Chit-Chat with Parul Tyagi :)

1.    Tell us something about yourself and the book?

I am a marketer by profession with over eleven years’ experience in handling Brands and their life cycles. I completed my MBA from MICA and along with a Post Graduate degree, I got the love of my life there. I am married to him right now and we have two sons. I have grown up in Delhi and my parents have spoiled me rotten. Have a younger brother who has actually become my older brother over the years - he is more patient and positive about life than I should be!

Hurry Om Hari is my second book. This book is about two people who are like you and me. What makes them inspire us is the fact that they choose to think about themselves and dare to achieve their unfulfilled dreams - albeit in a HURRY!

2.      How did you select this particular title?

I love playing with words for fun. It’s nice to twist them around and see what a world of difference they can make by simply getting arranged in different ways. The play with Hurry and Hari is a product of that curiosity. We have all grown up dancing on this cult yesteryear song and when I started writing a story on how two protagonists are determined to live their lives, even when they are in a hurry, I instantly knew I would call one of the Om and the other one Hari.

3.      What inspired you to write it?

A good plot. Once I knew this would be an interesting story to tell, I had to sit down and take it to a logical end. I knew I had to let people know that success is not just a by product of hard work. It is also a must resultant of dreaming about it. I have experienced this phenomenon in my personal life and instead of preaching about it I weaved into a story and tried to send the message across.

4.      How does it feel to be a writer?

In one word I could say - Liberated! Writing takes me away from the routine. It gives me independence. It gives me wings. It fuels my imagination. Oh and it also seems a little awkward when I get a million requests from everyone around to write letters to some government agencies, resignation letters, status updates only because : “Hey you are a WRITER. Must be a two minute thing for you!”

5.      What is your biggest strength when it comes to writing?

Imagination. I can do that quickly. It is part of my personality actually. I imagine scenarios, always negative, in every situation. You have to ask my husband how ably I imagine the worse things that will happen to us just because something little occurred at one moment. On a serious note, I strongly believe that if you can put yourself in every situation and think what could be the next move of a situation, character or time - you are a writer.

6.      Share some of your interesting memories you lived while writing this book.

The most important was all the Hockey I watched on TV or on YouTube. My sons are sports buff and they knew my book has Hockey in it. Sometimes they would watch something and fill me up with what I could include in the story.

Another significant memory is the pains I took to not let anyone know the title of my book. Often people would ask: “What's the name of your next?” And I had to safeguard it especially because it’s difficult for your kids to not blurt out everything to everyone. That is why the book is dedicated to their efforts.

7.      How do you make sure your dreams come true? Is there any short cut?

Nah. Never. There is no short cut to anything. Me and my brother grew up hearing from Dad that there is no substitute for Hard work. I take pride in working hard and then achieving success rather than riding on someone’s back or looking for easier ways to reach there. Dreams that come true on your own merit are savored best.

8.      Do you think a race can ideally be won by patience or by hurrying?

Race can be won only by determination. If you are determined and passionate about winning, you will win it by patience or hurrying- whatever path you choose. Your heart has to be in the right place, which is all.

9.      How was it working with Half Baked Beans, when you are associated with Grapevine India?

Good you asked. So I came on board as an Author at Half Baked Beans much before I joined Grapevine. I am a strict professional and I have never let the two overlap or suffer any conflict of interest because of my associations. I am a creative person and I give my hundred percent in both my roles. I am also fortunate that I found the right people at both these places. They are both encouraging and trust I will perform with honesty in both capacities. Being the movie buff, I can relate this to how Tigmanshu Dhulia directs his own films while he also acts under Anurag Kashyap.

10.  Do you think author’s conversations and events are important for a book’s promotion?

Yes and No. You cannot totally give up on promoting it by saying, “My work will do the talking”. At the same time you cannot oversell it by forcing people with conversations and appearances that become irritating for them. In the age where social media is consumed more than water, one has to be careful in the approach they take. If something is relevant and important for the world to know, make it known. But if something is important to you do not assume you can talk about it for 48 hours in a day and nobody will mind. If your product is good, nothing can stop it from being noticed.

