikanal. I am a mountains person. I grew up in Chennai, so I do have a love and healthy respect for the ocean. So, Goa or Puducherry would be holiday destinations. My Wife is from Kanur, Kerala and the place is simply beautiful. That’s where I saw dolphins in their natural habitat.
How has travelling affected or helped in your writing?
Shatru has Manhattan when its snowing. That was my first ever experience of snow and it was magical! Though very briefly, Fear of God has Frankfurt in it. Agniputr and Fear of God have a lot of Indian cities and towns in them. My temple thriller, which I am very excited about has a few temples of India and their histories and legends in it, especially since the main story of the book is entwined with India’s temple lore.
What is the craziest thing you have ever done in your life?
I am going to describe from least to most. I drove down once from Chennai to Cochin. Once from Delhi to Hyderabad. Once through a flood that almost threatened to wash away my vehicle and I am alive today thanks to the lorry behind me because the lorry driver jammed my car to the lorry ahead of me so my car doesn’t get washed away by the water. I got into a fight with thieves when I was in school on a desolate road in the late evening, while I was waiting for a bus and I thrashed the hell out of them. I was lucky plus I am big made.
What is the craziest thing you have ever done for your Writing or during creating your stories?
Thankfully, my story writing is based on research. If I tried any of the things my characters do, I’d be in a wheelchair!
Do your dreams aid you in your Writing?
Agniputr was born out of a recurring nightmare I had as a boy. The nightmare is when I am in a dark cellar of a castle or a palace. All I can see of the outer world is through a windowsill of the cellar into a dark night with a chain of bullock carts going at a distance. I could feel the presence of something dark and dangerous behind me. I knew in my dream that if I turned around I would die. I was calling out for help. Each time I would wake up drenched in sweat. That actually gave me the idea for the book.
Your favourite dream?
My favourite day-dream was that my book would be made into a movie. Guess what!
Your worst nightmare?
The nightmare which I have even now is that I have to write my math exam and I don’t have a clue what to write. That one really rattles me each time with me waking up thanking God I am not in school anymore. The other nightmare I have is that I have parked my car in a parking lot but I am unable to find it.
Your most dearest and peaceful moment and place for writing your stories?
Anywhere. Any time. I prefer early mornings. It really is the most peaceful time to write. The mind is fresh and I am raring to go after a good night’s rest. Writing is my bliss. No two ways about it. It is absolute nirvana. Harmony!
Law and Writing are two totally different fields of work. How does Law help you as a Writer and vice-versa?
That’s not entirely correct. Law requires lawyers to present their briefs. I have had extensive drafting experience and I am thankful for it. Law allows a person to think logically, because at the end of the day, law is all about logic once you get the hang of it. I’ve been a trained lawyer for almost 30 years. My book Fear of God is all about the law. Not individual legislations, but the concept of law itself and the need to comply with it. My training as a lawyer has helped me in no mean terms in writing my books.
Have you based any of your characters on real people? Would you like to share some details?
Fiction is based on fact. That much I know is true. Fact is stranger than fiction. We’ve all heard that. There are certain boundaries to fiction. Facts can be strange. Most of the instances of corruption in Fear of God are based on real-life incidents. Fiction allows a writer to say what he wants without fear or favor. I cannot, in all honesty, mention the people on whom my characters have been based, but I got the foundational material from everyday facts.
Which is your favourite character(s) from your own stories.
In Shatru, the titular character, Ajathashatru, is my favourite character. His apprentice, Kris is someone I really love. The main villain of the story is someone who is greatly wronged. My heart goes out to that character. The character of Sheila Pitambar in Agniputr is one of the strongest characters I have written. At the end of the book, she even challenges fate itself. The characters of Deputy Director of CBI, Jagan Jigyasi and ACP Vel Murugan in Fear of God are complex and multi-layered.
Which is your favourite character(s) amongst all the stories you have read so far?
