Spectralhues brings you an exclusive interview with Ravindra Shukla, author of “A Maverick Heart: Between love and Life”, a story of three youth from IIT Bombay – covering their academic life, corporate world and concluding into social-political reform going in country.
An ex-alumnus of IIT Bombay, Ravindra lives in Houston, USA, with his lovely wife and a daughter for the last 15 years. Ravindra is currently working as subject matter expert for IBM in Business Analytic group. He is a trained movie script writer and director from New York and is member of film writer association, Mumbai. His additional interest includes sports, movie and travelling across the globe.
Here’s the excerpt of the interview Ravindra gave to Susmita Bose.
Congratulations on the success of your debut novel ‘A Maverick Heart’. Tell us how much your life changed after the release of your book.
I will say quite a lot. Changes are not visible outside as I am still doing my regular job and spending most of the time in it, but I am looking a lot more to do in future in writing and direction.
Excitement is coming because people are relating to what I have conveyed in the book. People are loving it. They send me their feedback in personal notes. Some of the top socialist leaders, people involved in RTI movement, university professors (one of them edited my book – he was so much excited with content), corporate CEO, Business Management School director, Bollywood directors mentioned about the quality of the book.
I interacted in many public functions and the response I got from the audience was tremendous. For example – I was addressing students in one of top tier business school in Bombay and response was rocking. When a beautiful girl sitting in the front row gets-up and starts clapping and crowd goes berserk and follows the response – it looks like a Bollywood scene. But that’s what happened with my interaction at BMA. It reminded me Richita response to Rahul lecture at campus. I could see the connection. I have seen the excitement and connection in students eyes. When this happens, you understand your work is successful. That was the aim of the book and I am glad it is spreading across.
How and when did the idea of “A Maverick Heart” cross your mind? What is the inspiration behind the story of A Maverick Heart?
“A Maverick heart” is journey of my last decade life. I have seen so much in this world starting from campus life to corporate world to current movements in India, I have a strong urge to share my thoughts with people around the world.
I have pretty strong views on love relation and friendship values. I always think “what is basic background for two people coming together?” It cannot be just simple reaction based on our hormones (chemical reaction). We are much more than chemical. We may start from chemical composition but that is just start. Emotion engulf our life, our thought process, our reaction, out attitude, our risk taking ability, our ability to face the world without fear. I am big on emotion and I always look for deeper, meaningful binding which can be beyond scientific definition. Einstein said – science cannot explain love at first site. At same time – Love can happen at any age and with anybody. Love is beyond physical boundary. Love is beyond logic. Love is embodiment of emotion. Union and deep emotional involvement of two people has to bring new break-through in this world. Richita character thru Rahul viewpoint is my own. I tried to convey meaning behind love and relation between two people thru Richita and Rahul characters.
I follow social and political events in India. I wanted to share my thoughts on involvement of youth in nation building and adding meaningful contribution and bringing effective changes in the world.
Some key messages I wanted to pass – We do not have to be destined by defined path and worldly constraints. We can discover new path, new solution and new process. There is always an alternate. We can show alternate solutions to current world issues. We do not have to follow the crowd or the trend. We are unique and we can create unique way, our own way. We are living being, not just robot to follow defined path. We can dream and make it possible and if we fail, we evaporate in the process. Doesn’t matter whether we succeed or fail – we live and that’s life. Survival is not the key, but living is the key.
How did it start?
I was almost set to start my MBA from New York. In 2002, when I was visiting Finger Lakes area in New York, I saw screening of the film “Seven Samurai” along with screening of “Godfather” at Cornel University. I had read “God father” and seen movie also. I was big fan of it. Screening of “Seven Samurai” next to God Father caught my attention. Since then I became fan of Kurosawa movie. I started following all classic movies – Akira Kurosawa, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, Satyajit Ray, Quentin Tarantino – you name it.
I was already in love with literature (Hindi and English both). I have been reading GB Shaw, Shakespeare, Robert Frost, William Wordsworth in English and Premchand, Prasad in Hindi for long.
I had almost decided to start my MBA from New York but one fine day at random I abandoned the MBA plan to follow my interest in creative field. I decided to be a movie director. I wrote the script first and converted to fiction in 2011 summer.
