Interview with Dinesh Gupta author of "Kaise Chand Lafzon Men Saara Pyar Likhun."

This week I had the opportunity to interact with poet Dinesh Gupta, a software engineer who is passionate about poetry. Here he tells us about himself, his books, his idol and what it is that keeps him writing. 

Tell us a little about yourself?

I am Software Engineer by profession and a poet by passion.

 (Bheetar Ki Gehrai Aur Bahar Ki Tanhai Ne Shayar Bana Diya)

I am basically from Mandsaur, a district of Madhya Pradesh. I currently stay in Pune and am working as a manager in a Software Firm.

What are your other 2 books about?

My First book “Meri Aankhon Men Muhabbat Ke Manzar Hain” is a collection of Poems based on a variety of topics like Muhabbat, Deshprem, Dreams, Social imbalance, Corruption, Terrorism, Life etc. I believe in 2 aspects of love - one for your country and one for the one you love.

My Second Book “Jo Kuch Bhi Tha Darmiyaan” is a collection of articles that connect with Poetry. Similar to the first one, this is also based on random thoughts. I would say it’s a collection of Articlic-Poetry.

How is this book different from the other two?

My earlier books were collection of Poems on any random topics that happened in life or things that came into my mind.  In this Book I have tried to arrange the poems in a professional way. This book is a collection of poems based on only romance which is better suited to the market today.

How did you come up with this beautiful title – “Kaise Chand Lafzon Men Saara Pyar Likhun”?

Well, I belive in choosing creative titles  for all my books. This title came out from the first 4 lines of the title poem:

“Shabd Naye Chunkar Geet Vahi Har Baar Likhun main

Un Do Aankhon Men Apna Saara Sansaar Likhun main

Virah Ki Vedna Likhun Ya Milan Ki Jhankaar Likhun Main

Kaise Chand Lafzon Men Saara Pyar Likhun Main!”

Software Engineer and poet…When do you get time to write?

Lots of people ask this question and I just say: “Engineering IS My Profession but Poetry is My Passion. Shabd Meri Ragon Men Khoon Bankar Daudte Hain Aur Kavita Meri Nason Men Behti Hain.”

Well, honestly speaking, I hardly write using pen and paper. I am very attuned to things happening around me and when I get the right words to express them poetry comes out automatically. Like, one day I saw a poor kid begging at the train station and these 4 lines came to me -

“Sabki Rahon Men Nahin Hoti Hai Chadar Phulon Ki

Kisi Ki Takdir Hoti Hai Dagar Shulon Ki

Jindagi Kya Hoti Hai Jara Unse Pucho

Jinke Ghar Roj Jung Hoti Hai Bhuk Aur Usulon Ki !”

What or who inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired to publish my work after seeing the tremendous response I got from the readers on my Facebook posts and blog. My poems also got appreciated from many editors who belong to reputed magazines. All these things inspire me to write!

How long did it take you to finish it?

I think it took 1 year to finally have the book in my hand.

Who is your favorite poet and what is it that really strikes you about his/her work?

My Favorite poet is Dr. Kumar Vishwas who actually inspired me to write. I am inspired by the tales of his struggles, the tough decision he had to take and the mind-blowing poetry he writes using simple and touching words.

What is the best compliment you have received about your work?

Well, Almost everyone who got to know about my poems said its mind blowing, amazing, fantastic, touchy, tremendous and “you write so well” etc. I am glad to receive all these comments, but the biggest one I got was when few readers said “You are not less than Dr. Kumar Vishwas and you can be on same stage if your approach is good.” There is not better feeling than  someone comparing you to your idol.

What projects are you working on at the present?

Right now I am focusing on marketing of this book. Also these days I am actively performing in poetry events. I have not finalized anything for my next book yet.

How has your experience with the publisher been?

It was a nice experience. Aniket is very cooperative and transparent. Although he is new in this field and we are facing lots of issues related to the retail distribution of the books, but I found it was a nice decision to choose a new publisher rather than an established one since I was able to take charge of the marketing in my hand. There are lots of other issues with established publishers mostly transparency. Overall I think it was a good deal.

