The Biblograph-Jun-Jul'20 Edition

Chetan Batra

About Author:

Chetan Batra is a law graduate, poet, blogger and writer born and raised in
Ludhiana 23-year old Chetan has a keen interest in crime fiction. He has
authored 2 books till now and compiled one anthology.

About Book:

“What happened Yohan?” she asked I blurted out, “Can I kiss you?” …… A
great relationship begins when two people who love each other and
understand the bond they share for who they are created and what makes
tthheemm unique from others. Yohan falls in love with Aditi, doesn’t want to slow things down so he confesses his love
to Aditi, and she accepts it. After that their relationship goes through a lot of ups and downs, anyhow they always
find different ways to love and support each other. The day comes when an unforeseen incident changes their life
forever… Aditi is critical, and Yohan is in peril on its own, helpless. What happened that brought them here in this
position? Will they both arise from the incident? Will there lives come back to normal just like before? It is a heart-
warming tale of love, hate, rejuvenation and above all, justice to be served at any cost.

Q. Please tell us about yourself.

A. Chetan Batra is a law graduate, poet, blogger and writer born and
raised in Ludhiana 23-year old Chetan has a keen interest in crime
fiction. He has authored 2 books till now and compiled one anthology.
Chetan is a true believer of destiny and always inspire to opine the
bright side of life. You can connect him via- Insta- @achetanbatra

Email- [email protected]

Q. Please tell our readers about the journey of writing this book to
publish it. Was it exhausting or fun, how did it actually turn out. Share
some insights.

A. After the success of my 2nd Book Never Fade Away. I visualized a
dream to collaborate with 41 aspiring writers under a free anthology.
Unlike the publisher who charges money for their for own profit, I was
in a fix to promote them. At first, it was a bit difficult task, but later on, I
got in momentum and got a thunderous response on my to submit the
form with 100+entrieses. I chose the top 41.
Then, slow and steady I won the race with the help of notionpress
imprint. We all 42 writers are published in a one go.

Q. How hard is it to juggle between your profession and passion, care to
give our readers some advice?

A. It was indeed a tough job. Being a law student it takes up the courage
to carry on your passion along with. In my first year, I kept juggling
between my passion and profession then I maintained a routine that
sought me in. I kept 2 hours each day for my writing and 3 for studies.
Doing the same for almost 4 years. My book got released the same year
in which a graduated.

Page 49

Chetan Batra

Q. There’s a wider audience out there that wants to explore their creative side and want to be a part of literary
field. As a published writer, what advice would you like to give to novice authors.
A. To all the aspiring writers reading. I'll give you 3 tips. If you follow these, no one can stop you from
achieving what you really crave for.

1. Write every day, even it is a word or too
2. Read at least 20 books in the genre you are writing in.
3. Stay motivated, keep the words flowing through the horizon
Q. Publishing, marketing, writing - what according to you is the most easiest or the toughest and why?
A. In my opinion, it is marketing. Because not every author is financially sound, in this field full of competition.
You have to be smart and wise with your marketing thing. To take a high chance, you have to take a high note.
Q. Why do you think newbies criticise Authors like chetan bhagat because of his writing style. What are your
comments on that and till what extent you think it is legit to criticise an author like him who Created an entire
new industry and built an audience and taught them to read indian novels. What are your comments.
A. Every author is criticised and Chetan Bhagat is one such name. According to me, writers criticized because of
cringe writing style. His self-belief of being the best writer of this country and most importantly he is not as
good as the attention he gets. In simple words, he is over-hyped like every Karan Johar movie. But if you take
my opinion he is good, in spite of his conceit attitude I admire his work.
Q. Tell us about your upcoming projects.
A. Currently, I am working on my 3rd book, which is a crime thriller centred around missing persons story. I
hope to finish things next year in June. Along with that, I am in the process of compiling one more anthology at
end of this year. Keep my fingers crossed. Hope for the best.

Page 50

Hemant Agarwal

About Author:

The author is a Computer Science Engineer & Microsoft Certified Professional
who subsequently did a Full-time MBA in Human Resource Management at
Mysore University.

The author has written a book on "Power of Employee Engagement” which is
appreciated in HR Fraternity. The Author got the "HR Rising Star of the Year
Award" in 2020 by HR Association, India.

