Author’s Background: Author Suresh Pande was born on 7th of April 1948, in Tota Rani, a remote village in district Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India. His schooling involved an adventurous walk of five miles through dense forests and crossing rivers in an unpredictable mountain weather of Dharamshala and Shimla. Even today Tota-Rani, his birthplace situated on the banks of a rivulet “Dal-Khola” does not have a proper motorable road.
Neel Preet: Firstly, Congratulations on your book, “Memoirs of A Tota-Rani Boy” Well, can you please share your experience about making your work come into the form of book!
Suresh Pande: It was a great experience in recollecting and rejuvenating the bygone memories connecting with the past and people. Especially with those with whom you grew and who knowingly or unknowingly inspired you to give your two hundred percent of dedication, honesty accompanied with a quest to learn and adopt. I enjoyed continuous reminders and encouragements by my wife to jot down my international professional, and travel experiences and share them with the young generation who are born in resource crunch environment in lower middle-class families in remote villages across the globe. Though publication was not new to me as I have published more than 500 scientific research articles as my professional compulsion. However, writing my journey and making it into the form of a book was a great friendly experience, with Evincepub Publishing. I enjoyed their commitment and delivery throughout the process publishing.
Neel Preet: What inspired you to write this book? What was the impetus behind this work of yours?
Suresh Pande: I strongly believe that life is a onetime opportunity, and it is our duty to encash the opportunities, convert constraints into opportunities. I am of the opinion that all human beings irrespective of cast, creed, rank, and cadre have a story to tell of their struggle and success. The journey of struggle to achievement differs only by scale. In some cases the count starts from the base number of 1and could go up to 100, in another case it starts from 100 and goes up to millions so and so forth.
Neel Preet: Your book title, ‘Memoirs Of A Tota-Rani Boy’ is very catchy! So, can you please explain the reason for going with this book title to the readers?
Suresh Pande: This is the true story of a boy born in in the remote village of Tota-Rani, in Dhramshala, Himachal Pradesh. It is of an ordinary boy who was always bullied, yet how he bulldozed all hurdles at each step, and pushed his higher, faster, and further. Hence, it strikes the a chord with millions, that each one of us has a meaningful life, not for others but for ourselves.
Neel Preet: While writing the book what was the mind-set you were having? What are some of the learnings that you gained from this work of yours?
Suresh Pande: I simply wanted to communicate and share the story of struggles and successes an ordinary man that represent the majority of our society. The only learning was that “life is a one-time opportunity”, some made a good use of it through hard work, some leave it in the hands of fate.
Neel Preet: A part from autobiographical writing, in which another genre would you like to contribute?
Suresh Pande: Short stories and Travelogues
Neel Preet: This book is seriously impressively, so which segment of readers are you targeting with the book of yours?
Suresh Pande: Young generation. Migrant students from poor families who come to big cities in a quest to get them educated and earn livelihood, name and rise from rag to riches. Convert constraints in to opportunities.
Neel Preet: Next, I want you to tell us about some of those writers, who had inspired you!
Suresh Pande: Mark Twin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Munshi Prem Chander, Khushwant Singh, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, William Wordsworth, and many more.
Neel Preet: Is there any message that you would like to convey to your readers? Or any piece of advice, which you would like to give to the readers out there!
Suresh Pande: While doing determined and focused hard work, one not only needs to remain vigilant. Every one of us has the capacity to learn from his or her environment and can convert constraints in to opportunities. Enjoy whatever you do, no work is small or big.
Neel Preet: Are there any other books being worked by you? Please let us know about your future projects.
Suresh Pande: Yes, I am working on the following two books
- Memoirs of Tota-Rani Boy in Hindi in three Volumes
- Short Stories
Neel Preet: Thank you so much for answering all my questions. All the very best to you for future and your book too!
Suresh Pande: Thanks, I enjoyed responding to your questionnaire.