The pain and struggle I have seen in corporate world for some people were very off-putting. Craze for money and success leading to robotic life? I also follow various issues in India and wonder about alternate. This led to my views on involvement of youth in these issues and channelizing their energy thru effective unified and integrated platform.
Additional events which impacted my professional decision and inspired me –
Inspired by benevolent shown when Warren Buffet donated his 36 Billions to Milinda-Gate Foundation
Inspired by Perelman (Russian Mathematics) refusal to field medal award
Inspired by successful story of Asha Foundation
Inspired by ArvindKejriwal RTI movement and ManoharParikkar success in politics
Inspired by successful stories of Indian corporate billionaire’s in Silicon Valley
Inspired by books – Papillon, Godfather, Fountainhead
Inspired by – Premchand and Prasad story
Inspired by – William Wordsworth, Frost poetry
Deeply influenced by – Kurosawa, Kubrick, Tarantino, Scorsese movies
How far the story is real to life? Do your characters – Rahul, Richita and Neerav -based on real people known to you?
Most of the events are real. The story is a mix-up imagination with reality. Part of the events are based on what happened in my own life. Again – events has been modified to make messages more meaningful. First 1/3 part is from IIT. Inter IIT events, hostel fights, class room events, discussion about girls/boys/sports, conflict between secure career vs jumping into social events – all are real.
What kind of feedbacks you have been receiving from the book lovers?
“The USP of this book is the conversations that are described between any characters at any point of time. Each one of them carries a philosophy and knowledge with a pinch of wit and wisdom in it. I just want to frame all the conversations and place them on walls of my house and read them every morning. They are so good. Not in any other book did I find such wisdom in conversations. Even if you don’t have time to read the book, go through its conversation, you will learn a lot. :-)” This is comments from one of reader.
People are loving the content for the exceptional dialogue and the classy story. I have given new perspective to love relation. Plot covers the three peak phases of youth journey. Campus life deals with love, friendship and academic life. Professional phase deals with struggle and glamour of Silicon Valley and Wall Street. Third phase deals with social political movement and involvement of youth and integrating their energy thru integrated platform
Another reader writes: “The best part of the book for me are the (long but don’t feel long) discussions between characters which stimulate your mind and heart at the same time. A great mix of philosophy and logic in these discussions.”
News paper reviews (HT, Express) said it is at par with top fictions. That is something great to hear. Major newspapers compared the book at par with ChetanBhagat, Ravinder Singh and DurjoyDutta. That is very encouraging for a debut novel.
Girls relate to Richita character and identify them with her struggle and success. Boys love the Rahul emotional character and his tough rock solid attitude. People who have seen professional world connect with Neerav and Deepak character.
And the alternate I have discussed – involvement of youth in resolving current issues and nation building is very inspiring for both youth and matured group. When people start identifying themselves with story characters, messages come live.
I am loving the people response. It has already gone out of stock 2-3 times in Delhi. Major distributors have taken the distribution right. I am looking forward to coming days.
Was writing comes easy to you? How was your journey to become a writer?
I will say thought comes easy but taking notes, editing and bringing it to people in readable form are not so easy, especially when you are doing full-time job in current corporate world.
There are 1000 of new books every day in market. You can imagine the hunt for publisher struggle. If it is your first book, needed effort increases by 3 folds.But seeing response in people eyes is worthy of all effort. Excitement and internal feelings you go thru is unimaginable.
Publisher and distributor run after best seller, nobody wants to take risk with new comers. More than quality of the book, marketing matters. Writer is an emotional creative person. He is not interested in marketing. In marketing people starts manipulating public response. Creative people do not manipulate. They just want to reach people and share his/her ideas/views.But this is ground reality that in today writer market – author is everything. He is creator and he is marketer. We just need to balance both part. I need to learn and have patience with second part.
What is your opinion about the standard of Indian writing in English?
Writing has to be a passion rather than a profession. Currently lots of people are jumping in the market and flushing materials for teens. My view is that we should create new products, new ideas and start new era. We are still lacking in that. We need deeper products in content.