About Book:

Power of Employee Engagement: There's a lot of disagreements about what employee engagement is all about.
Various research works define employee engagement in different ways. Being a vast subject, employee engagement
cannot have a single definition.Different organizations define employee engagement in a different way. Some
equate engagement with job satisfaction, others talk about emotional commitment to a person's work and
organizations, others use the notion of 'discretionary effort' as an indication that a person is engaged and some
relate with employee retention in the organization. Engaged organizations attract talent, retain top performers, and
drive results. Positive employee recognition makes every employee feel appreciated, and that leads to better results
for your company in the long run.There is no globally agreed definition of engagement amongst the consultants and
experts. Here's a selection that represents the most common definitions The term 'employee engagement' is a
relatively new one and as well as being described by some as the latest HR fraternity it is muddled and confusing
area because of the lack of clarity of definition. There's no wonder that those who are supposed to be responsible for
employee engagement often struggle to work out what their job is about to let alone what they are supposed to
achieve. The fact is that it is a very complex area because so many different variables determine whether or not
someone is engaged. Those variables include factors external to the person, e.g., their manager, the culture of the
organization, the pay, and the reward system. They also include internal factors, including the person's personality
type, their values, and the meaning they make from their own work.

Crack Your Dream Job: Do you want to Secret tips for the journey from Campus to Corporate? “CRACK YOUR
DREAM JOB” is the quintessential simple step by step Guide that helps the students to get hired. The ultimate aim
of every student studying in College to have a job that they have dreamed of. The journey to the corporate world
requires a different mind-set altogether. Inside, you’ll find: - How to search & apply for jobs - A practical approach
to draft winning Resume & Cover letters - Tips for excel in job interviews - Insights of the corporate world - Proven
strategies to earn while learn - Ways to improve their professional social profiling - Role of body languages in an
Interview - Real life case studies - And so much more! The journey from Campus to corporate is the most critical
transformation of a lifetime. It will be the turning point of any Fresher’s life. Searching for jobs nowadays is a very
competitive and have cut-throat competition. There are many colleges and a vast pool of candidates for a limited
number of vacancies, making it tough. The tips and methodologies mentioned in this Book will help you get the
upper hand in job search and Crack the Dream job. While I do not guarantee miracles to the students after reading
and implementing the guidelines who are willing to Crack their Dream Job, in any case, I can confidently ensure
remarkable chances of being hired in their dreamed organizations, if he/she applies a few or a large portion of the
tips and practices mentioned in the Book. The Book is equally useful for Graduates, Post Graduates, Fresher’s who
are searching for their dream Jobs. To sum up, you will be thrilled after reading this Book on "Crack Your Dream
Job – Secret Tips for the Journey from Campus to Corporate." If you want to be a part of a winning team of your
dream Corporate, get your copy today! Happy Reading..!!

Page 51

Hemant Agarwal

Q. Please tell us about yourself.

A. I hold a full-time Management Degree in Human Resource Management (HRM) from the University of
Mysore and B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering. I am currently working as a Manager – Corporate HR
with one of the leading Manufacturing Company in Delhi NCR from last 8 years.

Q. Tell us something about your debut book.

A. “Your number one customers are your people. Look after employees first and then customers last” – Ian
Hutchinson, Author of People Glue

This quote beautifully described what I meant in this book. “POWER OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT” is the
quintessential increasing employee engagement and improving employee satisfaction with proven strategies
that apply to any industry. The book offers 151 Employee Engagement Practices and activities that an
organization needs to improve employee satisfaction and engagement.

While I do not guarantee miracles to the organizations after reading and implementing activities that are
willing to improve employee engagement as their workplace, in any case, I can surely ensure improved
employee commitment in the organizations who apply a few or a large portion of the exercises and practices
mentioned in the book.

I researched and brought up 151 activities to improve engagement levels of employees across all levels in the
organization. Some of the activities can be implemented immediately and without incurring any cost or just
negligible cost.

Q. Please tell our readers about the journey of writing this book to publishing it. Was it exhausting or fun,
how did it actually turn out. Share some insights.

A. My work on this book has been the efforts of many. The book has taken a longer time from what I expected
initially. After daily traveling of 50 KM’s for office and being a father of two little champs, the only time I left to
work on the book was morning 5 to 7 or either 11 to 1 in the night. This is the time when my kids are still
sleeping, but my passion for writing my first book was at peak. I faced the challenges for managing time
initially and feel exhausted but later planned in a better way to keep some time for writing and enjoyed doing
that.

I do a lot of research before start writing. I think it's important to be confident about what you are writing, and
that comes from researching a topic or location. Many of the Employee Engagement activities mentioned in the
book are gathered from different organizations after having one to one conversation with many HR Members,
and it’s been absolutely a delight to share the knowledge with them as well.

Q. How hard is it to juggle between your profession and passion, care to give our readers some advice?

A. To meet the challenges of the corporate world, I have devoted lots of my time to learning new skills,
techniques to keep pace with the world. We depend on our profession to fulfill our Bread & butter. To follow a
passion, the same education, skills of the past might not be relevant and may take time to get something
monetary out from it. My professional advice is to do your best to find a combination of a career that taps into
your passion as well as one that will be viable in the future. There is a possibility that you may already have
something you love to do! Start passionately to achieve that. Even if you’re a master at juggling your time and
priorities, it’s important to realize that sometimes it’s ok to feel overwhelmed, as long as you can move past it
and get back to that feeling of excitement that pursuing a passion brings.

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Hemant Agarwal

Q. Tell us about your upcoming projects.

A. Currently, I am working on a book – "Crack Your Dream Job - Secret Tips for the Journey from Campus to
Corporate" to help the final year students & fresher’s. Being in HR and handling recruitment & selection
from Trainees to COO's, CEOs, and other Top Level professionals, I am putting forward my all experience
gained over the past 11 years in this book to help the students to Crack the Dream Job in their journeys from
Campus to the Corporate world.

Q. Publishing, marketing, writing - what according to you is the most easiest or the toughest and why?

A. Easiest is publishing especially if you are self-publishing the book and many publishers are open to
working as per your desirables & budget. Even one can publish his/her kindle edition on their own. For me
the tough part is Marketing, my contents are good but the challenge is to reach the right audience. Marketing
plays an important and vital role in today's world. Without Marketing, good contents are not enough to sell
especially for first-time writers.

Marketing is a form of communicating, and many writers are expected to know the major social media
platforms so they can get their work out into the world and make it accessible to different audiences. To get
the upper hand, I am sharpening my skills on FB, Instagram, Linkedin, etc to edge ahead in the times to
come.

Q. When did you decide to become a writer?

A. Writing is my passion, since my college days I used to write several articles which used to be published in
national magazines regularly. I was the founder editor of Group’s Internal magazine during my college days.
Now a days, I used to write on the HR domain in National Level Magazines like “Business Manager”. I also
served more than two years as a Managing editor of an internal Magazine of one of the prominent corporates
in my previous assignments.
One fine day I am exploring some employee engagement activities for my organization, I don't find a single
reference where I could refer various engagement programs which one can apply in the organization to
improve engagement in one place. So I decided to write a book which can not only help me but also the
Corporates too.
I am not a full-time writer and writes whenever I got time free time after my professional working hours.

Q. There’s a wider audience out there that wants to explore their creative side and want to be a part of
literary field. As a published writer, what advice would you like to give to novice authors?

A. Start writing and writing. The more you write, the more creative side will open up which is required in
the literary field. Write an outline, which helps in tackling a series of short paragraphs that, when looped
together, become a comprehensible work.

I initially thought writing a book is harder but later it came to be more rewarding than I could have ever
imagined. So I can only wish and hope those novice authors would not be stopped by any challenges and
keep writing with love & passion.

Don’t only worry about royalties of books or the number of copies sold, make a business around a book.
Think about how you can use the book to generate more out of it, in terms of Business, brand, or better
position in the job, etc.

Page 53

Hemant Agarwal

Q. Do you think Indians prefer reading international authors over Indian writers? If yes, where and why do
you think we lack and till do you think Indian authors will be able to get international exposure
A. I don’t think Indians prefer reading International authors over Indian writers, especially in the Non-
fiction segment. The Non-fiction contents which an Indian author can provide is much more effective and
relevant to Indian Context, which might be untouched by any foreign writer.
We lack in big name associated with the book. If we keep on providing powerful contents to the readers, the
day will not be far to get an International exposure as well.

Page 54

Sarbajit Chowdhury

About Author:

Sarbajit Chowdhury is a debutant in this world of writing. And this book becomes
his first book of poems. He lives in the town of Burdwan in West Bengal. He loves
to write and express his view point. He is right now pursuing M.A. from Burdwan
University and working on his upcoming novel.

About Book:

This book contains poems that deal with various themes such as love, lust, the
illusion of beauty, affection, trust, patriotism, child abuse, etc. We, as human
beings, do play a plethora of roles in our lives and we often dive deep into our
roles.