11.  What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

The days when you just do not feel like writing. I hate those days. They are really useless days.

12.  Describe your writing style in ten words or less.

I write for those who think- Reading books isn’t easy.

13.  What are some things you like to do when you’re not writing?

Anything around Food, Movies or Travel. These are the three things I truly invest my time and energy in. Having two sons at the age they are in, the rest of the time is for them.

14.  Do you think that writing about dreams and strugglers can actually be of some help to the readers?

Yes. Aren’t we all looking for references around us all the time? I believe when people will read that dreams aren’t achieved by simply sitting on them but actually getting up and going about grabbing them, it will help at least one person out there.

15.  How do you feel when someone disagrees with something you say or have written?

I take it very seriously. I may not agree with the person but ill never disregard their opinion.

16.  Tell us something about your future projects.

The next book is ready. Announcements - at the right time. All I can say is that it is absolutely different from what I have ever written. It is a very ambitious project and I can't wait for the world to know about it.

17.  Was this path difficult to tread on or a smooth ride?

Smooth because I have a very strong support group around me when it comes to my family and friends. I am a royally pampered person and I am protected by their love and confidence every second of my life. Difficult, because it is not easy to be creative. You have mood swings, you have to be in a certain zone at times, you have to invest a lot of time. But it is all worth it.

18.  Lastly, is there a message you would like to convey your readers?

Hurry Om Hari is a product of my belief that no Dream is big or small. I have translated my unending love for Reality shows (I am a huge Big Boss fan) by building a story around it and letting everyone know that this love of mine is not stupid. I have greatest respect for sports-persons. I dream of making my sons good sports-persons and thus I made Hockey a central character in the book so people know that it is no easy business to be an achiever in this field. I just hope you see the honesty of this belief in my words.

Description

"Hurry up or be left out!"

Haven't we all heard this at least thousand times in our lives? (Okay you must have heard more.) The point is we are all in a hurry to make something. Be it careers, relationships, excuses, success, cover ups, babies, lives.

Om and Hari.

Their dreams may be at the far ends of a rope, their journeys may be markedly different from each other's but their desire is common - to make it on their own!

What makes this even more tedious is their race against time in doing so. They are the dreamers, the strugglers, the under dogs, the go getters, the nerve wreckers, the charmers and....... they are You!

Buying Links: Amazon | Flipkart

The Silent Scream - Book Review

The Silent Scream

By Siddhartha Garg

Review By Ila Garg

The Silent Scream, a beautiful novel by the author, Siddhartha Garg is published by Rumour Books India. He is earlier known for his debut book, In Love with Your Friendship, a story of love and friendship and its complications.

The title The Silent Scream, indicates that the book must be about some social issues since the ‘screams’ are often silenced by the ironical life that we live. The patriarchal society, and the feminist fights, or the child abuses would be the natural themes. Even the cover art, though very simple, intrigues the reader from within. The color red screams from across as if a blood stained victim is trying to seek help but is helpless, or may be red indicates anger that is engulfing out of the years of pain and trauma. Who knows? It is the reader who can interpret this cover in any way they want but the stories that await them inside, will surely leave them gasping for a breath.

The author is a techie by profession, a woman and child rights activist by passion and an active blogger. He intends to focus on issue-based writing to sensitize the nation on the various problems that plague our society. He believes his writing would be a very potent weapon in his fight against social ills. In this book, The Silent Scream, he talks about child sexual abuse, one of the filthiest crimes that persist within our society. It targets teenagers, the youth, parents and all the child abuse survivors and acts like a handbook/guidebook to them providing solutions and measures to deal with the hideous crime along with some preventive measures.

The blurb reads as “Child abuse, one of the many problems that persist in India today, is arguably the filthiest. Of late, we have heard of instances of children being exploited but the most gruesome abuse is child sex abuse. The Silent Scream takes up this issue which people normally turn a blind eye towards. Through the subtlety quoted instances mentioned in this narrative non-fiction we are exposed to the disturbing lives of child predators and their innocent, young unassuming victims.