Sometime ago, someone else asked me the same question. My answer was, you can ask a teacher who the favourite pupil is. You will get an answer. One cannot ask that of a parent.
One quote by any other Author that will stick with you life long?
Mr. Subroto Bagchi is the founder of a company called Mind Tree. He has written several books, albeit, non-fictional ones. He once wrote a newspaper article in which he described who according to him was a successful person. He wrote that when a person dreams and others believe in that dream so much that they come to live in it, that person is the most successful.
One person or Celebrity whom you wish to meet before you die?
Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. He is the ultimate actor. I don’t think there is an expression he hasn’t used or a feeling he hasn’t emoted. He was the reason for me to love the movies (Zanzeer and Sholay) and he is the ultimate celebrity to me. Mr. Narendra Modi. His path to Prime Ministership is a beacon of hope to anyone who wants to achieve something in life.
One activity that you would like to do before you die?
Publish my magnum opus fantasy series, The Rising.
One place that you wish to visit before you die?
Two places. My hometown, Eluru. It’s been so long since I feasted my eyes on its familiar contours. Putaparthi, where I used to visit every year during my formative years. Where I’ve had one-to-one interactions with my Guru who read the mind of a fifteen-year-old, as if it was printed on paper without a word being uttered by me and then predicted a path that ultimately led me down this road of self-discovery. I hope that if and when I visit there, I am still able to feel his presence.
You have seen different flavours of India and tasted various cultures of the entire world. How has that affected you as a person personally and as a Writer?
People feel the same the world over. Their emotions are no different. The expression of those emotions may vary based on the culture that cradled them. But, the emotions are the same. Love, pain, humour, logic, passion and the will to live life to the fullest. In Santa Monica, I was in a book and music store buying a CD comprising of Brazilian music and got to talk with the storeowner. His knowledge of India astounded me. It is one of the most loved memories I have of my many visits to the United States. I was in Zurich, Switzerland and had to board a tram. I did not have the exact change and a total stranger dropped the change into the vending machine to get me a ticket. I thanked him and offered to pay him back and he said I was a guest and it was his pleasure to help me. I was pleasantly surprised by German humour in Frankfurt. I realized to my chagrin that the maximum temperature in Zambia was 25 degrees and minimum was 10 degrees when I got off the plane in shorts and a cotton shirt. I slipped and fell down in Manhattan, New York while crossing the road and so many people came to my aid with, Hey, buddy, you awright?. Emotions are the same. People are beautiful. We just have to take the time to recognize that fact.
How do your Wife and Children help in your Writing?
They are strict. Like my math teacher. Especially my Wife. She rips me apart. She gets so angry about my writing style that sometimes I am almost sure she’s going to use a cane on my knuckles!
How do they feel – your Wife as an Author’s Wife and your kids – Our Father is an Author?
Well, I hope they are proud. They are very excited about my book releases. They were thrilled about the movie deal for Fear ofGod. It was a big moment for all of us. We remembered how difficult it was in the beginning. My son said, Pop, remember how it was with Shatru?
Has your Writing life affected your Personal life in any positive or negative way?
It helped me discover so many wonderful things. I learnt a lot from my writing. It was always positive. For instance, while researching for my latest book, I came across some beautiful things about the masculine and the feminine that it blew my mind. I look at my soulmate in a completely different light now.
If you are allowed to Time Travel, where would you like to go and whom would you like to meet?
This is a personal revelation. I don’t know if I am right or wrong in saying it, but I’ll let you and my readers decide. My Father was a King not only by title but by character. He made a difference in the lives of many deserving people in his short life of 28 years. He died just three months after I was born so all I know about him is what my family and a few total strangers revealed to me. You see, I have no memory of him. People who, when they learn I am his son, hug me or shake my hand and recount stories of his character and strength. He was a lame man suffering an incurable medical condition called muscular dystrophy. If I could travel back in time, I’d like to spend as much time as I can getting to know my Father as a person. I would want to hold on to the memory of him. I believe that people remain as long as their memory remains. I’d like that for my Father. In passing, the character of Surya Prasad in Agniputr is based on my Father.