The essence of each relation, emotion, and role is important. Being an extremely emotional child, I had always given
priority to my emotions but failed to express them. Much later in life, I started expressing myself through poems.
Each word written in this book has its own essence and importance. I believe to the core that emotions are the
essence of one’s existence, and they are best expressed through words. Penning down my feelings through words
was difficult, and was an emotional process. The words in this book reflect my hard work. They are an ode to my
true feelings and real-life experiences. I hope you will like the poems and relate to them at some point of time.

Q. Please tell us about yourself.

A. I am sarbajit Chowdhury, a person who is obsessed with writing and
expressing his feelings. A bookworm and an academician. Right now, I am
pursuing my masters, from Burdwan university. I am person who listens to
his hearts and lives on his own terms and believes in the thumb rule-
“unplanned life is the best”.

Q. Please tell our readers about the journey of writing this book to
publishing it. Was it exhausting or fun, how did it actually turn out? Share
some insights.

A. I had no plans of publishing the poetry book. I was searching the
publisher for my novel. And in the process, I found they also publish poems
so, I decided to send some of mine poems and they loved my work and
hence the book came into being. The process was fun as well as a bit
exhausting. It was thrilling because it was first and was learning in the
whole process and sometimes it would test my patience. All over it was
really a fulfilling and satisfying experience.

Q. How hard is it to juggle between your profession and passion, care to
give our readers some advice?

A. It is really hard to juggle between passion and profession. It demands
concentration, loads and loads of hard work, and determination. There came
a time where I had to choose between profession and passion and I always
chose passion but not causing much harm to my profession. It is really
important to strike a correct balance. I have been a multi-tasker since the first
year of my college so it was not so tough for me to tackle this whole
situation and moreover my parents were really supportive. Follow your
passion, but don’t harm your profession, try to strike a correct balance. Its
hard but not impossible.

Page 55

Sarbajit Chowdhury

Q. There’s a wider audience out there that wants to explore their creative side and want to be a part of literary
field. As a published writer, what advice would you like to give to novice author

A. See, there is really nothing wrong to explore the creative side and I have always given wings to my creativity but
for that we need to develop a craft and confidence in our talent or rather say creativity. I would like to advice, to
follow your heart. Often you will be tested by destiny and will fall into pits but never loose the confidence in your
passion. Have faith in your talent and be patient and keep working hard what you deserve will come to you.

Q. Publishing, marketing, writing - what according to you is the most easiest or the toughest and why?

A. The easiest was writing because that is what I can do without taking any pain and do the best. The publishing is
a bit time taking process and hence needs patience and calm mind. And marketing was a bit new to me, because I
am really noob in it so, it was bit scary to understand the whole lot of things. But since I love writing and it was my
first hence, I learned a lot of lessons and will keep it with me through out my life.

Q. Why do you think romance genre sells at an exponential rate over other genres In india.

A. India, is a colourful country and here everyone grows feeding on the romantic movies of Kajol and Shahrukh
Khan or Deepika and Ranveer Singh, so now its easy to understand the selling of the romances, more right? See
romance as a genre tickles our heart and plays with multiple emotions within us at the same time, may be that is the
reason of the popularity. But the tide is changing people are also loving a Calling Shemat. So, I hope people will
expand their spectrum of reading, and will allow us authors to explore the new zone.

Q. Do you think indians prefer reading international authors over indian writers? If yes, where and why do you
think we lack and till do you think Indian authors will be able to get international exposure.

Myself as a reader I would love to read a Rabindranath Tagore, at the same time a Mark Manson and at the same
time a Paul Coelho. I believe as a reader we should not limit ourselves as being on the receiving end and should
keep open mind to everything. I read all kinds of books, only the story needs to be interesting and engaging like a
Rituporno Ghosh movie to me. I think reading is according to one’s personal taste and it varies. To be true India has
the richest literature and its need proper exploration and the more I read Indian authors, the more I am enchanted.

Q. Do you think indians prefer reading international authors over indian writers? If yes, where and why do you
think we lack and till do you think Indian authors will be able to get international exposure.

A. Myself as a reader I would love to read a Rabindranath Tagore, at the same time a Mark Manson and at the same
time a Paul Coelho. I believe as a reader we should not limit ourselves as being on the receiving end and should
keep open mind to everything. I read all kinds of books, only the story needs to be interesting and engaging like a
Rituporno Ghosh movie to me. I think reading is according to one’s personal taste and it varies. To be true India has
the richest literature and its need proper exploration and the more I read Indian authors, the more I am enchanted.

