“A writer’s only religion is his writing,” says author and poet, Ghana Shyam Kandel who has published ten books till date that include a collection of poems and kavyas among others. His works are mainly known for vividly reflecting the situations, pains, and reality of the world we live in. Recently, he was awarded the prestigious Madan Puraskar for his work Dhritarashtra. The Week’s Ashma Chettri caught up with Kandel to know more about his journey as a writer and his thoughts on being awarded the Madan Puraskar.
How did you foray into writing?
I studied in Banaras in India, and the environment there was very literary. There were many writers in my immediate circle. In hindsight, I guess that was what influenced me to write. Seeing everybody around me writing was a motivation to get into writing myself.
Art of the conscious
What makes you choose a topic to write on?
I don’t control my ideas while I write. I let it flow. So you will find that there is no particular direction in my books, instead there is an element of versatility. But I believe that literature can act as a mirror of the society, which is why, in my novels, I especially focus on topics that are relevant in our communities and shine light on issues that are usually brushed under the carpet. Besides that, I like to write about people’s experiences and the varied emotions that they go through.
In all these years, how have you grown as a writer?
My love and passion for writing grew over time. I was a professor but writing soon became an integral part of me. Having written for years, I feel there is a certain maturity in my writings now. I can now simply just pour out what I feel without having to think about it too much. I also don’t have to spend too much time thinking of concepts and building a framework as I had to earlier.
What is your opinion about today’s writers?
There are numerous writing styles in literature and writers tend to adopt a style depending on what they are comfortable with and also the generation they belong to. I see no similarities between different writers these days and that’s a good thing. There is a lot of unique work out there. A writer’s primary work is to present his ideas well and portray the characters in a relatable manner, and if that is done then the rest will just fall into place.
Your thoughts on being honored with the Mandan Puraskar.
I have never written a word wanting it to prize-worthy. My writings are mainly how I express myself as well as my contributions to the society. But, having said that, I’m very happy to be honored with such a prestigious award. It, in some way, does feel like a glorious result of all my hard work and I believe it will also inspire me to write more and write well in the future.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Every writer first needs to be clear about what s/he wants to convey through his/her writing. When you have that clear, then I believe you shouldn’t rush it. Take time to let it churn in your mind and be patient with the ideas that come. You also have to be careful to not let your thoughts wander because it’s easy to go off on a tangent. Also, be ready to devote time and work hard to make your writing dreams come true.