We are seeing many epics, that’s good. We are seeing certain products reaching masses – that’s great. Market response has been primary focus, not passing your original thoughts and inspire people.
We have people attention, now we need to reach them with core message. Pen is mightier than sword. That is only meaningful only when you can make people think beyond watching masala movie or reading teeny novel and forget two days later. We need to inspire youth and make them part of future decision making. That’s reason I have covered the journey of three youth across their three main phases of life – Campus, corporate world to society.
Many epics become a hit, however serious writing – classical and message oriented is still lacking. I have read better literature 30-40 years back. We need to bring deep and sharp message thru current context. We just cannot enjoy only masala. Masala should be limited to 20%, rest should be real tough and raw content. We need raw talent, not practiced and trained masala.
What are the changes you have noticed in the IITs during the last decade?
More people are getting into entrepreneurship, that’s great start. For doing job, you just need to have basic skills, but thru entrepreneurship you can create new vision, new product. Risk taking ability is increasing in youth. We are not simply looking for white collar job but following our own passion.
You must have read the stories of people refusing high packages and starting their own business. 10 years back, we lacked entrepreneurship. This is great change. Many of them are moving to creative world.
Being a debutant author did you face any kind of difficulties with publishing the book?
You face many hurdles in getting publisher. You need to market on your own. These are very time consuming tasks for creative people.
There is issue in evaluation of good script. There are too many drafts in front of publisher and filtering out needs lots of effort. Publisher focuses more on best sellers, so all pain of making best seller comes to author.
Are there any plans afoot to make a film out of the book?
I first wrote script and converted to book draft later. I love films and I plan to make some of the finest films in life. Please keep a watch on it. In a movie, you can combine any creativity you name it viz. writing, emotion, music, poetry, painting all can fit into movie. That’s why I registered my script. Many producers and directors wanted my script, but I did not sell. I want to direct movie myself. Let us see if I can swim my way across in movie industry.
Which are your favourite books? Is there any particular author who has influenced your life?
I am listing some of my favourite authors. Any books from these people – I love it.
Hindi –Premchand – Deep emotion and realistic picture of life. I just love his short stories. Mantra – is one of my all time favourite.
JaishankarPrasad – Sarcasm against society at best! Love it.
Kurosawa – Love all his script. Deep, emotional and Samurai character.
Hemmingway – Winner takes nothing. Who else can write that?
Shakespeare – It’s all about “to be or not to be”.
GB Shaw – Love all his plays.
Robert Frost – “Road not taken…” – is my favourite path.
Victor Hugo – One of all time best novel – Les Miserable.Epitome of realty and emotion.
William Wordsworth – Child is father of man!
Although writing itself is the product of a lone mind, still who all would you like to thank for their support as you trudged along?
My friend – Rahul Jain. I discussed with him very closely all my events, Sekhar – he is the first one to read my events/notes and comment. My film maker friend – Chhatrapal – who gave lots of valuable comments on my script.
Other than these, there were many family & friends who contributed with their valuable comments
Have you started planning for your next book? What would be the subject?
I have already well planned picture of my next book. When a character high in academic research gets into conflict with underworld- what will happen. Kalamchalane wale jarooratpadane par talwaarbhitheek se chalaletehai and vice versa. More details soon.
Any message to the readers…
Book is full of messages. Please read the book and share your reaction. People know what to do best. Follow your own consent, heart. I do not believe in telling others what to do. I give my perspective thru my characters.
Something which I believe in – You are unique creation in this world, don’t follow the crowd, follow your own heart. There are struggle in short run but future horizon belongs to you
Break-through will come when your heart and mind comes together (Resonance)
Do not go for survival, go for life. You will understand meaning of “100 varshkijindagi se ache hai, pyaarkre do-chaar pal”
Book is full of your own thoughts and contains a message. Please read and react.
Thank you Ravindra for your time! We shall meet again!
That was Ravindra Shukla! In a candid conversation with Spectralhues he expressed his delight that his debut novel ‘The Maverick Heart’ has been received well by book lovers across India. Spectralhues wishes him glorious success and hopes he would come up with many more remarkable books.
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