Q. Why do you think newbies criticise Authors like chetan bhagat because of his writing style. What are your
comments on that and till what extent you think it is legit to criticise an author like him who Created an entire
new industry and built an audience and taught them to read indian novels. What are your comments.

A. Personally, I have read Chetan Bhagat and I love his work to be true. He was the first person to introduce this
whole lot new kind of novel, which everyone can relate to and will have fun to read. Durjoy Dutta and Ravinder
singh are my personal favourite because their stories do touch my heart each time, I read their book. As a reader I
like to read stories which progress first but Chetan Bhagat takes time to reach the climax may that is what some of
the people do not like it. For me every story has its journey. And criticism comes with every kind of work because
always there will be some people who will like your work, whereas others will not. But we should really praise
Chetan Bhagat to start this new trend of books which have attracted a lot of teenagers to the reading habits.

Q. Tell us about your upcoming projects.

A. I am working on my novel and right now I am really busy to finish my manuscript and initiate the publishing
process. a good deal of work is still left. This will be my first novel and I really hope that people love my novel
equally as my poetry book. Keeping Fingers crossed.

Page 56

Gautam Chaudhary

About Author:

A B-School graduate, Gautam is a business analyst by profession. Considers the
laptop as among his best friends and nurses a secret desire to turn an
entrepreneur someday.

About Book:

The curtains draw up. Lights are dimmed. The musical is about to begin. As
the beautiful princess descends on stage, the mythical creatures from her
kingdom come alive.

Flickers of brilliant colours blaze across as mesmerizing music pulsates from one corner of the theatre to the other. A
fairy tale is about to unfold…

As young children, we often come across things that stay in our hearts forever. For Appu, it is a fairy tale about a
beautiful princess. He lives with her in a world filled with the magical creatures from her kingdom until the real world
beckons. A reluctant Appu steps into it as a striking young man and struggles to find his place.

What follows is an evocative tale of love and loss, friendship and betrayal, as the story travels through the snow-
peaked mountains of Arunachal to the golden deserts of Jaisalmer, the tulip gardens of
Holland to the lush greens of Kerala. Does Appu find what he had set out for? The answer lies in Rafflesia — The
Banished Princess because in her story, lay his!"

Q. Please tell us about yourself.

A. A very average person. I don’t follow conventions and I hide my moods
well. People find me sugary. I think they tend to think of me as someone cool
and very composed, but my mind is always busy brewing something. I love to
read, write, sleep, eat, and watch television. Everything else that I do is a
compulsion.

Q. Please tell our readers about the journey of writing this book to publishing
it. Was it exhausting or fun, how did it actually turn out. Share some
insights.

A. Well, it was an emotionally draining experience in every possible way. I
wish writers had to struggle less. But in an industry that is so close-knit and
unstructured, this is perhaps very normal. I enjoyed writing the book. Out of
everything, that is what I enjoy the most. I faced many challenges along the
way but with every problem, I learned something new. Now I know a thing or
two about book marketing.

Q. How hard is it to juggle between your profession and passion, care to
give our readers some advice.

A. Writing needs discipline and I am not very disciplined. I don’t like the
clinical approach to writing where people say you have to write for so many
hours every day. With me, it just doesn’t happen that way which also means I
don’t write as often as I would like to. I have to be in the mood or be in that
zone to write. Juggling between profession, family, friends, and writing is
difficult. But I just squeeze in some time somehow and manage to write.

Page 57

Gautam Chaudhary

Q. There’s a wider audience out there that wants to explore their creative side and want to be a part of literary
field. As a published writer, what advice would you like to give to novice authors.

A. Whoa! I don’t consider myself a writer at all. Just a novice. But yes, in today’s time, people must work on finding
the right audience for their books. Those who blog and are known have some advantages. There are still others who
already have to do something with literature or the world of writing, like say journalists or teachers. Celebrities
don’t have to worry much about finding an audience. For the rest, it is real hard work.

Q. Publishing, marketing, writing - what according to you is the easiest or the toughest and why?

A. I won’t compare writing with anything else. It is something very divine. It is at the top. I don’t think writing is
difficult because if you find it difficult, you’d never write. Finding a publisher can be difficult or easy depending on
how you want to publish. I suppose it is essential to reach the right audience and build the right brand for yourself.
It doesn’t happen overnight. Marketing is challenging, but it can be fun too if planned well. Also, you’ll reap the
benefits of good marketing for a long time.

Q. Why do you think newbies criticize Authors like Chetan Bhagat because of his writing style. What are your
comments on that and to what extent you think it is legit to criticize an author like him who created an entirely
new industry and built an audience and taught them to read Indian novels. What are your comments?

A. As an audience, one has the right to criticize. If I invest my time and money in a book or a movie and I don’t like
it, I can say I didn’t like it. But that doesn’t mean, the book or the movie isn’t good. Loving or not loving something
is very subjective. People criticize famous authors to become famous themselves. I don’t see any reason why an
author should criticize another, however big or small. Maybe it is more out of habit. I have read many of Chetan
Bhagat’s books, and I have enjoyed reading them thoroughly.

Q. Tell us about your upcoming projects.

A. I have written a short thriller - Murder at the Polo Bar, that has been published recently. Then, there was another
short story I had written many years back that got published in an anthology recently. It is titled Vita – Living with
the Laughter. My next major release is a romance fiction – When Jai Met Pia. I am very excited about it since I am
attempting romance for the first time. I turned eighteen when I wrote it. My friends loved reading it and I hope
romance readers would love it too when it releases sometime next year.

Q. Do you think indians prefer reading international authors over indian writers? If yes, where and why do you
think we lack and till do you think Indian authors will be able to get international exposure.

A. I would say your reading choices keep changing with time and age. So, there is nothing like preferring
international authors over Indian authors. I have heard many say they read only international authors. I am not
sure what they mean. An author is always an author. And, you have to enjoy what you read.

Q. Why do you think romance genre sells at an exponential rate over other genres In india.

A. Romance always fascinated people. Romantic relationships are the most celebrated all over the world. So yes, I
guess romance tends to sell. I can’t say if it sells more than other genres. As a reader, I love so many genres that I
choose one over another.

Page 58

Words of Wisdom

अपने पर फै ला कर आसमान की तरफ

जब उस न ी िचिड़या ने अपनी उड़ान भरी

आंखों म सपने िलए ।।

उसके इस ितशोध ने साहस को उजागर िकया ।।

Become the one with nature!!

I give my due credit to my father who made me capable Swapnil Sharma
enough to study things and next I gave my gratitude to
Tushti Bhatia whom I consider as an inspiration.

Note- It is more of wisdom and ideas created by a
Depressed Soul rather than a depressing story.

Sagas of a Dreamer

7th July, 1991

7.40 AM

Dream was born

A boy was born in the hills of Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh to a couple Devinder Kumar Sharma and Sanyukta
Sharma after two girl children- Meenakshi & Manisha. They named him Swapnil- Dreamlike.

Born in Punjabi family, later shifted to Ludhiana, I was very sharp and smart child and always think different. Till
10th standard being an extraordinary child and very qualitative, seeing his father hardwork and sacrifices, I wanted
to do something for the family financially to raise the level from lower middle class to upper middle class. That’s
where a story of lows and highs (more lows), story of courage and a dream was born.

Introspection

Being an intelligent student, my parents had high hopes from me which leads them to make me chose an
engineering background (one of the conventional idea of the parents). I took admission in coaching for IIT-JEE but
deep inside, my thoughts went in vain. Big dream of parents, low self esteem among highly upper class students,
financially disturbed family.

Regularly introspecting the reality of my existence- so many ideas, very little action (exactly present scenario). I was
in self exploration, what I need exactly from my life. I got lost in my senior secondary exams which lead to
extremely low results in school and academy. This really does not affected my motivation- I am self motivated guy
and later realized I am source of inspiration and a motivational speaker for my audience, friends, family.

Favorite Failures

Results of IIT-JEE and all other entrance examinations came and my ranks were similar to my introspection reality-
in vain. I didn’t got in any of them but I was strong inside and looking for plan B. My mother was stressed and
decided to gave me one more chance- though I did’nt want any. One year I again started with the plan which had a
lot of loose ends again. Luckily, I got admission in ICFAI, Dehradun for mechanical engineering. Dehradun - boy of
hills going back to his roots. Inner me knows I want freedom from same ideas same expectations from my family.
That’s where my story of ideas begun. I completed all four years of engineering but tragically I get suspended from
one semester which took a toll on my engineering degree as I do not want my family to over react on this situation I
tried to handle it alone depressingly, I hadn’t been able to collect one semester extra fees, I requested my Dean to
make through and I’ll pay in installments, but destiny wants me to a Dropout- again. In my engineering journey I
realized I wanted to study Anthologies, psychology and business but our education system ends up me being a
failed engineer.

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Words of Wisdom

Reality

After a lot of introspection, failed studies and getting failed; now I knew what I wanted to be- A Humanist. One who
promote Human Qualities, one who gave an opportunity to students to study whatever they want and being at practical
with their knowledge and skills. Before if I told to someone I wanted to study Mathematics with Psychology, they would
call me stupid, they still call me. But I knew I can bring a change. How? I wanted to connect to Humans and bring out
best theories among them to promote their biggest qualities as their profession.

What I think; what I speak; what I do must be in Harmony.

After my failed engineering, four years I had been travelling, living in other cities searching for peace and success.

I was in Depression, now I know I had been through depression, I am in depression!!

You know what, been in depressing situations gave you Wisdom. Yes ! you heard it right. I got wise, smarter and more
qualitative. I got more failure stories; I will narrate it in other Sagas. Keep Reading and looking for my space

Idea of Life

I and my friend Abhishek Srivastava (my college companion) decided to hop onto some ideas. Being an Analyst, we
wanted some intellect ideas to analyse the different scenarios and post it online (some analyst kind job in journalism). We
weren’t techie at all. Abhishek suggested me a name of the idea

Saahash- Study an Analysis of Human Anthologies for Social Happiness. If you are depressed, study yourself, analyze
yourself and whatever you had in your mind, express it in any form of ART.

I immediately got connected with this idea and make it my life because that’s what we all do. We study, analyses
anthologies- literary thoughts in our mind and promote it. We all do the same thing but in a wrong way. What is the right
way?

Immediately, I discover my new trait of being a project manager- I found ideologies of this idea, I cleared vision, I focused
onto mission and I started building team. Although the project is still on hold, but I gained a lot of experience since to
start this project and make it a big one.

What if a Company allows you to choose your own subjects of study? Then, it’s your choice to choose subjects of work as
well leading onto make a successful career out of your own choices. Bit strange huh!

Sage- Words of Wisdom

We believe We’re Worshipping While We Work!!

I am still in depression, still lost in my own thoughts but now I am directed towards my goal and focused on it. I still need
a shoulder to cry on, I still need someone whom I can talk without even judging. I feel these times has been a tough one-
lockdown brings unemployment and frustration, I am still standing strong in front of terrific things and I wanted to
change it. I need work to be fulfilled; I need job to be accomplished. We are in three months of lockdown and self
isolation, times had been depressing and we need to build a panel for discussion, building up the ideas and like minded
people not for judging (an idea for Bibliograph team) , only for analyzing. We need to be analysts instead of judges.

What I learned in all this process?

Always look on the darker side- yes because that’s where you need your light to shine upon. You don’t need power to
face comfort; you need power to face difficulties. You need courage, that’s where Saahash (courage) comes into picture.
You analyze yourself, bring your strengths and bang on! You got to promote it.

Depression is an opportunity to self isolates yourself and introspect. Just pick one human to talk to who understands you.
Here is my number 9115682959 and email id- [email protected] , you can call me anytime and talk. I am a
great listener and a good motivator. I will not tell you to do yoga, mediate etc. I will listen to you and be with you all the
time, I will give you ideas of fun I will make you feel a kid again, I swear. I will make your depression goes out of the
window and make an art out of it.

“Listening is an act of Love”

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Words of Wisdom

Childhood Trauma and Mental Health in Adulthood

Do you think your boss keeps on shouting at you?
Do you think you and your spouse are incompatible?

Do you feel your relations won’t work long?

Are you fed up with your alcoholic spouse? Or

Whenever life hits you always have a notion “Why Me??????”

Though there can be many surface reasons for the same according to many Shweta Maheshwari
mental health experts there is some root cause of all your miseries. It is also
stated by researchers one of the major mental diseases i.e. depression ranks
third place worldwide and first place in middle and high-income countries. It is
also predicted that the disease will jump to second place after 2020.

A few days back the sudden demise of one of the stars of our country had left me highly shocked. I wasn’t able to
handle myself that day, but I quickly picked up myself and engrossed myself in reading or researching mental
health and real reasons. The researches actually shocked me that antidepressants are not producing a higher rate of
treatment response.

