January 30, 2015

A Delhi University pass out student, Satyarth Nayak’s book has been praised by the likes of Amish Tripathi and Ashwin Sanghi who called it ‘a fantastic blend of myth and imagination’ and ‘Intelligent, intriguing, intense’ respectively. Hindustan Times and The Hindu also have similar rave reviews for the book. The Emperor’s Riddle has topped several national bestsellers list and The Asian Age Top 10 Bestseller chart ranking #1 for four consecutive weeks and is also being considered for a thriller feature film.

Author Satyarth Nayak answers some of our questions regarding being a new age writer in India, the growing publishing industry of India and his experience as a DU alumnus.

1. Let’s begin with your journey of becoming the country’s bestselling author. Tell us something about from where you began.

A. I am a Delhi based author, script writer and a former Correspondent with CNN-IBN, Delhi. I love the thriller genre and always knew that my first book would invariably be a mystery novel. I call my book a freak act of nature. One fine evening after re-reading one of Dan Brown’s novels, I had this sudden curiosity to know if we have any similar esoteric mysteries or secrets in our Indian history and culture. It was a random search on the Net during which I stumbled across this beautiful story associated with one of our most iconic Indian Emperors. The man’s vision mesmerized me. The more I read about the Emperor’s fascinating deed thousands of years ago, the more I knew that I had to tell this story. That’s how this journey began and I am glad the book has become a bestselling thriller and praised by writers like Amish Tripathi & Ashwin Sanghi.

2. For those who are yet to read The Emperor’s Riddles, what would you describe it as? Tell us what it’s about.

A. The media is calling this a history meets mystery since they are both parallel tracks in the novel. The present day track has my main lead walking a trail of cryptic riddles scattered all over the country that they must solve one by one to reach the final enigma while the historical track involves the evolution of an Emperor. The legend used in the book involves a fascinating historical secret of one of our greatest and most celebrated Indian emperors. It’s also probably the first Indian thriller to use Buddhist iconography and mythology. If you love murder mysteries, myths and legends, intriguing investigation and that twist in the end, you will love my book. And there are plenty of riddles to solve. The path beckons…can you crack them all?

3. Being a new age writer, what do you have to say about the upcoming publishing industry and the growing concept of literary agencies?

A. The best thing about the Indian publishing industry today is that it has expanded massively to incorporate writers from every nook and corner of the country. Writing is no longer an elitist exercise. Today many Indian publishers are open to new talent and new writings. Self publishing and e-publishing have also emerged as new options to put your work out there for the world to read. Literary agencies in India are still in the fledgling stage but surely a viable option especially for debut writers. Agencies edit & polish your manuscript, pitch it to publishing houses and negotiate the best deals. However keep in mind that a genuine literary agency does not charge for any of these initial services and take their cut only when the book starts to make money.

4. Your works have been compared to the likes of Dan Brown. How does that feel? Tell us about the inspiration behind your writing.

A. As I told you the book happened because of Dan Brown so being compared to him is probably the ultimate compliment I can get. It feels wonderful to be put in the same category but I cannot allow that to make me complacent. It feels great to have made a successful debut but I still have miles to go and many more books to write. I have grown up reading and admiring the greats like Poe, Holmes, Christie, Wallace and Dan Brown. I have secretly wanted to emulate them and toy with the minds of the readers like they do.

5. You are a Delhi University pass out. What do you have to say about the kind of platforms DU gives to asppiring writers?

A. Yes, I graduated from Venky and did Masters in English Literature from Stephen’s. The fact that DU now offers a course in Creative Writing is such a welcome development. I wish I had that opportunity when I was a student. This will certainly go a long way in nurturing young and aspiring talent. Also the various college fests provide excellent writing competitions which are a fabulous platform for upcoming writers to test their skills.

6. Do you plan to write a sequel to The Emperor’s Riddle, or perhaps a screenplay?

A. There’s no sequel planned but one of my characters in The Emperor’s Riddles will embark upon another adventure in my next book. We do have an interest from Bollywood to convert the thriller into a film. Screen adaptation is always an exciting option though it will be a challenge to condense the book into a two hour format. The book will have to be modified accordingly and the screenplay is being written as we speak. Let’s see how it shapes up.