How do you deal with the Writer’s Block?
Don’t have it. Don’t have to deal with it.
Any tips for the Budding Writers?
Write. Don’t worry about publishing, movie deals, fan mails or fame. They are all by-products of good writing. Write without blemish. Without inhibitions. Write because you love to. If you think writing is a get-rich-quick scheme, let me tell you that especially in India, is it a labour of love. Period. Writing is an end in itself. It is a form of expression. It is bliss, harmony, nirvana all rolled into one. The better you are at it, the more it will attract attention. DO NOT self-publish. It is nothing short of a scam. No one cares if your work makes a difference more than you. Traditional publishing is when someone else believes in your dream enough to invest in it. That is when you are a success.
As a Writer, how are you dealing with the lockdown due to the Coronavirus? Has it impacted your Writing or your Career in any way?
It will take more than a virus to impact an author. My career is not yet impacted. I don’t think it will, because right now, working from home is working out well. In the long run, we need to understand that the world has changed. Not gradually, but radically. In the blink of an eye. Those who adapt to the change will survive. Those who resist will perish.
What are the boons and banes that you have personally faced due to the lockdown?
Coronvirus is a global pandemic. I don’t think there are any boons, because of it to mankind. As a planet, Mother Earth is recuperating. I am glad for the respite she has got as a result of the pandemic. May she prosper. We have learnt a valuable lesson. We are not the dominant species. A half-life that is too small for us to even see, is causing havoc with our lives. Unless we learn to adapt and change the way we see our role on the planet, we may not be given a second chance.
According to you, what has Coronavirus taught us human beings?
The most valuable lesson the pandemic has taught us is that we are expendable. Mother Earth can well survive without us. Every other living creature on the planet except mankind has only thrived as a result of the virus. This is Mother Earth’s way of putting us in our place. Our nations and armies, ideologies and wealth, power and influence is nothing compared to the fury of nature. I think that is our take-home from this episode. If we are lucky enough to survive this as a species, we must learn to live in harmony with nature. Exploiting it has devastating consequences.
Any suggestions for your readers, especially on how to face the Coronavirus and the effects?
Stay home. Stay safe. Protect yourselves. It is a humble and stern request. Breaking the lockdown maybe excused by governments, but the virus has no sympathy for us. Accept the fact that something other than our laws, guidelines and rules is at play. Don’t mess with it. Learn to respect the laws of nature. They existed before us and they will continue to exist after us. We are just specks of dust driven by the night winds and if we are not careful, we may well be blown away before dawn. Understand our own vulnerability and our absolute lack of defense against the forces of nature. That is the first step we can take towards weathering the pandemic.
What’s your personal opinion on India’s Finance, Politics and Social Culture?
The country has survived the invasion of many cultures and has stood fast. We are unbreakable as a culture. Believe in the Sanathana Dharma. It welcomes every belief system and every faith. That is what makes it great. It is beyond religion and is a way of life.
Indians as a people have an unquenchable thirst to grow. It is in our DNA. No one has ever been able to pull us down. We are a peace loving people, a law-abiding people and are aligned towards nature and prosperity. All of these are goalposts, objectives and tasks at the same time. Love leads to harmony. Obeying the law leads to order. Harmony and order are keystones for success and prosperity. Our culture tells us to be tolerant and patient. Our future depends on our understanding our past and the teachings that are thousands of years old. Remember, we are the oldest culture in the world. If we have survived this long, its because there’s something right about our culture and its teachings. Follow it.
After disastrous coalition politics, we’ve entered an era of stability. As a people, we must remember that the most important thing for us is stability. We must speak in one voice and be heard as one voice. We may have our arguments and disagreements, but that cannot be a reason for us to lose stability. If at all, the arguments and disagreements must be constructive and help us grow as a people. Our politics has always been pathbreaking. Our leaders have always stood out through the ages. Be it Emperor Ashoka, Emporer Vikramaditya, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Ambedkar, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, President Abdul Kalam or Mr. Narendra Modi. They have also been path finders. There were dissidents to the ways of the Mahatma, to the ways of Mrs. Indira Gandhi or Netaji or the present leadership. There will always be dissenting views. As long as it does not employ extreme means that killed a Mahatma or an Indira Gandhi, as long as diversity doesn’t convert to divisiveness, we as a people have a right to it.
Politics is also about us. Our leaders are not a special lot isolated from the common man. The best example is our Prime Minister, the chaiwala who rules a country. It is a proud moment to know that we as a people have the chance to rise above our own mundane realities and become thought leaders. Politics is also about the kind of leaders we support and the kind of people we bring to power. Our vote is as sacred as the Ganges and should not become as polluted as she was made to become. She is the Ganga. She will clean herself one way or another. We must be as resilient. We as a people must comply with the law. We as a people should be tolerant to other views. We as a people should say no to corruption. That is the only way we as a people can succeed.
Do you personally believe in paranormal powers?
What is normal? Who defines normal? I believe magic is a science we do not yet understand. If you were to present a heat-seeking missile to Tipu Sultan, he would think it is paranormal. Why, because all he knows in his day and age is how to fire a cannon. If you present an ipad to a common man in the year 1759 for instance, he would think it is a paranormal experience to see people trapped in a luminescent rectangular magic plate and yelling and screaming inside it. If I were to show my smart phone to my grandfather back in 1945 and tell him that it is a phone-cum-music player-cum movie player-cum-camera-cum-banking app -cum-game console and what not, he would say it is a paranormal experience. Why? Because in his day and age, the smartphone is a thing of dreams (or nightmares). If you stop to think why, you would understand that knowledge appears limitless because our thoughts are limited to what we know at the present point of time. What is normal today would have been a miracle a 100 years ago. If a 100 years in the future, we discover that ghosts and spirits are beings that live in a different dimension, what seems like gibberish now will be considered to be a normal thing. Paranormal is something we don’t as yet understand. It doesn’t mean its not there.
If you were granted some special powers by God, what would you ask?
The power to love a dog just as much as it loves me. The power to heal an axed tree. The power to grow forests faster than we can fell them. The power to allow man to migrate into deep space and discover new wonders.
What’s your take on our India’s Ancient Knowledge and precious Antiques?
Priceless. Invaluable. So much to learn. The Rig Veda defines aircrafts, their schematics and abilities about 4000 years ago. If you want to read, here is a sample reference. R.V. 1.164.47-48 Rig Veda.
Our culture is ageless. India has 1600 languages. Each language is borne out of a culture. Each culture has a lore. Each lore has fables. Every one of them carry lessons that we can learn. Can you imagine a culture that had figured out close to six thousand years ago about retirement and also defined the age for it? Many cultures did not know the concept of work, let alone retirement back then. Do you know that the Das Avatar removed of its frills and fancies is the story of evolution? From the Matsya avatar when we started out in water to the Kurma avatar when we turned amphibious to the Kalki avatar, when we destroy everything so the cycle can start again in the next yuga of refinement. This is corroborated by the fact that modern science has recorded five extinction level events that have already occurred on Earth.
As a Lawyer, you have a secret spy inside you. Would you like to share any anecdotes?
Whoever said that a lawyer is a spy? That is a misnomer. Lawyers are social engineers. At least they ought to be. Some great social engineers who were lawyers are Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, Dr. Ambedkar, the Father of our Constitution, John Grisham, bestselling international Author. I can give any number of examples. See, lawyers come across every form of event possible. A divorce, a war, a corporate takeover, a religious dispute. If you show me any human activity, I can show you a law for it. They are not spies. They construct civil societies and design legislations that protect people from people. Lawyers are a necessary part of the social fabric.
