AUTHOR'S INTERVIEW : DELHI DELIGHTS BY RUDHIR PRAKASH SARMA

·       EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

·         2013- MA in Development Studies from Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

·         2004- B.B.A from International Management Centre, New-Delhi under Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur.

·         2000- HSSLC (XII th standard) from Ascent Academy Junior College affiliated to AHSEC, Assam

·         1998- HSLC(X th standard) from HFC Model High School affiliated to SEBA, Assam

ACADEMIC PROJECTS

·         Social, political and economic impact of immigration into Assam from Bangladesh under the guidance of Dr. Sawmya Ray, Assistant Professor Department of HSS, IIT Guwahati

·         Socio-economic and psychological impact of bomb blasts on the life of survivors: An exploratory study under the guidance of Dr. Dilwar Hussain, Assistant Professor, Department of HSS, IIT Guwahati

PUBLICATIONS:-

§   Working on my second book titled “The last standoff at Saraighat”.

§   My debut novel “Delhi Delights” is published by Anjuman Publications. The book is available for purchase in online & offline stores.

§   A collection of my poems has been published in an anthology titled “Poems from Third World” by Blackbuck Publication, New-Delhi.

§   “Socio-economic and Psychological effects of terrorist bomb blasts on the lives of survivors: - An exploratory study on the affected individuals submitted jointly by me and Dr. Dilwar Hussain, Assistant Professor, Department of HSS, IIT Guwahati has been published in Intervention, a Netherlands based journal on  mental health & psychosocial support in conflict affected areas in its November issue.

·                  ACTIVITIES AND HOBBIES

       Enjoy watching & playing cricket, love to spend time with pets, love writing poems and stories.

           LANGUAGES KNOWN

Assamese, English & Hindi

          NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

      Recipient of ‘Indian Awaz 100 Inspiring writers Award’ for the year 2018

       Nominated for the Literary Awards in the fiction category by Gurgaon Literature Festival 2018

      Provided inputs for Shri Narendra Modi’s speech during his visit to Guwahati on the 8^th of February,2014

·         Recipient of Assam Chief Minister’s Scholarship for the year 2013.

                                           

·         Won the 1^st prize in the senior category in the Essay contest held by the State Fire & Emergency Services, Assam on the occasion of ‘Fire Service Week-2013’.

·         Awarded as “Innovative Thinker” by Ad knack advertising, an INS accredited ad agency.

·         Won the 2^nd prize in Category ‘B’ at the 2nd North East Poetry Festival conducted by the Poetry Society (India) for the year 2008 at Shilpagram, Guwahati from June 26-28, 2008.

·         Was awarded the 2^nd   & 3^rd prize respectively at the Regional & District level Quiz Competitions conducted by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) in 1995 &1996.

·         Was the Associate Editor of PR First, the only Public Relations Newsletter published from the North East

 QUESTIONNAIRE

 1) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I wanted to be a writer since I was in eighth standard. However, I developed the confidence that I could take up writing seriously only after I won a prize in a poetry contest organized by the Poetry Society (INDIA) in 2008.

2) How long does it take you to write a book?

My debut novel ‘Delhi Delights’ was published last October. It took me one year to complete it.

3) What is your work schedule when you are writing?

There is no fixed schedule as such. I try to devote atleast a couple of hours on weekends to writing.

4) What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I have this habit of talking to myself about what I am going to write. It helps me to maintain my focus.

5) Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I get my ideas from incidents that took place in my life or in my immediate environment.

6) What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I am a nature lover & therefore I try to spend as much time possible in a park or in a secluded spot surrounded by greenery. I love animals and spend a lot of time observing them. I also love playing with my pet dog.

7) Tell us something about your novel/book?

My book is based on events that took place in the lives of two youngsters, Rajeev and Akhil, while they were in Delhi for their studies. Although friends, there was a lot of difference when it came to their life goals and behavioural traits. While one was very career-oriented, the other was more fun-loving and easy-going by nature. Away from home for the first time in their lives, they soon realized that life wasn’t exactly a cakewalk and tried to face boldly the numerous challenges that life threw at them. As they made new friends, their bond of friendship was put to test.  Did they succeed in life & retain their friendship as well? And most importantly, were they fortunate enough to celebrate their success with their loved ones in the end? That forms the basis of the story.

And,

8) What is one of the most surprising thing you learned in creating your books?

I learned that it is easy to visualize what I want to include in a particular page or chapter but not so easy when it comes to writing it down as briefly as I can without missing out on what I want to convey while ensuring that there is enough in it to keep the readers interested.

INTERVIEWED BY :

MR. SUMAN PANDA

TEAM BOOK RACKOON