7. A lot of writers prefer sticking to the same genre of their bestselling works. Will you prefer writing thrillers like The Emperor’s Riddle or would you like to explore some other genres as well in the future?

A. Thriller is my favourite genre and as of now I intend to stick with it. There are quite a bunch of wicked ideas in my head that are clamouring to be turned into books. Having said that I also love history and am deliberating over a historical epic based on a fascinating character from Indian regional history. Cinema writing also interests me and I might do something in that direction as well.

8. With the increased exposure on social media, self publishing of the books, do you think it has become easier for writers to break into the market?

A. It has made life easier to some extent but it has also opened the floodgates for more and more writers clamouring for attention. With so many people writing and so many books getting published, you will have to be exceptional to stand out. Social media draws out more talent but also intensifies the competition.

9. Anything you’d like to say to your readers for the response they have given to your book? Any news regarding when they’d get to read something more from you?

A. I would obviously thank all my readers for their leap of faith in picking up the book of a debut author and bringing us this far. I now owe it to them to make sure that my next book is even better. My second book is also a mystery thriller but I am exploring mythical fantasy and sci-fi in this one. A cinema book based on one of the most iconic films of Bollywood is also on the cards.

10. Would you like to say something to aspiring writers in Delhi University?

A. I would advise them to write only when they get an idea that absolutely grabs them by the neck and makes them sit and write. Only when they have that one idea that makes them want to do nothing but write should they begin. It’s also imperative that debut authors promote their book as much as possible. The publishers will certainly do their bit but authors these days also need to spread the word about their book. Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads are excellent social networking tools to make readers aware of your books. And enjoy the process of writing. Unless you have fun writing, readers won’t have fun reading!

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Campus Central

IP College and LSR observe Martyr’s Day in memory of Gandhi

By DU Beat January 30, 2015

th death anniversary, Indraprastha College for Women and Lady Shri Ram College for Women held prayer meetings to pay tribute to the ‘Father of the Nation’ and his works. It was on January 30, 1948 that Gandhi Ji was assassinated by Nathuram Godse and the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru famously announced that the light had gone out of our lives. While the relevance of Gandhi- his principles and works are debated in many academic circles today, his martyrdom at the hands of bigotry is widely acknowledged and marked all over the world. At IP College, the Gandhi Study Circle organized the meet and at LSR, the Students’ Union, in association with the Indian Music Society and the Department of Sanskrit, marked the day with a special assembly. Kavyayani, the President, Gandhi Study Circle, made a presentation on Gandhi’s philosophy. This was followed by soulful renditions of ‘Ae vatan ke sajeele jawano’ and ‘Raghupati raghav raja ram’ by Alaap- the Indian Music Society. Raghupati raghav raja ram is known to have been one of Gandhi’s favorite hymns. [caption id="attachment_29217" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Soulful renditions of ‘Ae vatan ke sajeele jawano’ and ‘Raghupati raghav raja ram’ by students of IP College for Women.[/caption] Pico Iyer’s ‘Eloquent Sound of Silence’ was revisited by the Gandhi Study Circle, General Secretary Narayani; the famous essay is on the importance of silence and how silence is not an absence but a presence where the mind is in the highest place of all. Iyer says that a moment of silence is the highest honour one can pay someone. The gathering at IPCW also observed a moment silence for Colonel Rai who died recently fight militants in Jammu and Kashmir. At LSR, the Martyr’s Day gathering opened with the college prayer and a moment of silent mourning following which students from different religious backgrounds recited prayers from their faiths honouring Gandhi’s commitment to communal harmony. Students from the Department of Sanskrit then recited some shlokas. This was followed by Dhwani- the Indian Music Society singing hymns like ‘Ek Onkar Satnam’ and a Sanskrit adaptation of ‘Ae mere vatan ke logo’. Dr. Maya Joshi from the Department of English was then invited to share her insights into Gandhi and Gandhian philosophy. She quoted from a factual account of the Mahatma’s last days by historian Irfan Habib; Professor Habib has written that Gandhiji insisted that he belonged to both India and Pakistan. Dr. Joshi also quoted the artist Nand Lal Bose on Gandhi’s love for music and how he believed that machines could not reproduce aesthetic qualities that human labour could. The meet ended with the screening of a short video on Gandhi’s life and death, and his famous quotes. A verse from read out from the Islamic scriptures saying that martyrs are living, not dead, encapsulated the essence of the day. Alankrita Anand & Kritika Narula for DU Beat. Featured Image Credits: www.gopixpic.com]]>

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DUB Speak

Six reasons why hostel life is the best chapter of your life!