The Silent Scream is a ready guide to create awareness about this rampantly growing evil with the aim of sensitising the general public on the ways in which sex abusers operate. A humble effort is also being made to counsel the victims and carry forward the war against this menace so that other innocent souls are saved.”

My blog readers must have noticed that my recent posts have been about the turmoil that the innocent kids go through. The snippets that I have shared have troubled me a lot and that is why I decided to bring them out in public. Since a long time, I have been following these topics. I personally connect to these issues. In the anthology Crumpled Voices, we took up crimes against women as the central theme and now in Crumpled Voices 2, we have focused our attention on Child Abuse and coincidently this book by Siddhartha Garg talks about the similar theme. All the more reasons for me to read this and reflect on the stories that follow.

I am glad that the author shares my sentiments. With a well-defined preface, the book is a collection of some gruesome tales that the children often go through. Sometimes these adversities are directly imposed on them and at several occasions they become the indirect victim. For example, a father beating the mother in front of the child may traumatize him for his entire lifetime. He may grow up with similar apprehensions too and may start a chain of domestic violence. 

In the interview the author himself agreed that it’s a form of child abuse – “Definitely! Let us understand the fact that the abuse is not limited to physical harm to a person or a child. In fact the abuse is more related to the persecution of mind, the thoughts of the other person and when that person is someone as innocent as a child, the impact is severe and long lasting. An important aspect that I have emphasized on in the book is bonding in a parent child relationship and winning the child’s trust. When a child sees his parents fighting he loses a lot more than trust. The child can’t look forward to discuss their problems or share their secrets with them easily. In fact at times, it may also lead to the situation where the child may start looking out for harmony outside his house and gets involved in undesirable stuff. They have a tender heart, you got to handle it with care, utmost care.”

It is a bold attempt by the author to put forward the poignant truth about the situation of children in our country. The statistics are indeed very shocking. I finished reading the book last night and I left me alarmed. Some really strict and fast actions are needed to be implemented. Children should be encouraged to talk about it openly and should be counseled by the families as early as possible.

It is time that India woke up to the harsh and ugly side of the reality and stop victimizing children and women alike. Siddhartha has indeed done a wonderful job in compiling the stories with crude reality and presented them before us in a raw state. There is no glorification done, or any fact added to enhance the commercial value of the book. The stories are presented in their real form to the nation showing them a mirror.

Also, at this very point I would like to highlight this - this book The Silent Scream isn’t just a narrative, or a simple story. Please don’t pick it up if you find it to be a mere story. You will be disappointed because it is not a tale, it a hard core reality. It’s a compilation of sagas, facts that will wake you up from your deep slumber and shake you from within. It would give you chills!

A lot of research is put into the book which is clearly evident as you turn the pages. The author, Siddhartha has presented his readers with facts without exemplifying them. He is not subtle; he is not being over the top either. He is just presenting everything as transparently as possible in this book. What makes this clearer is the accompanying bibliography and further readings.

Overall, it’s that kind of a book which will hit you squarely on your face if you have ever bullied someone or done anything wrong and get you to nod away if you have been a victim. This book is highly recommended for one and all, for the sake of humanity. I wish people understand what they are doing.

The book in a nutshell is about sufferings, hurt, unceasing bully, rapes, murders, etc. In addition, it also talks about how parents can help their children from overcoming such incidents and how the teenagers can be aware about certain things. The families should be open to talk and debate on these topics so that the child finds it easier to discuss his problems. The language is easy to comprehend and there would be no difficulty in understanding what Siddhartha wants to convey through this. The only thing you perhaps require is a kind heart, a human heart!

Kudos to the writer for writing such a bold narrative which only few authors pick up...! I hope he continues to shed light on such issues.

Ratings: 4/5

Buying Links: Amazon | uRead

Links to snippets on child abuse: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Down The Way! It is time we answered...

Down the way, walking through an empty lane,

Looking all around, I realized the Earth’s in pain.