Anything that you would like to sgare with your readers -

“Meri Aankhon Men Muhabbat Ke Jo Manzar Hain

Tumhari Hi Cahton Ke Samandar Hain

Main Har Roj Cahta Hun Ki Tujhse ye Keh Dun Magar

Labon Tak Nahi Aata Jo Mere Dil Ke Andar Hai !”

Link://www.amazon.in/dp/8192955532

If you want me to review your book or feature you on my blog, you can contact me at - myriadhues14@gmail.com

Twitter - @GuptaRach

Review of "India Was One" by An Indian

A poem from the book –

India, an Enigma

She stands with arms open,

steadfast in times of turmoil,

donning the lovely tri-colors,

holy rivers making a beautiful smile.

She is the mother of pearls.

The land of festivals,

with a romantic history,

language and God of choice,

and culture has an identity.

Here music finds its voice.

Her magnetic architectures,

as old as her mysterious traditions,

hold beautiful treasures.

When people want to break her,

it so pains my heart,

the image of her future seems,

a mirror of the past.

And my dreams remain just memories.

But India has won,

you and I can live together

as one,

now and forever.

- Rahul

About the Author – 

The author of this book has chosen not to reveal his identity and has instead used the penname “An Indian.” The only information we have about him is that he was born and raised in Mumbai and moved to the US in 1989. He now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

What the book is about – 

As the name suggests, the book is about our wonderful country, India and the different people who inhabit it. The story revolves around Vijay (Jai) and Kahani (Kaahi), their college life, their friends, their families, their interests and their future. As the story unfolds we find the protagonists falling in love and moving to the US for work. Life goes on and they settle in, but soon there are other things in store for them. Will they separate? What will happen in the land of their birth? Will India remain one?

What I liked about the book – 

As mentioned earlier, I am very particular about the books I read and because of that I usually read books only by an author I like or one that a friend recommends. Well! This one was an exception and I am glad to have read it! The main thing that worked for me in this book are the sentiments attached. The love that the author has for the land of his birth is clearly evident from the way he describes the festivals, the food, the customs and the places. Any reader who has never been to India would actually have a very good idea about India because of this book. Of course, I would be wrong not to mention that he has written about other places in the world in with the same amount of detailing, providing readers a view of the world as seen through his eyes!

What did not work for me – 

One thing the writer could have done in order to keep the flow intact was write the explanations of the new words/words not known by people outside India, at the bottom of the page. That way the story would have flowed better. He could also have gone deeper into some of the topics instead of just touching upon them and leaving the reader wanting more!

All in all the book is a good read, especially if you want to see India through the eyes of someone who left long ago and yet feels so much love for his country.

Where can I buy the book? 

India Was One, is available, both, in paperback as well as in eBook (for all devices) format. It is available on popular sites, like: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, Google Play etc., which can be accessed from anywhere in the world. For reader in India, in addition to it being available on online stores, such as: Flipkart, Infibeam, etc., it also is available in bookstores in Mumbai at Oxford Bookstore and Crossword bookstore. Very recently, it is also available in all the Sapna Book House stores in Bangalore and online with free shipping.

The book's website also has a lot of goodies, such as, artwork used in the book, poem used in the book, some reviews (including media reviews that was published in India, Canada and the US), interactive map of India, a few sample chapters, and much more.

Website: www.IndiaWasOne.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IndiaWasOne (over 27,000 fans) Twitter: @IndiaWasOne 

Find out more about the book at www.IndiaWasOne.com/FindOut

If you want me to review your book, mail me at myriadhues14@gmail.com

You can also follow me on twitter - @GuptaRach

Guest Post - Yash Pawaskar author of "When We Clicked – A twisted love story?"

The following is a poem from the book ‘When We Clicked – A twisted love story?’ by Yash Pawaskar

  FRIENDSHIP IS…

To give  without any request,

Find co –travelers in your quest.

To take without the need to ask,

Be yourself without any mask.

To choose with whom you want to be,

Be unshackled and feel free.

To share a tiffin box,

Watch movies and drink cola on the rocks.

To laugh endlessly on things which are silly,

Drool over butter nan and paneer chilly.

To lend a shoulder to cry,

When things don’t work out, give another try.

To stand by each other during adversity,

Roam every nook and corner of your city.

To tease each other by weird names,

Crazy sleepovers and mad games.

To be together in joy and sorrow.

Always wish for a better tomorrow

To be together, tease, stand, cry, laugh, share, choose, take and give,

 Friendship is a gift to ensure that you just don’t exist, you LIVE.

About the Book

Two strangers, one city, four days, one night, one lie and a fantastic journey. ‘When We Clicked’ is my twisted love story. I am Akhil Parlekar, a Mumbaikar in my early twenties. Like every other Mumbaikar I love my city, consider Sachin Tendulkar a God fantasize about Katrina Kaif, but I am about to die.

Before I was dying, I lived my life in four days, when we clicked. It was love at first sight for me, but not for her. I spent the four days with her wandering in the city, thinking that she would fall in love with me, but the night that followed the fourth day, changed everything.

This journey is about emotions like humour, lust, hatred, betrayal, heroism, friendship and the biggest emotion of them all; love. I am letting you in my heart as well as my brain, you be the judge if this is a love story or not. 

`You are the protagonist of your life’s story, the central character around which all the other characters and incidents occur. When the protagonist of your story changes to someone else, you are in love. That person becomes the central character of your story and everything else revolves around the person you love.’

The book is available online at Amazon, Flipkart and other stores.

About the Author

Yash Pawaskar is a traveller, enjoying the journey called life. He loves stories, both reel and real, and is known as an entertaining storyteller. Born on the same day as his idol Farhan Akhtar, he is a multitalented individual.

Yash was an active sportsman and a dramatics enthusiast in his school and college days. He has a degree in Banking and Insurance, is a certified Fitness Trainer, an MCA panel umpire and an MBA in marketing. He has work experience in market research, sales, advertising and wrote his first book when he was in between jobs; he is currently working in the content and advertising arena and is concentrating on his second book.

He is a huge fan of Christopher Nolan, J.K. Rowling and a host of young Indian writers, who write for the young India.

Get In Touch:

Email: yapawaskar@yahoo.co.in  

Like on Facebook: Yash Pawaskar – Writer

Guest Post - India was One

A few months ago I got a friend request from an unknown person. Since I am not comfortable adding anyone I don’t know well, I just ignored it. One day while doing some research on the Internet I chanced upon a book with the same name. I found out more about the book and the author and accepted the request. Today the author and I chat off and on and thankfully he has been gracious enough to grant me permission to share this guest-post on my blog. This is what he has to say about his book - "India was One."

The following guest-post was first published in The Book Club.

Almost three and a half years ago, I wrote the afterword for my book. Not being a writer (I am a web developer by profession), it was written from my heart, the way I saw and felt things. I just knew that I was right about my feelings, and more importantly, I was right about the feelings shared by millions like me. It really didn’t matter where they were, in India or abroad. So it came as no surprise to me as the current “Modi-tsunami” reflected the same sentiment throughout India. A common identity of being an Indian. If review and ratings of my book on Amazon and Goodreads are the yard-stick for how well it is received, it is very well received, not just by Indians, but also by non-Indians. Why? Because it has a story that tugs at your heart. Some folks who have never visited India want to go there now. A lot of feedback I am getting here, in the US, is that “I had no idea how rich of culture and diverse India was.” Even Indians here whose kids don’t know much about India learn a lot about how their parents think. About how their relatives back in India think.

This is what I wrote:

So, what is being an Indian?

Is it religion? Surely it can’t be, as India is a melting pot of many religions: Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Jains, Buddhists, Jews, and many more. Would an Indian who was born in India and an Indian who was born in a different country have religion as a common bond? What if they both were Hindus and worshipped the same gods and goddesses, but were from different states? Is Gautam Buddha, who was born in India, and is now worshipped, by many more non-Indians, an Indian God?

Is it language? 

Again, the answer is no, as there are 15 national languages, and over 1,600 dialects. Take a look at the Indian Rupee bill (the Indian currency). Its value is written in all 15 national languages.

Is it the culture and customs? 

Could be, but it isn't the only thing, as different states have different customs.

Is it looks and features? 

Do you see a stranger abroad and assume that he is Indian just because of his looks? What if he is from one of the ‘Seven Sister States’ of India? Many of them have oriental features. Do you assume that he is from an oriental country? Or, he could look like an Indian, but be from one of the neighboring countries.

The Seven Sister States are a region in the northeastern corner of India, comprising of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

What about the millions of Indians who are not in India? What about their kids? What is their identity? They look like Indians, but think like westerners. What about kids from mixed marriages, where one of the parents is an Indian while the other is not. Where do they fit in? Are they Indians or something else? Which custom are they supposed to follow?

Is it the nationality or citizenship? What about all those Indians who are now citizens of different countries? Sure, they are not Indian citizens, but are they not Indians? When there is a catastrophe in India (like the earthquake in Gujarat), Indians all around the world rush to help. What makes them do it?

What is the common thread between a Punjabi from North India and a Tamil from South India? If both of them are Hindus, is it enough? Is it cricket and Bollywood movies? Yes, both are loved by most Indians. However, they are not the only thing. They both are great conversation topics.

If you live in India, the answer is very simple, you are among Indians, but not if you live abroad. Having lived in the US for the past 20 years, the definition of being Indian has been nebulous. My wife and I, like most Indians living abroad, try to instill Indian values in our kids, by sending them to Sunday school to learn our religion and culture. We take them to the cultural shows, musical shows, Indian festivals, etc...trying to hold onto our Indian-ness. We try to teach them cricket, and we take them to see Bollywood movies. Does going to Indian stores for groceries, cooking Indian food, and going to Indian restaurants (and ordering food for our non-Indian friends) make us Indians?

In the future, will an Indian who has just come from India, feel a common bond between himself and my great-great-great grandkids? Or will the Indian think to himself, “They look like Indians. They must be ABCD (American Born Confused Desi),” and my great-great-great grandkids will think, “Oh! A FOB (Fresh Off Boat).”

What is it that makes you go back to India? Is it family, friends, sight-seeing, business, or something else? Is your comfort level much more when you go to India because you fit in? Do you still feel it is your country? Is it the people there that make you feel at home? Or is it just a state of mind? Is it just a way of life? Is it just the way you look; the color of your skin, your features, the way you dress, or the clothes you wear?

The intention here is not to provide you with an answer, but to make you think, and ask yourself, “What is being an Indian to me?”

It’s entirely up to you…your point-of-view.

An Indian lies in the eyes of the beholder…what you choose to see.

You can travel the length and breadth of India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Mumbai to Kolkota, and not see a single Indian. You will see Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, etc. You will see Maharashtrians, Gujaratis, UPites, Biharis, Bengalis, Tamils, Telugus, Malayalis, etc.

Or you will see Indians. जय हिंद (Jai Hind) -An Indian

About the Author:

The author was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He came to the US in 1989 to New York. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

His book, India Was One, is available, both in paperback as well as in eBook (for all device) formats. It is available on popular sites, like: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, Google Play etc, which can be accessed from anywhere in the world. For readers in India, in addition to it being available on online stores, such as: Flipkart, Infibeam, etc., it also is available in bookstores in Mumbai at Oxford Bookstore and Crossword bookstore. Very recently, it is also available in all the Sapna Book House stores in Bangalore and online at -

https://sapnaonline.com/india-was-one-12004218 (Free Shipping)

The book's website also has a lot of goodies, such as, artwork used in the book, poem used in the book, some reviews (including media reviews that were published in India, Canada and the US), interactive map of India, a few sample chapters, and much more.

You can also check out the website - http://www.indiawasone.com

Source: http://www.tbcblogtours.com/guest-post-of-india-was-one.html