Why do Indian Mythologies and Legends attract you so much?
Blame it on my grandparents. I always loved stories. My imagination would run wild. I would be Mahavishnu with his sudharshan Chakra. I would be KingVikramaditya (one of my favourite names) or Arjuna, because the stories influenced me so much. Imagination is a good thing in a person. It never did leave me bored for a moment. I worked on the stories, developed my own little episodes within them. My mind, I learnt, was a wonderful thing that let me go where I wanted and be who I wanted to be. I think it was only natural that I ended up as a storyteller. There is no other land with a richer treasure of stories. I mean, our stories have stories. Mahabharat has so many offshoots. The exploits of Krishna is not only part of the Mahabharat. It is also in Bhagavad Purana and Bhagavad Gita. Hanuman is not only in Ramayana, but is also in Mahabharata. Amazing as it seems, Hanuman and Rama fight in an offshoot to the Ramayana, because of a test by Goddess Parvati to find out if power is greater than devotion. While Rama uses his famous Rama Bhan that never misses a target, Anjeneya or Hanuman simply chants Rama’s name and the power of devotion to escape the arrow. Finally, devotion actually wins over power. Lord Ayappa was born of two male Gods. To protect Lord Shiva from Basmasura, who was using Lord Shiva’s boon against him, Vishnu appears as Mohini. She defeats Basmasura through the Mohini dance, which is so famous in Kerala. Lord Shiva and Mohini have a child, who was reared by a pack of tigers. That is the legend of Lord Ayappa of Sabarimala. How could I not fall in love with such wonderful stories?
If we combine Ancient Knowledge and Modern Science, do you think, we might discover innumerable fantastic realities that were hidden from us for so long? Can they help us survive in the distant future, when our resources will drastically deplete?
What the ancients called as Maya is what the quantum physicists call as sub-atomic space. Maya is illusion where nothing is real except God. Sub-atomic space is where nothing really exists since everything is made of atoms that vibrate at different frequencies. That is a great example of how advanced we were scientifically. Not only did our ancestors describe sub-atomic space, they described in a way that is understood by the common man. There are so many examples of stuff in our scriptures that modern science has discovered during our lifetime. The Rig Veda and Yajurveda describe various types of aircrafts. Who knows what else we can learn?
Power, Wealth, Fame, Happiness … Choose your order of importance.
Happiness. Fame. Wealth and Power are byproducts.
Your favourite beverage while you write – tea, coffee, water, wine? Or anything else?
Chai during the day. Whisky once in a while.
How important is Research for any Writer?
Research is the lifeblood of writing. It is the armoury from which you can load your weapons to write.
A grand Salute! to the wonderful AuthorVadhan for his impeccable words! I really enjoyed the Interview with him. Hope you readers do take a leaf out of his book!
We are elated to launch our second title, The Mystery Crackers: Tattooed Music by Jinal Shailesh Doshi. Following the success of the first self-published novel – The Mystery Crackers: A Chest’s Tale, the second self-published mystery novel, too, has won numerous hearts. A fast-paced story, 8-15 year old kids and elders alike would surely enjoy reading it.
Currently, it is globally available on Amazon Kindle.
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Germany (amazon.de)
France (amazon.fr)
Spain (amazon.es)
Italy (amazon.it)
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Australia (amazon.com.au)
Canada (amazon.ca)
The Mystery Crackers
Tattooed Music
An innocent look at the dazzling replica of Daulihaam (A Blue Diamond Gold Choker) and a precious bloodstained pure silk handkerchief lure fraternal twins – Prash and Nish in to a fascinating mystery of old ships, tattooed music and a thirst to excavate the real Daulihaam’s mesmerizing history. Both brothers plunge deeply in to it to place the identity of a deadly pirate. Unawares about the dangers that lie ahead, will the teen detectives get the intriguing answers? Read The Mystery Crackers: Tattooed Music to hug the melodious truths about a stunning adventure connected with a royal couple and a precious stone.