As I moved further down, I heard a painful cry,

It tore my heart apart; of this I won't lie.

I searched all the way, but alas! It was in vain,

It then started getting dark and it was about to rain.

So, I was compelled to take shelter under a dead tree,

And you must be wondering why I chose a dead tree?

Because in that lane and many others on the Earth,

No tree was left alive, No sapling taking birth.

In no time, I realized it was the tree crying,

I turned towards it and hoped I wasn't prying!

“Oh! Dear Tree, why are you sad and shedding tears?”

“Because I am dying and nobody cares.”

I wasn't expecting a reply but still continued with it.

“No, don’t sound so hurt.” I assured I will hear it.

So, the tree began narrating me its whole tragic story,

And I sat on its dried branches to hear its glory.

“Once upon a time, I was thick and green and a living creature,

I was selfless and an important part of a flawless nature.

Brooks, rivers, and the seas added to the scenery,

Mountains and valleys created an atmosphere of tranquility.

For many million years, we continued to make the Earth stunning,

We served the human race in every manner without whining.

But soon all men turned into some hungry devil,

They murdered me and kept getting more and more evil.

I shouted and it stormed, I showed my wrath,

I cried and it rained, I was nearing my death.

Today the Earth that used to be ‘green’ has become all black,

Plumes of smoke, CFC's, garbage and plastic lay on its deck.”

Hearing of the slain; in a disturbed tone I asked the sad tree,

“Dear tree, thou seem to be heartbroken, who brought this plight to thee?”

The tree then fumed at me and gave me a stern glance,

“The human race is to be blamed for killing me with a lance.

Shade, wood, fruits, water, and air; to make him feel comfortable,

I gave everything I could; in return it made my life a sad fable.

The men will be punished for this slaughter,

Now sorrow will prevail, no place for laughter.

In their mad race, they contaminated their environment,

Am dying but am sure the whole human race will lament.”

I had teary eyes as with this the tree breathed its last,

I sat there for long and watched it mixing with the past.

Glancing at the corpse I hoped and prayed for a better tomorrow,

Planting trees and nurturing them can save us from the sorrow.

That encounter with the dying tree made me realize,

We need to wake up from our prolonged sleep and open our eyes.

It’s us, who created a hell out of heaven on the Earth,

And therefore only we can once again give it a ‘New Birth’!

EARTH IS CALLING... IT IS TIME WE ANSWERED!

Visit Green Yatra and Earth is calling to mark your presence in this noble mission to create a difference. As they say, "Simple things like composting organic waste from the kitchen, using Eco-friendly cosmetics, reusing water whenever possible or even blogging about the cause to create awareness is a big step towards a sustainable lifestyle."

From confinement to freedom! :)

“In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”

– Albert Camus

Tortured beyond imagination by my own parents, I have finally pushed through the pain to build a life of hope. As a child, at first I was taught by my mother to be comfortable and responsive to a man’s touch. I could hardly understand what she wanted me to do until one day, my parents sold me to an agency that dealt in child trafficking. That seemed like an end to my life.

Image Source: euobserver.com

For few weeks, I was provided food and clothes that looked good. But all that comfort was short lived, and then the unthinkable happened. I was dressed in skimpy clothes and my face was painted in heavy and cheap looking make up. Then, I was made to stand with few other helpless girls. A price tag was put around our necks and we were literally auctioned before the prospective clients. 

I was shuddering in utter disbelief. At that moment, a client bargained me for sex. He took me to a room and told me to strip. I refused his offer immediately. He grabbed me by the hair, forced me on the floor and raped me forcefully, taking away my virginity. I was terrorized and felt as if I had lost myself. The girl who came out of that room wasn’t me anymore. I could not recognize myself in the mirror.

After that day, it was on a regular basis that I was put in rooms with different clients and was supposed to please them, entertain them, and what not. Mentally I was lost, emotionally I had killed myself, and physically I had no choice but to lay naked in bed with some strangers. I didn’t recognize the sun or know what the grass felt like! 