By Shaily Sharma January 30, 2015

Apart from teaching the importance of Maggi at midnight, the value of home cooked food, the love of family members, how to bank on others for class notes or borrow interest free loans, sleeping on a chair, the unending list of funny but fundamental lessons, hostel life sure teaches a great deal more.

I have been staying in a hostel for 8 long years (yes, you read that right), not because I was a naughty kid or lacked in my grades but because I always wanted to study in a boarding school. Thus, I am sharing with you the reasons why I consider hostel life as one of the best chapters of someone’s life.

1. Lifelong connections

I don’t care about the cleanliness of the hostel or whether the Wi-Fi connection works or not, what I care about most is the connections and friends you make inside. You’ll find all sorts of amazing people who won’t let you feel homesick.

2.Free advice

One thing you will find in every hostel you stay in is free advice. There is always a friend who is willing to help you out with the weirdest of questions you have.

3. Opportunities

You are allowed to go about exploring numerous fields that you have never set out before, in a new place among new people. You get to take up numerous open doors that you can’t take being at home.

4. Time management

Whether you excel at any other thing or not, managing time is a sure shot. From the gossip sessions and all other sorts of activities that you are required to do in a hostel, you learn to manage some time to study.

5. Independence and freedom

Independence is something that most of us barely get at home. In a hostel, you are accountable for everything from getting up in the morning, to having meals, to washing clothes and what not. Hostel life gives the flexibility to fly in the open and seek things you couldn’t pursue when at home.

6. Experience and Exposure

When you go out of your home to live in a hostel you really take in a great deal of new things, in particular, making new friends, adjusting to a whole new environment , doing things on your own, taking initiatives and living with freedom. Experience comes with time, from the issues, distress, frustration and heartbreaks.

This life brings out the real you and gives extremely valuable memories for life. Some of them are unquestionably terrible; however most of them are immense and priceless.

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Small Screen

TV Show Review: Code Red

By Kriti Sharma January 30, 2015

Danger, alertness, urgency – these are just a few words that we associate with the phrase ‘Code Red’. So does the show ‘Code Red’, which recently hit Indian television screens, justify its promising title?

‘Code Red’ is Colors’ youngest baby. It is a crime show which premiered on the channel on 19th January, 2015. The show has been allotted the 10:30- 11:30 pm time slot, and will feature from Monday till Saturday. The show is being hosted by eminent soap actress Sakshi Tanwar.

Code Red indicates Colors’ foray into the thrilling genre of crime. It dwells on three important themes: Umeed (hope), awaaz (voice) and Chakravyuh (strategy). It narrates stories related to the lives of common people which bring out the frailties in human character. It shows the vulnerability that we all face when we find ourselves in situations that are beyond our control. It depicts reactions and responses that human beings have to the struggles of everyday life.

A typical episode begins with the presentation of a tangible issue. Through the course of the episode, we get to see how the protagonist handles the issue at hand; how he or she tackles difficult circumstances, takes life-changing decisions and then bears the consequences of these decisions. The episode culminates on a moralistic note, providing viable solutions for handling the problem.

The general response to ‘Code Red’ has been tepid. As of now, the show has not offered anything fresh to the jaded Indian audience. Crime and thriller are genres that have, in the past also, failed to rise up to expectations. The heat on ‘Code Red’ is intensified due to constant comparison with shows like Crime Patrol. The producers need to encourage their team to churn out something unique (and soon). Originality and novelty can take this show to success; the lack of it, however, could lead to a ‘code red’ situation.