Authors’ Background: Author Yudhishthir Singh is from Lucknow, where he also did his schooling from Delhi Public School and Bachelor’s degree from University of Lucknow. He moved to Delhi for professional aspirations. Yudhishthir has worked with marketing agencies and brands. “Blight of the ivory” is his debut novel.
Questionnaire:
Akhila Saroha – What inspired you to write “Blight of the Ivory”? Was it mythology, human psychology, or something else?
Yudhishthir Singh- Human nature. The psychology of humans. We are grey, every one of us has a good side and a not so good side. Every one of us has good and bad habits. We mostly talk about our good side, we project the best versions of ourselves, but we all know that reality is different.
Akhila Saroha- The Ivory is such a powerful symbol of temptation. How did you come up with its mythological roots?
Yudhishthir Singh- Honestly saying. It was just came to me, like a divine intervention, I swear. I wanted the object to be a “character” in itself. I struggled with the origin of the Ivory. And one day, it just popped up in mind from nowhere.
Akhila Saroha- The novel explores how power changes people. Do you think desire is inherently corrupting, or is it the choices we make that corrupt us?
Yudhishthir Singh- No, desire is not inherently corrupting. It is good to have desires, they encourage us to grow. The problem is when we intoxicate ourselves with our desires. When our desire becomes our identity and reality. I think that is the problem.
Akhila Saroha – Akshat is flawed yet relatable. Was he inspired by real people, or is he entirely fictional?
Yudhishthir Singh- Yes Akshat is fictional character, but the character is inspired by us, Humans. In fact, all the characters in the novel are relatable, most of the character have their own flaws.
Akhila Saroha- Indrajeet plays the role of a giver of power. According to you, is he a villain, a catalyst, or something in between?
Yudhishthir Singh- Indrajeet is not a villain, he is neither a power giver. He is someone, who is close to you, who guides you in a direction, but it is your mind and your choice to follow him or not.
Akhila Saroha- What challenges did you face in balancing horror with moral philosophy?
Yudhishthir Singh- It wasn’t that challenging I would say, because that was the very idea.
Akhila Saroha- Many horror stories focus on the supernatural, but your book leans heavily on the psychological. Was this intentional?
Yudhishthir Singh- Yes, that was intentional.
Akhila Saroha- Did you ever feel unsettled while writing some of the darker passages?
Yudhishthir Singh- I think what happened with Natasha. How and why Akshat and Natasha parted away, that was heartbreaking for me.
Akhila Saroha- Which authors or stories influenced your approach to horror?
Yudhishthir Singh- Honestly, there are several stories. Some stories remained in my heart and mind since all these years. Some influenced me how to tell a story, and some influenced me how not to tell a story.
Akhila Saroha- What moral question do you most want readers to ask themselves after finishing the book?
Yudhishthir Singh- When was the last time they truly sat alone with themselves. When was the last time they, talked to themselves without any distraction, and questioned who they are, what do they want?
Akhila Saroha – Do you believe everyone has an “Ivory” in their life, a temptation that tests them?
Yudhishthir Singh- Yes definitely, everyone has temptations.
Akhila Saroha- If you were in Akshat’s place, would you have accepted the relic?
Yudhishthir Singh- No. I would not have. There are personal and various other reasons.
Akhila Saroha – What do you hope “Blight of the Ivory” contributes to the broader landscape of Indian horror fiction?
Yudhishthir Singh- I haven’t thought that far. My primary purpose is to move the readers and audience. I want to entertain them and leave them with something that stays in their mind for a long time.