Jinal Shailesh Doshi
A Freelance Writer and a Creative English Teacher, she is a Gold Leaf Diplomat from the Writers Bureau Institute, has earned an MA in English Literature and has several published articles to her credit. Author of The Mystery Crackers: A Chest’s Tale, she continues to spin mysteries with her second novel – The Mystery Crackers: Tattooed Music and aspires to create a series on it.
For more information or Author Interviews, you can call on +91 9967165029 or
Smooth as silk, weaving two hearts … merging them as one soul …
Usually, this is the concept related to Romance.
There are other aspects to it as well. Some people kill for it, yet some surrender for money. A few succumb to pressure, while some play around with numerous hearts.
It’s quite rare to find true Romance. Yet, those few who have it, should cherish it forever!
The Oxford Dictionary states that Romance is a genre of fiction dealing with love in a sentimental or idealized way.
There are some interesting Romantic novels that will invite you to a beautiful paradise of love or show you some hardcore realities about life. So, here they go …
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. Every Woman For Herself by Trisha Ashley
3. A Step In Time By Kerry Barrett
4. The Little Café In Copenhagen By Julie Caplin
5. The Little Perfume Shop Off The Champs-Élysées By Rebecca Raisin
So, tap your feet to your favourite romance and snuggle in the fragrance of your best Romantic Novel!
Doesn’t this simple one word bring an adrenaline rush to your blood?
Well … it does for me …
I love reading adventure stories as they not only bring a sense of thrill but also suck me in a world where unreal possibilities appear absolutely real!
My mundane and stressful life takes a back seat, while my relaxed self comes to the fore reading formidable adventures.
According to Literary Terms, Adventure is a genre of literature that features stories of adventure, such as world travel, difficult quests, voyages of discovery, and other journeys. They might involve things like pirates and buried treasure, the search for a secret place or object, or a quest or expedition whose success is crucial for personal or societal reasons.
I am sure you will enjoy reading these Adventure Classics –
1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
2. Gulliver’ Travels by Jonathan Swift
3. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle.
Every mystery is an intriguing story that transforms itself into a historical event. Only … if … someone bothers to see it that way …
Brain racking, subtle, fast-paced, coded, etc … mysteries are written in various forms and styles.
When you do your research, do a little more on codes, crypts and different types of secret messages. There are innumerable ways to communicate a secret message to your friend or partner.
I’ll share a secret. Take a blank paper, a thin stick and lemon juice. Put the stick in the lemon juice and write your secret message on the blank paper. Once it dries after a few moments, take the black paper near a candle and slightly heat the paper. You secret message will appear like magic on the blank paper!
Do read,
1. Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle
2. The Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon
3. The Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene
4. Mystery Tales of Edgar Allen Poe
5. Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie
It was a pleasure writing my own mystery novel about an antique chest that holds a strong secret. You may enjoy reading it.
Things like The Time Machine, gadgets and gizmos, special powered equipments, flying objects, robots, etc did fascinate me during my childhood.
They lured me towards books and movies that showcased these things in a scientifically yet a magical way!
Yes, a nice combination of Science and Magic can open up varied ideas for a Science Fiction story.
According to a source, Science Fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction, typically dealing with imaginative concepts such as advanced science and technology, spaceflight, time travel, and extraterrestrial life.
Movies like Koi Mil Gaya and Aliens in the Attic still make me wonder – What if Aliens truly exist? What if, they visit earth? Then, how will our lives transform?
Best novels of Science Fiction like
1. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
2. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne
3. The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
4. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
5. 1984 by George Orwell
would definitely give a broad overview of plunging into this genre.
So, if you wish to time travel, dance with a robot, fly in a spacejet or befriend an alien, then, research properly and zoom away your story!
Jinn's Kreation 