ON WRITING A MYSTERY THRILLER WITH ELEMENTS OF ASTRONOMY AND MATHEMATICS

Author Interview: Parag Kulkarni

Parag Kulkarni is a software architect by profession and he delves into the world of literature over the weekends. He possesses a keen interest in scientific and historical events, with a specific emphasis on events that connect these two themes. He is also fond of hobbies like astronomy and star gazing. His latest book, “The Rebirth of Lilavati”, is a mystery thriller. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, he talks about his book, his writing journey, his favourite books and authors, and much more. Read on!



Please tell us more about Parag Kulkarni as a person.

I am, in parts a nerd, and a perennial enthusiast. I find happiness in little things and know how to keep myself busy and interesting. I like teaching children about astronomy and like to show them stars, planets, and other night sky objects.



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?

So the first time I about wrote anything literary was at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. That literary writing experience was way back in 2004. But somehow I could not sustain it. Still I kept on investing in my reading and learning abilities and acquired as much scientific and technological knowledge as I could. Then in 2013, came the idea for my first book – “The Peacemakers”. Since then, there has been no stopping, as I had found my calling. Writing then became a passion and I wrote many essays, ideas and two books, since I fell in love with writing.



Please tell us more about your book “The Rebirth of Lilavati”.

An epic book of an epic scale, “The Rebirth of Lilavati” combines the excitement of scientific adventures with uncertainty of human mind to conjure a dramatic tale of a beautiful and ambitious girl named Sindhu who, in her quest to conquer science, ends up disturbing her own world. It is a tale of an intelligent and mysterious girl-child, Diya, who is a child prodigy and discovers an unusual planet in the Solar System. It is also a tale of a smart but ageing retired secret agent, Wikram, who has given up the intelligence world to be in love with Sindhu and has settled into a peaceful city, and is supporting Sindhu and Diya in every way possible. But when their worlds collide due to external challenges, internal conflicts and shifts in priorities, they face adversities of vast proportions. Will they come out of their miseries? Or will life take another unpredictable turn? This book really grows on the readers and makes them question the very sanctity of scientific and economic progress that is so attributed to the humans’ happiness index.



How did the idea of writing this book originate? When did you start writing this book and how long did it take you to finish it?

When I finished writing my first book, the protagonists were exhausted but alive. So a thought came to my mind to make them begin the second chapter of their lives – one where they would not have to save the world, but to create meaningful, constructive community growth. That’s how the idea originated. I started writing it in 2015 and finished it in 2019. Since then, I bifurcated my time in finding the right agent and ideating the plot for the sequel.



What type of research went into writing this book?

Since this a book that tries to find a balance between family and their individual scientific ambitions, the research required spanned from human psychology, fertility, philosophy to genetic cloning, astronomy and mathematics. Add to that the research around Sanskrit-based mathematics by ancient mathematicians like Aryabhatta, Warahamihira and most importantly, Bhaskaracharya II (12th Century). I also had to study some real-life cases of reincarnation and read books by some experts in the field.



What challenges did you face while writing this book?

The biggest challenge was the research material. On each of the topics mentioned above, there was limited information available online. So I had to go hunting for various institutions and libraries. I was lucky to be in Pune, which has a rich educational culture. I had the honour to meet India’s most respected living scientist, Dr Jayant Narlikar and he not only read my first book and provided valuable feedback, but also granted me the access to IUCAA (Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics) library which contained vast number of rare and costly books on ancient Indian mathematicians. I also had the privilege to visit Bhaskaracharya Pratishthan, a premier mathematical institute hosting books on Bhaskaracharya. They were gracious enough to lend me few books to study.



What, according to you, is the recipe for a perfect mystery thriller?

The premise, mysterious characters, and multi-level climax – in the right combination, along with clever dialogues would make any reader want more of the book. To me, introducing the right characters at the right time, and showing multiple facets of the key characters (which should not be more than 2-3) adds to the ongoing mystery in a book.



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

“A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century” by Upinder Singh, “India Unbound” by Gurcharan Das, “Wings of Fire” by APJ Abdul Kalam, “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand, “Angels & Demons” by Dan Brown, and “The Devil’s Alternative” by Frederick Forsyth.



What are your other interests apart from writing?

I love astronomy as a science. I am always fascinated by how much there is to learn about the Universe and its laws. I also love star gazing at night and explaining different constellations (Hindu and Western), stars, star-clusters and other objects in space. I especially love telling their stories to children.



What are you working on next? Are there any new literary projects that our readers should look out for?

I am working on multiple projects. I am writing the third part of the trilogy of “The Peacemakers”. The current title of the book is – “The Return of the Peacemakers”. Apart from this, I am working on a non-fiction book titled “Child Education & YOU” about the role each one of the educated individuals can play in educating the next generation of India, and a funny dramedy called – “Hum Dono, Humare Dono”, which is about reuniting an old couple who had married separately due to their break-up, only to find that their kids too are falling for each other.



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

I recommend them to follow their heart, do enough research about each literary project to create their unique style and finish what they started. There will always be people who would recognize your talent and style, and appreciate what you have accomplished.



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

The universe is vast and unforgiving, we are tiny in comparison and yet we have managed to breathe, understand, and explore it. So the same we, can also make a positive difference, no matter how small – we just have to will to do it.