Image Source: cargocollective.com

It was only after several months that I finally got my one chance to escape from that hell. Everyone seemed to be busy and I was willing to give myself one chance to revamp my life. I took a leap of faith from the back side window when no one was noticing and ran with all my might.

I decided not to go to the police station as I was terrified. After several days, I ran into a counselor who helped me regain my optimism. She took me to a doctor and I was put on medication. My road to normality has been a bumpy ride. I would have fits of rage, long nights of tears and terror, and few suicide attempts. It was only after hundreds of visit to the doctor and being in regular touch with my counselor that I finally heaved a sigh of relief.

For the first time in years, I am off medication for depression and can look up to a future. I exercise to keep my mind active, I interact with people (something that I have been frightened of) and seem to fave found a new me.

- The Girl who saw a new 'hope'

#CrumpledVoices2

Image Source: www.innocentsatrisk.org

My Awesome 'ASUS' Experience...

I have been following ASUS updates regularly off late and when I heard about the launch of the new smart phone Zenfone 2, I immediately browsed through the sites to take a sneak peek into all its features. And what I saw, left me spellbound.

"A marvel of beauty and power, in the palm of your hand!"

The 5 things that were the first to grab my interest included the sleek design, screen size, camera quality, battery life, and the fast processor. Everything about the phone seemed bigger, brighter, and beautiful.

Image Source: http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/

1) I was appalled by the luxurious ultra-thin design which is available in 5 different colors - Glacier Grey, Osmium Black, Glamour Red, Ceramic White, and Sheer Gold. The phone simply looks stunning and has a dual SIM capacity. With a 5.5 inch HD display and a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels, the phone has got to keep you hooked. 

2) The 4GB RAM and a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor ensure three times faster performance and an incredible gaming experience. I no longer have to worry about multi-tasking with ASUS Zenfone 2 in my hand. I can play games, videos, do a faster web browsing, chat, and send emails alongside.

3) I loved the camera quality. I could simply not ask for more. I am aware of the quality that ASUS offers in all its phones and thus I have no doubts that the 13 megapixel rear camera will be my ultimate companion. As a selfie addict, I am pretty sure I will not be disappointed as it has a 5 megapixel front camera too. High resolution pictures with zero shutter lag will ensure that I don't miss any moment to be captured. Its many features include the low light mode that can capture up to 400% brighter photos at night, or in low-light scenes, without the need of a flash. To add to my delight, Zenfone 2’s real tone flash ensures warm skin tones and accurate color.

Image Source: http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/

4) I want my phone near me right from the early hours of the day to the wee hours of the night. Sometimes, I end up writing my blog posts on my phone, browse sites, send and receive emails, play games, click pictures, chat on whatsapp, and update on facebook all alongside. All this multi-tasking requires a bigger battery capacity. ASUS Zenfone 2 has a battery capacity of 3000 mAh. Also, the device supports ASUS-exclusive technology that charges devices much faster than traditional speeds. With Zenfone 2, this means the phone's battery will be juiced up to 60% in no more than 39 minutes. So, I can be connected with my world 24/7 without any hindrance.

5) Zenfone 2 is as tough a phone as it could be in terms of its strength. With Corning Gorilla Glass 3, it provides a fearless working experience even in tough conditions. Its amazing endurance will never let you down and lesser chances of its breaking down. 

All these reasons and many more are bound to redefine my smart phone experience with ASUS Zenfone 2 and turn it into totally awesome. #CantWait4Zenfone2 and the wait is going to be over soon as the phone is officially launching on 23rd April 2015 at Delhi in a mega event.

Not wanted at my own home?

I always wondered if whatever happened with me in my life has been a nightmare all along… because emerging out of that pain makes me feel like a phoenix! For someone who is just 17 years old, I have been through a lot in my life. I take care of myself for as long as I can remember. It feels like I have been nurturing myself on my own because my family never seemed to look after me. For them, perhaps, I was always a non-existent entity.

My dad treated me bad right from when I was only a baby. I felt as if I could never reach up to his expectations; as if I was never good enough for him. Everything I did was always full of flaws. Even as a kid, I remember that he used to hit me and then challenge me to hit him. I thought he meant it and I would try to hit him back only to be beaten by him with double force. I was nothing more than a punching bag for him. He used to kick me hard if I didn’t do what I was told or did something wrong. So gradually, I learnt to go along with whatever he said, and to keep out of his way as much as I could.

Image Source: fooyoh.com

The worst thing was that my mother never told him to stop. She would instead yell at me and acted like I deserved that pain. I started to believe that everything was my fault. When I was about 13, I started drinking heavily to escape the vehement thoughts. I bunked my classes just about every day, until the school told my parents about my attendance. Seeing the opportunity, my dad bashed me up and beat the hell out of me.

I began hating school because I always ended up in trouble for having fights with other kids. The teachers also disliked me. At home, the situation was no good. I felt lonely even when my parents were in the house because they ignored me. The only occasion they acknowledged my presence was when they need to vent out their anger. I was terrified in my own house. As a result, I used to stay over at a friend’s place, and sometimes I would sleep out on a park’s bench. The more I stayed away, the more scared I was of going back home because I knew I would get scolded and beaten hard for running away. I started staying outdoors for days together. It felt better than going home.

Image Source: www.crosswalk.com

After a while I enrolled myself in an orphanage and they took me in refuge immediately on hearing my story. People here are so generous and genuinely care. I have a big family here. I play with other kids and my bruises are finally healing too. That one step of escaping the house changed my life for better. I study and do a part time work for money. I am sure that with my savings and their help, I will at last, have a future.

- The Boy who remained undeterred

#CrumpledVoices2

In Conversation With Siddhartha Garg :)

1.      Tell us something about your book?

The Silent Scream tries to take up a sensitive issue of child sexual abuse which people normally turn a blind eye to even though it persists nationwide. It is a sincere effort to throw some light on the highly sensitive and serious problem that continually affects the life of many in the society but most of the cases die a silent death with the individual. Forget justice, the plight of the individual is more often than not kept in the dark for the sake of preserving their honor and position in the society.

The book encapsulates Harshita’s story primarily, but also narrates the story of ten other child abuse victims, to make the reader aware of the many ways a child can be abused. It later on tries to throw some light on awakening the senses of people against these criminals and empowering women in India so as to help and make the nation a better place to live in. An earnest effort is also made to help develop awareness by providing a few crucial points that should be taken care of by all concerned to avoid falling into such terrible situations.

In short, this book can become a ready guide to create awareness about this rampantly growing evil and sensitise everyone regarding the ways child sex abusers operate. A humble effort is also made to counsel the victims and provide insights to them on how they can make their life better and also carry their war against this menace so that other innocent souls are saved.

2.      How did you select this title?

The title came in the last, random! It could actually relate to the plight of victims who suffer a lot and actually relates to the situation of our protagonist in the book.

3.      What inspired you to write this?

The mother of the victim, the bravest lady I have ever known in my life. Let alone her daughter who is the victim here, when I could feel the intense pain in the story while she narrated it to me word by word expecting me to share it with the world with a vision to bring about a change and awareness of the common people, it is needless to say how difficult it would have been for her to suffer the same in the first place.

4.      How does it feel to be a writer?

A little Ecstatic and a lot Relieved! I had a remorse of not being able to contribute anything towards my nation, towards this world other than just keeping myself glued to the TV set and witnessing the menaces like that of Nirbhaya. The changes don’t come around by just talking about them, we got to step forward and initiate a step towards their eradication. Today, when somebody asks me why were you not there on the road protesting for Nirbhaya, I can proudly say, I was busy writing this book.

Writing actually helps you to shed off a lot of frustration, anger, love and pain at a minimal cost of a pen and paper.

5.      What is your biggest strength when it comes to writing?

Although that is one question I leave for my readers to decide, I feel that I have learnt a lot from the feedback that I have received from the avid readers and the experienced bloggers. I have learnt to put things to paper in an unbiased form. I keep them neutral and let the readers decide their own emotions about a particular incident. I, though, am still thriving hard to try and have my readers attach to my writings in a way that they can live it through my words.

