You don't write for money. You write so that you do not have emotional constipation. You write because there are stories that need to be told.
I come from a small village in Sonepat whose only claim to fame is that Gautama, the Buddha, was supposed to have visited it and delivered Mahasatipatthana sutta there centuries ago. My parents were not greatly educated. But they were liberal.
My father, in particular, was very liberal and tolerant. My education happened in fits and starts. I went to college in 1987 after doing a diploma and apprenticeship in electricals. In 1989, when I was pursuing my post-graduation in English Literature I got call for a government job.
I quit the government job in 1996 to join Mid-Day's Delhi bureau. I was straightaway assigned investigative agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax as a beat. I was there for close to seven years. This was my longest and most satisfying job. I thoroughly enjoyed it and made a name for myself.
I interviewed an absconding judge J W Singh after which a Mumbai Police landed at my office to seek my help in arresting him. I broke stories on match-fixing case, terrorism and did hundreds of quality features for Sunday Mid Day. A majority of these features were front-paged.
Subsequently, I worked with Sahara Time, Mumbai Mirror, Sakaal Times, Yuva and The Free Press Journal. In between, I also wrote for Gulf News. In 2010, I joined a niche magazine Inclusion as a Resident Editor. This was the best part of my learning curve. I also worked with Asia360news of Singapore, gfiles and Bangkok Post.
In 2013, I did a project on electoral democracy for European Research Network Programme where the London School of Economics was the Principal Investigator. In 2017, I completed my doctorate in mass communication and switched over to academics.
Subsequently, I worked with Sahara Time, Mumbai Mirror, Sakaal Times, Yuva and The Free Press Journal. In between, I also wrote for Gulf News. In 2010, I joined a niche magazine Inclusion as a Resident Editor. This was the best part of my learning curve. I also worked with Asia360news of Singapore, gfiles and Bangkok Post.
In 2013, I did a project on electoral democracy for European Research Network Programme where the London School of Economics was the Principal Investigator. In 2017, I completed my doctorate in mass communication and switched over to academics.
Ironically, my best work happened as a freelancer when I was always broke. In 2015, I did a long expose on Gurmeet Ram Rahim for an American magazine. It has been a roller coaster journey. In May this year, Cambridge Scholars published my book Mahatma Gandhi in Cinema. The book has been written about in almost every state of India. I am waiting for a paperback edition of the book.
I started off as a film journalist in the early 90s and teach cinema now. Back to the roots in a sense.
2.When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I started off as a film journalist in the early 90s and teach cinema now. Back to the roots in a sense.
2.When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I always wanted to be a journalist and a writer. In fact, I attempted a love thriller in 2008 too. I wrote some 85 pages of it in my laptop and left at the climax. I wanted to end it in a foreign locale. But till then I had never been to a foreign country.
Unfortunately or fortunately, the laptop conked off and I could never retrieve the hard disk data. But writing the book was a cathartic experience. A lot of friends have asked me to rewrite it. But it would be difficult because writing a story is like living a life. And you do not live twice. Hopefully, I will be writing another book soon.
3.Is it a financially stable career?
3.Is it a financially stable career?
To be honest, a big no. Writing is not viable unless you are a Chetan Bhagat or Amish. But you don't write for money. You write so that you do not have emotional constipation. You write because there are stories that need to be told.
4.Who is your favourite writer and why?
My favourite writer is Earnest Hemingway. His Farewell to the Arms is a thrilling love story. I would love to write something of that sort.
5.Where does your inspiration lie?
It all comes from within. I am a very ambitious person. Besides, I am not good at anything else. I would like to leave something for the posterity.
6.What piece of advice would you like to give to future aspiring writers?
If you wish to be a journalist or a writer be prepared for hardships. Write the truth because it sells the most. Mahatma Gandhi's The story of My Experiments with Truth is an example. Another example is Khushwant Singh.
7.Which is your favourite book and why?
There are many. It depends on my mood. I like Khushwant Singh's Train to Pakistan, R K Narayan's Guide and autobiographies of Khushwant, Vinod Mehta, Dom Moraes, and Mahatma Gandhi.
- Dr Narendra Kaushik (Author, Journalist, Academic)
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