Interview with Vivek Kumar Singh

Software professional and a Principal Architect with Yahoo! R&D, India, Vivek Kumar Singh steals time for writing. He talks about his influences and how family and friends helped him through the writing process. Read on.

What prompted you to writing the book – The Reverse Journey?
On my way back to India, I had a long transit at Singapore. I saw bunch of young Indian professionals, enthusiastically taking their flight to USA as if they are about to land into the dream land. I recalled my years in USA and did a detailed Return on Investment (RoI) analysis, albeit on the human count. I was not impressed with the losses one has to make in an alien land. Then the idea to compile my thoughts in a book, germinated.

Many potential writers end up not writing anything. What kept you going while writing this book?
Writing takes time and requires persistence. That is primary reason some lettered people never wrote. I wanted to write because I had a story to tell which I felt had an appeal with Indian middle class. The urge to tell the story, overcame all the hurdles. I was determined to write about “The Reverse Journey” whatever it takes.

How much of your personal experiences made up the book?
Though the book comes under ‘fiction’ genre, yes, it is semi-autobiographical. Events and stories are built around me and my close friends. Our collective experiences are shared.

How did you go about planning the plot for the book?
I was sure to write about “The Reverse Journey” which I had travelled. So, the central theme came to me easily but writing a book around it, took me couple of years. That way blog is different where central them is presented in a page or two. In book, you have to keep the readers engaged and alive, all along. Every sentence and page has to be pondered over.Once the central theme was decided, I chose the anecdotes and build the characters to support the central theme.

What was your major focus while writing the book?
Though, it was not the prime objective of the book, nuances of American culture and Indian culture are discussed in great length. Indian and American societies are different and they react in different ways. I wanted to maintain the balance. Without sounding xenophobic or Indophile, I wanted to give unbiased and ration opinion about both cultures.

What are your other hobbies?
Travelling and Sports used to give me high. But, with life fast approaching forty, I do more “watch” than actually being into action. And I love horses.

What do you do when you are not writing?
With two hyperactive boys at home, I do not have time for anything. Only moment of peace is, when they watch cartoon channel.

Tell us about your education, and its role in your writing?
I learned conscience and sensitiveness in the jungles of Jharkhand where I did my schooling at Netarhat, a residential public school, and a spell at Science College, Patna, made me a politically sensitive animal.  Later, IIT taught me about competiveness.Education and the people I met during my school days, greatly influence my writing. While writing, I dream about those golden days when we used to have unlimited fun with limited pocket money.  Moments and memories I cherished during those days are the treasures of my writing today.

Do react to one of the reviews that we picked up “My issue with the book was that often it goes into an essay mode. There are passages where he compares Indian Culture with western culture or the airlines etc which becomes boring for me after a point of time.”
I agree with the critic that you are not interested in people or eager to know about others’ culture, some part of the book may appear dull to you. Nevertheless, it has a strong story line and it is full of wit and humour. It has been well received even by those people who never have been to foreign shores, because of its middle class lineage and story line.

Tell us about what you do for a living, and how does writing fit into your work schedule?
I am software professional. I work as Principal Architect with Yahoo! R&D, India. Writing does not fit in my work schedule. I have to steal time and being blamed for not being proactive.

What did you think would attract readers while writing the book? Did you have any such point in mind?
No, while writing I do not think about readers. I write which I think is a good piece. I do not think of salability of book while writing.

How much did the support of family and friends help you in the writing and editing process?
My wife did not crib when I used to switch on light at odd hours to finish the writing. Friends were respectful enough to go through complete writing and gave their two cents, if compelled to do so.

What is your favourite book and who is your favourite author?
Younger days, it was Love Story by Erich Segal.  Now it is, Madhushala by Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan