AN AUTHOR FORAYING INTO THE REALM OF MYTHOLOGICAL FICTION

Author Interview : Aniket S Sharma

Aniket S Sharma, is working in the software industry and lives in Bengaluru. He has a keen interest in the mythological history of India. He has recently come out with the book “Chakravyuh”. His interest in understanding the great Indian epics has inspired him in retelling the stories. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, he talks about his latest book, his writing journey, his favourite books and authors, and much more. Read on!


Please tell us more about Aniket S Sharma as a person.

Born and brought up in Kanpur, UP, I graduated in 2007. Currently living in Bengaluru, India with two girls- my wife and my daughter. My parents imbibed a very good habit in me from childhood- reading. The encouragement to make books as my friends later converted into keen interest in Indian history and mythology. From the stories of grandparents to Panchatantra to books from renowned authors, the journey never ended. For me- “A book is a compilation of unexpressed expressions to connect the unknown knowns”.


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

I have been writing since my school days. I remember the first story I wrote in Hindi was at the age of ten for a local children magazine which never got published! Initially I used to write in Hindi, but then in college I wrote couple of plays for college drama-group in Hindi and English both. After joining the corporate world, the pace of writing decreased because of obvious reasons. In 2013, after a long gap, I wrote a book on business analysis called “A Quick Reference to Business Analysis”, when I rediscovered the hidden writer in me. Later the interest in Indian mythology and hidden writer teamed together to result into “Chakravyuh”.


Can you tell us more about your book “Chakravyuh”?

“Chakravyuh” is a modern adaptation of the greatest epic ever written in the history of humankind, Mahabharata. This is a retelling of a part of the epic from the perspective of a young warrior, Abhimanyu, who was descendent of Kuru dynasty; but destiny had some other plans for him. A loyal son, a loving brother, a caring husband, a disciplined disciple and a true warrior, he defied all the odds to be decorated in history for many generations to come. His skills and intellect were no less than his forefathers, but he was not bound to the dogmas followed by his ancestors. In many ways, Abhimanyu was ahead of his times and definitely more mature than his age.


How has the response of readers been to your book?

I am liking the positive feedback from almost everyone who has read the book. From the cover of the book to the story build up to the end, the book is riveting and the readers liked the first person present tense version of Mahabharata story from a different perspective. Also, with the story of first thirteen days of the war, the glimpses of the childhood and married life of Abhimanyu is liked by many readers. The best part is this book doesn’t belong to any specific age group. Be it teenagers, young adults, senior citizens, children and their parents, this book has a story for everyone.


Why did you choose to write about Abhimanyu?

When you read Mahabharata, the story mostly revolves around five Pandavas and couple of Kauravas, their needs, aspirations, lust and desires. Not much is discussed about the next generation warriors and when I read the epic, I realized we are missing to know more about Abhimanyu. The story of Abhimanyu was restricted to “Amar Chitra Katha” and we know him as a one day warrior who learnt the art of Chakravyuh in his mother’s womb.
Upon researching, I came to the conclusion that, Abhimanyu was a learnt scholar and a fearless warrior, and his story should be brought forward as he had contributed a lot during the war. Can you imagine the condition of a three-year-old boy whose father went to exile for thirteen years and when he was reunited with the family; fate had different plans for him! He was an innocent young lad who sacrificed his life for his motherland at the age of just sixteen years. And we all should know about the great hero of our history.


What are your favourite books? Can you share with our esteemed readers about the genres that you like and your favourite authors?

I believe there’s nothing called a “bad book”. It’s about perspective! It is very difficult to select from the different genres I read. To list down a few- “Prose Translation of Mahabharata” by Kishari Mohan Ganguli– all-time favourite, anytime I read it, I get a new perception of the story, “The Secret Handshake” by Kathleen Kelley, “Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman, “The Phoenix Project” by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, George Spafford, Chris Ruen, “Naked Voices: Stories and Sketches”– (Stories by Sadat Hassan Manto), “Short Stories” by Munshi Premchand, “The Hindus: An Alternative History” by Wendy Doniger, “Ashok” by Bhagwatiprasad Panthari, “English, August: An Indian Story” by Upamanyu Chatterjee. I am currently reading “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” by Doris Kearns Goodwin.


Can you share with us some of your favourite books by both Indian and foreign authors which delve into the realm of mythology and historical fiction?

Indian mythology is vast and beautiful. It gives everyone a space to think in a way they want. It’s not easy to pick one book from great works done by different authors. If you still ask me to pick one, the book with mythological history flair which I admire the most is – “Yayati: A Classic Tale of Lust” by V.S. Khandekar.


What do you think is the literary scenario in contemporary Indian mythological fiction?

The world is changing, and the choices are increasing. It is great that we have started reflecting back to our roots. People like to read and talk about the origins and history with immense interest and there is no fear in sharing the perceptions; which is very important. The freedom with which writers get into deeper meaning of the texts written in ancient scriptures is commendable, and the best part is having a vast range of readers. Thanks to the revolutionary work being done by the historians which is inspiring many readers and authors to dive deeper to find the underlying meaning of the texts written years ago, and yet meaningful in today’s era. This is the best time of human evolution when we can express our opinions fearlessly and there are readers who admire the work. There is a lot more to come, many different versions are yet to be explored, but I am sure with the increasing love for the knowledge of our origins, the authors will keep on putting forward the best work.


What are your other interests apart from writing?

I like long drives in car, cooking, playing badminton, and have recently developed an interest in swimming.


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

Keep calm and believe in your work. Success is not achieved, it’s written. The Indian publishing industry is yet to graduate, maybe for many reasons I cannot explain now, but with the increase in publishing options, there are high chances of your work meeting the right audience. I congratulate all the people who are in publishing industry trying to bridge the distance between a writer and a reader. But we have to go a long way. To all the writers, please note that there are readers; it’s just about reaching the right audience. So, write what you are best at. In Mark Twain’s words- “A successful book is not made of what is in it, but what is left out of it.”


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

“Create Opportunity”, I wrote this years ago and it still helps me in waking up each morning. I believe, “Opportunities will knock tomorrow, if created today.”