You’ve written two books. Tell us about that journey
I used to come up with small, fantasy tales when I was about two or three years old. The actual journey of writing a book started in 2020, at the beginning of the lockdown. I had a sudden urge to start writing, and in a few weeks, my first book “The Cousin’s Crime” was ready. Simultaneously, I started writing my second book, a non-fiction, “Why Ignore them?” It came out last June.
Tell us about your books
“The Cousin’s Crime” is a mystery with 17-year-old Krisha Batra as the protagonist. She is witty, fierce, determined, yet playful. There is a sidekick too, Aarav Batra, her brother. I drew his character from my own life, and I think most people will be able to relate to them. The story starts with the Summer Detective Contest, which Kisha wins and becomes an official detective. The story begins when Kisha witnesses a crime.
My second book is about the environmental issues faced by the world. I have listed nine issues being ignored, and need action. I have also suggested a few methods to solve these issues. While with the first book I hope to empower girls more, in the second, I want to try and tackle environmental problems.
You’re a content writer and an editor too.
I contribute content to an organization that puts mental health above everything else; it attempts to break the shackles of shame. My aim is to make the topic of mental health more inclusive. I believe that if mental health is fine, we can work more efficiently.
For a scientific magazine of the same organization, I write on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The research had to be deep for that. As months progressed, I got promoted. Recently, I took up responsibility for podcasts too.
Who is your inspiration?
I have different inspiration for different aspects of my life. My biggest inspiration includes APJ Abdul Kalam. Even when he was the President of India, he was so down-to-earth, so humble. Another person is Sudha Murthy. She is an author, and the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. She is humble as well. Also, multi-faceted Ellen Degeneres, who is amazing; she is aware of problems in her environment. She has started a variety of movements, including one for saving pandas.
What challenges did you face in your journey? How did you overcome them?
Time would have been a challenge, but, due to the lockdown, that wasn’t a challenge. The greatest challenge was staying consistent. Writing is a very long process; it can’t end in two or three days. So giving it a 100% in the beginning and getting lower won’t work. I’d like to quote singer Shawn Mendes, “You can’t get too comfortable and relax, because your world can flip overnight.” You have to remain consistent. And I can’t emphasise enough on reading. It doesn’t have to be a book; just about anything is fine.
What are your hobbies?
It may sound like a cliche, but I like to study Science and Mathematics. Especially about space. I can keep going on and on about space. Apart from that, I like to play the guitar. These are my most-favourite hobbies, which I can do every day. Sometimes I like to draw, but not always. Reading is my most favourite.
What are your future plans?
I don’t want to plan on anything. But I do love space and science, so I want to do something in that field. Above all, I want to become a good woman; be empathetic. All the women who inspire me are humble and simple. I want to be like that.
Picture Credit : Google