6.      Share some of your interesting memories you lived while writing this book.

Interesting? Ok! Difficult to say; a topic like child sexual abuse gives you very little opportunities to have a smile on your face. But one good thing it did to me was it motivated me to meet a lot of kids. Kids who were abused, kids who are orphans, kids who desire to study and kids who are too innocent to even realise what are they up to. In the midst of all the pain and heart wrenching stories all around, I happened to come across Arya Orphanage in Delhi. It is a home for thousands of homeless and orphan children. Having spent some quality time with them and realising with whatever I earn I could probably afford to make the life of one child better and I adopted a girl called Preeti. She still lives with them but I take care of her studies. I love my time with her.

7.      What do you understand by child abuse?

I believe that Child abuse, one of the many problems that persist in India today, is arguably one of the filthiest ones. Of late, we have heard a lot of instances of children being exploited but the most gruesome abuse occurring in and around the nation is child sex abuse. The term may sound too demeaning and give you goose bumps but it is in fact a very sensitive issue which needs to be addressed on a broader platform and so it led to the creation of “The Silent Scream”.

8.      Do you think a father fighting with mother in front of a child is a form of child abuse indirectly?

Definitely! Let us understand the fact that the abuse is not limited to physical harm to a person or a child. In fact the abuse is more related to the persecution of mind, the thoughts of the other person and when that person is someone as innocent as a child, the impact is severe and long lasting. An important aspect that I have emphasized on in the book is bonding in a parent child relationship and winning the child’s trust. When a child sees his parents fighting he loses a lot more than trust. The child can’t look forward to discuss their problems or share their secrets with them easily. In fact at times, it may also lead to the situation where the child may start looking out for harmony outside his house and gets involved in undesirable stuff. They have a tender heart, you got to handle it with care, utmost care.

9.      How was it working with Rumour Books India?

Brilliant! They came to my rescue and believed in my work when everyone else wanted another Ravinder Singh or Chetan Bhagat. It’s difficult for publishing industries to entertain new faces with the kind of competition they are facing of late and with a story like that of The Silent Scream, the genre doesn’t really suit the Indian audience as much, as they put it. It has a limited reach, they told me. But Rumour Books and I believed that the Indian readers could not be restricted in a boundary of genres and they would welcome anything that is good. Today, I can proudly say that we were right. I have had some lovely feedbacks about the book.

10.  Do you think author’s conversations and events are important for a book’s promotion?

I think so. Though I am new to industry, I believe that it is very important for the writers to connect with their audience. It gives readers a sense of confidence (they would also know the face they would require to buy the rotten tomatoes for, haha!). I personally like to get in touch with my readers, know their reviews; they are the best motivators and the ultimate source where I can learn the most from. They shall help me overcome my flaws and help me write better. Plus in a world where more than 1000 books are published every month, it is very difficult for a new author to create his mark unless he goes out and connect with people. You got to be J.K. Rowling to sit back home and expect the readers to come looking out for your work. 

11.  What is your least favourite part of the writing process?

To be honest, naming the characters in your book unless you are willing to put in the real ones! Sometimes it takes me days to come up with a suitable name for my characters, though it seems pretty random but they are not selected erratically. There has to be a reason for most of them.

12.  Describe your writing style in ten words or less.

Apt, precise and unbiased and most importantly, an effort towards a change!

13.  What are some things you like to do when you’re not writing?

I am full time software engineer and a technical job gives me very less time to spare. I still find out time to persue my MBA efficiently and I love to teach so, I have been teaching students for past six years now. Talk of leisure, I am a movie freak!

14.  Do you think that writing about this topic can actually be of some help?

All I can say at the moment is, the intent was true. How people react to it is still very unpredictable. One thing I am sure of is writing about this topic is going to help more than keeping mum about it did.

