Bijendra Kumar is an engineering graduate from Punjab Technical University. Currently he is a Project Leader in Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. It’s been 10 years for him working with IT companies on different roles. Let us know more about the writing side of him.
What inspired you to start writing?
If I say, no, I had a no inspiration. You wouldn’t believe. How come someone without an inspiration can write a book?
Well, you are right but I am not wrong either. I’ll confine my answer to fundamental aspect of this question. My childhood was not so great. There had been several instances when I wanted to express … I wanted to express without danger of suppression, interference or punitive action by whosoever (I wouldn’t like to be specific here).
Some of them had happened when I was quite young and some of them recently. This is very unfortunate that there was none who could understand my feelings, who could listen to me, who could just slip his / her hand over my head with affection. Well, time passed by and so my desire to express became mature.
Now let me return to the question you originally asked – inspiration behind writing. Finally in year 2007, I thought I must ‘write’ to ‘express’. But promoting me as an author took four more years. I began writing “Three Jobless Freaks” in year 2011 when I was in Norway.
What did you like to read when you were a boy?
Some variety of this question, honestly, I was waiting to be asked. Before I say more on it, let me answer your question first: Comics and Mast Ram. Interestingly, until college days, I hated reading novel.
To those who had asked it before, my answer was: “I was kind of a very sincere guy who always studied hard to be in the IIT. It’s another fact that I couldn’t make it ;). But all such words were to impress the person I was talking to.”
Now after fifteen years, I think repeating the same thing is less impressive. So it’s alright to be completely honest.
“Everyone does what he really wants to do – otherwise he wouldn’t do it.” We were four friends in Dehradun. After school, each day, we were together reading a chapter from Mast Ram current edition. And, I can’t tell you how badly we were laughing and then fantasizing. Not getting into IIT is the biggest failure I ever had. But I do not regret on what we (Friends and I) did. J I still miss those days.
What is the greatest challenge in writing a book?
See, you write book for commercial purpose – of course you want to sell it. You can always argue on that (I write for social cause, I write to educate people, blah blah) but without having direct or indirect connection, it wouldn’t be possible to make it reach to the intended audience. And, that’s the big challenge.
Though ‘marketing’ is the last step of publishing a book, but, to me, this is the first thing to be well thought of even before you write a book. You would have to think about ‘marketing’ quotient in the contents: what and how much. Even if you are a skilled writer, you have to identify ‘readers’ class first.
How much research do you do before writing the book?
Not very much for this book. But for some part of the book, yes, I had to personally involve myself to get the real feel. For example, a lead male character of ‘Three Jobless Freaks’ is a job seeker who joined school as a guest faculty for basic earnings to survive. I had to write about his first lecture to the higher secondary class students.
To preserve originality, I had to take sample class in the school. Besides, observing and chatting people around you gives you lot of things.
What motivated you to write the book “Three Jobless Freaks”?
Soon after graduation when I started working, I met struggling youngsters of my age and batch who used to wait in long queues during walk-in interviews. Some of them were under family pressure, some had ambitions of their own, but all of them were struggling to secure a job. Fun and tears, both I had felt closely. That was the first occasion when I thought I should write ‘Three Jobless Freaks’.
Can you tell us more about your latest book “Three Jobless Freaks”?
This is my debut novel.
Once upon a time, there were three geniuses: Anik, Chirag and Gyan. And, a school girl – Isha. They were friends.
There was something more. Isha fell in love with Anik. The guy who was always misjudged by the people who he loved the most. But he fought against all odds to achieve success. And that night suddenly he disappeared.
How a misjudged genius became successful? Why he gave up his career on the night of his triumph? What happened to the girl and her love?
Gyan called to the chief justice of a high court to inform that ‘Anik is missing’. The reason why he called was that he had only found his contact in Anik’s room.
Who was the chief justice? Why he agreed to investigate this case?
You will discover the answer while knowing the breath-taking incidents which played havoc with the lives of Three Jobless Freaks.
How did you come up with the idea of writing fiction genre book?
Because fiction is usually based on real experience
Who are your favorite authors?
Amish, Khushwant Singh, Paul Coelho, Ayan Rand, Chetan Bhagat
How much time do you dedicate for writing on a daily basis?
Office and work takes away a major chunk of my daily schedule. When I began writing, I could only find time at night. So, I made sure to give my book at least two-three hours every night.
What words of wisdom would you like to give to aspiring writers?
Please do not opt writing as a career. But of course, this is world’s best thing to express your views.
You can buy his book now: