THIS AUTHOR IS HELPING READERS FIND THEIR IKIGAI, THROUGH HIS SELF HELP FICTION BOOK

Author Interview: Atul Khekade

Atul Khekade is a computer engineer by education, specialising in Information Technology. He was born in India, and is a resident of Singapore. He is a FinTech entrepreneur working on building the next generation financial infrastructure to empower MSMEs with decentralised finance powered by Blockchain technology network XinFin, also known as XDC Network. He is a serial entrepreneur leading companies, and also writes for business magazines. He has recently come out with the book “Me Ki Gai”. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, he talks about his debut book, his writing journey, his favourite books and authors, and much more. Read on!



Please tell us more about Atul Khekade as a person.

I am a curious person in general. I love to seek knowledge, try it first hand and then share it with others who might potentially benefit. I am a FinTech entrepreneur by profession, working on building the next generation financial infrastructure for institutions. I love business, finance, sports, music, writing, science and spirituality.



Has writing always been a part of your life? Or did you chance upon it later on and then instantly fell in love with it?

Once I started reading a lot, there was a more mature inner dialogue and imagination. Once it was channelised, writing just came out naturally and effortlessly. As I started writing more, I realised I could express myself from within with an output that was permanent in nature. They say a pen is mightier than a sword. I say, a keyboard is mightier than nuclear fission. Not an overstatement, but writing has the potential to reach millions of lives.



Please tell us more about your book “Me Ki Gai”.

We are more and more being led towards a life filled with stress and anxiety. I personally faced a lot of stress and anxiety in the early years of my entrepreneurial career, creating failure after failure. Getting fed up of it, I used to think- “Hey, Why life can’t be like nice music, especially the larger part of life where we spend our time, that is our work?” I then started writing a manuscript based on some personal experiences and some inspiration. A few years ago, I realised there was a Japanese concept called Ikigai which is very close to what I had in mind. Most ikigai books or content is presented as a quick fix philosophy. Personally I think it doesn’t work that way. Finding your ikigai is an inner journey and discovery. Hence, the name of the book “Me Ki Gai”, which simply means me ikigai or my ikigai.



How has the response of readers been to your book?

So far the response has been great. The book is rated close to 4.5 stars on Goodreads and Amazon. I get many thank you messages on my social media account that appreciate the content and the way the concept has been put together in the form of a self help fiction.



This is a self help book which has been presented as fiction. What made you combine and delve into both genres?

Self help philosophies often sound boring and impractical. They are presented as a quick fix or magical wizard that make you believe that life is a 0 or a 1. But a concept or philosophy like ikigai takes a lifetime for realisation. It is also very unique to everyone. Also, if you see the track records for best selling self help books, they come in the form of a storytelling fiction. For e.g. The Alchemist, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. I think storytelling can really make something more understood to the readers vis a vis a philosophy. Even Bhagwat Gita comes in the form of a self help fiction. It was an easier choice to follow the standards set by such masterpieces and what really works for the readers.



What challenges did you face while writing this book?

It took me almost 7 years to finish the book. I had started working on the manuscript in 2012. It has taken many iterations and rewriting to get where the book was at a publishable stage. There were several challenges. First was channelising thoughts and giving the manuscript a few hours every day. For several days and months, it felt like I was not getting anywhere. But whatever I wrote just stayed there which helped me re-iterate it. When the manuscript was close to completion, giving it finishing touches was also difficult. In the end, when I actually completed the book, it was in the middle of a lockdown so most publishing houses were delaying their book releases. Eventually I decided to release it thought Amazon KDP.



Which books or authors were your early formative influences?

I loved reading (and still do) books by Arthur Hailey, who wrote an entire fictional plot and entertaining thrillers around an entire industry covering it at depth. I felt that Arthur Hailey books should be part of curriculum in Business and management schools. That was my first experience of covering a depth of topic with storytelling or fictional plot. It just felt so effortless to read it. Yet after reading, you would know how the day to day life in that industry is.
Richard Branson’s book “Losing My Virginity” was a life changing book for me. I loved the way Richard Branson has fun while doing business which has its own ups and downs.



Can you recommend five books from any genre, for our readers to add to their reading lists, that you particularly cherish?

I have loved reading the following books in these genres. Autobiography- “Losing My Virginity” by Richard Branson, Self Help fiction- “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, Fiction- “Norwegian Wood” by Haruki Murakami, Spirituality- “Bhagwat Gita”, and Science- “Homo Deus” by Yuval Noah Harari.



What’s the most important takeaway you want people to remember after reading this book?

I would love it if people of all ages who read this book get an inner stimulant that will help them achieve personal and professional success in their own journey of life.



There are many new writers and poets who are aspiring to get their work published. What would you say to them?

The more you read, the more you will trigger your imagination. Imagination is everything in writing. Also don't judge your own writing. Just let it flow.



What are you working on next?

A short story manuscript that is relevant for younger generation, and a business book that will help a common layman understand banking finance and the future of it.



Can you share with our readers a motivational quote that keeps you going?

This quote inspires me- “The sun will rise and we will try again”.