15.  How do you feel when someone disagrees with something you say or have written?

I say wow, that’s a perspective. Why didn’t I think of that? Then I involve myself in a friendly debate with that person with intent to convince or get convinced. I welcome all the critics as an opportunity to improve, given they are put in a respectable form.

16.  Tell us something about your future projects.

I have pledged to keep writing on topics that touch with social issues, the topics that everyone criticize, talks about in their rooms and the topics that are considered taboo in our society. I want to eradicate unrealistic taboos and strengthen the position of women and children in our society. I am currently working on two books simultaneously, Maya – is a true story that narrates the trials and tribulations of a male survivor and “Not Just a Love Story” – is a kind of twisted love story, more of a murder mystery and thriller.

17.  Was this path difficult to tread on or a smooth ride?

Very difficult I must say, but when you love something you don’t give up on it. The most difficult part is finding publishers, especially when you are new to the industry. Sometimes it takes more number of years in convincing a publisher to publish your work than it takes to research on a book and write on it. The key is to be patient and learning to accept the rejection; as a author you will get numerous of them.

18.  Lastly, is there a message you would like to convey your readers?

When you have an opinion, use it to make a change. I am thankful to you for picking my book because if you have bought a copy, knowingly or unknowingly you have helped a child in his education. With the enormous time you have and because you are a wonderful person, spare some time for those who need love and care. Try and help someone in need. And about my work, please don’t just read, tell me how you like it, tell me how I can improve. Your feedback matters! Love you all.

And now, before we end this session, how about a snippet from the book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

This appears as part of the book blurb, so that the reader is tempted to get a copy...

"Child abuse, one of the many problems that persist in India today, is arguably the filthiest. Of late, we have heard of instances of children being exploited but the most gruesome abuse is child sex abuse. The Silent Scream takes up this issue which people normally turn a blind eye towards. Through the subtlety quoted instances mentioned in this narrative non-fiction we are exposed to the disturbing lives of child predators and their innocent, young unassuming victims.

The Silent Scream is a ready guide to create awareness about this rampantly growing evil with the aim of sensitising the general public on the ways in which sex abusers operate. A humble effort is also being made to counsel the victims and carry forward the war against this menace so that other innocent souls are saved."

Buying Links: Amazon | uRead

The Boy who was not broken :)

Everyone has a story, so do I. The only difference probably is that mine is written in blood! Don't get confused; you read it right. As a child, I was often bullied because of my color. I was not white and fair which is considered as the standard for being beautiful. But I don't think it was my fault. May be the creator chose to paint me in the black tone. That was his wish and living my life with equality is mine. Now, that's different that my wishes are not always granted. 'The world is not a wish granting factory'.

The school where I studied was full of white children who used to make me feel an odd one out on a daily basis. I was fed up. There were days when they beat me black and blue but I could not get them punished despite complaining so many times against them. I was aware that if I would tell my parents about it, they might help me but I didn't want to unnecessary trouble them. I was hopeful that the things will change sooner or later.

But nothing changed. I used to return home bleeding at times and then made a lame excuse in front of my parents. They were beginning to worry and then I decided to confess. They heard my story and instantly felt my pain. They offered me to change my school but I told them that I will manage. They were scared for me. I assured them that I will bring about a change in their thinking. I will open a school one day and when their children will take admission there, they will learn to be compassionate. My parents looked at me, appalled. They asked me that how am I going to do that. I showed them my savings. Yes, I had not spent a single penny from my pocket money for all those years. I told them once I pass out from a good college and get enough degrees, I will reach my dreams.

They were not sure but agreed only on one condition that I will tell them if things worsened. However, the children were already tired of beating me. They could not tear me apart, they could not take away my hope and dream for a better tomorrow. They had given up but I hadn't. I was only moving ahead on the path of my ambition, one step at a time.

And today, I stand at the gates of my own school with my parents, waiting for them to cut the ribbon and declare the school open. I feel I am born, a second time as I stand here and revisit the days when I was bullied for something that I had no control on. And in my heart, I thanked all of them for giving me my aim.

- The Boy who was not broken

#CrumpledVoices2