So what can be done or what to dig or find that at least I can come to a conclusion. I tried finding it and I think I am
successful up to an extent is figuring CHILDHOOD TRAUMA as the deepest reason behind all our mental health
issues, our failed relationships, our dissatisfaction, our unhappiness, our anger or our anxiety.

Childhood trauma can be extremely damaging not only mentally but physically as well and can lead to life long
issues. The next extremely shocking fact is that it is not rare in fact it is very common. We as adults struggle with
relationships, self-esteem, and other negativities like depression and keep on dragging it as we are unaware of this
fact. But, as always I have good news that It is not a lifetime sentence. With intensive care, understanding, and
building self empathizing techniques we can learn to challenge all the issues.

Childhood trauma had a ripple effect on us throughout our life if we leave it unattended. The only need is to
recognize it and then to process it further in a very productive way. If you are struggling with depression than
somewhere the roots are in your early childhood years. Your bad childhood experiences are contributing a lot to
your present day’s miserable life.

“ WHAT IS CHILDHOOD TRAUMA?”

It refers to the emotional experience rather than the actual one which your nervous system has captured.
Sometimes a series of bad emotional experiences add more fuel to the fire. It holds its roots more firm over a period
of time. Some of the traumatic events that a child may be exposed to are:

• Domestic violence
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Unhealthy relationships between parents
• A bullying parent
• Neglect
• Community violence

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Words of Wisdom

Are you suffering from CHILDHOOD TRAUMA? Physical consequences: There is no
denying the fact that any kind of
As I earlier mentioned it is not rare and is very common, so whether you have mental childhood trauma leads to
physical ailments in adults. “The
experienced or not is really difficult to answer but still, there are some body responds to emotional stress in
potential events or situations that are certainly there which has made the much the same way it responds to
statistics regarding the mental health issues to go up every single day. A few physical stress “ says Dr. Eshleman
years back I remember I have heard in a very popular TV show that almost 50
Untreated childhood trauma leads to
percent of children have faced sexual abuse. It means almost every alternate
child has something to speak about it. So from this, we can presume the physical health problems like:
impact of other above-mentioned events or situations. How can we predict
that this child when he grows up lives a healthier or happier life or have the • Heart problem
capability to build a strong relationship or will be able to live fully or be able • Diabetes
to feel himself/ herself a successful person ??? • Cancer
• Digestive issues
THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA • Obesity
• Thyroid
The major consequences include anger issues, anxiety, mood swings, • Stroke,etc.
depression for no reason, low self-esteem feeling unsafe, being needy, clingy,
finding themselves attracted towards unavailable partners are the result of Thus if you are an adult who is
such traumatic impressions which is also known as PTSD ( post-traumatic suffering from childhood trauma, it’s
stress disorder). The child who had experienced traumatic events during his not too late to heal your feelings and
early child will respond more traumatically to the upcoming harsh situations shift your life towards a positive
of life and over a period of time when he/she grows as an adult goes into direction. In fact, it is better to learn
depression or find himself/ herself in a wrong company or mostly grow how to get well soon not only for you
alcoholic or build a negative perspective towards everything. These kinds of but for your loved ones as well.
children may experience significant difficulties in many aspects of their lives.
HOW TO HEAL YOUR INNER
I would like to divide its impact into the following two categories: CHILD?

Emotional consequences: Children who have experienced complex trauma Developing Empathy:
often have difficulty identifying, expressing, and managing emotions. And
their emotional responses are unpredictable. Though it is very well researched
and presented that a child who had
• They either grow as a person with passive characteristics or faced trauma tend to be more
passive-aggressive behavior. empathetic. But here is also a fact
that such children can’t empathize
• If the child is neglected then he will show passivity as an themselves. The child with sexual
adult. abuse develops a kind of hatred
towards himself/ herself. Also, the
• If the child has witnessed a lot of aggression during childhood impression doesn’t allow
childhood or if he was taught to hold in his anger then he them to develop empathy towards
will grow up as a person with passive-aggressive behavior. the abuser. Thus the need is not to
empathize with others but
• If the child had faced bully then he may at the risk of themselves and the abuser.
developing depression or anxiety disorder. If the trauma
remains unchecked then it generally grows in intensity and I may be sounding weird and
as an adult healing can be incredibly difficult. unacceptable that we should develop
empathy towards our abuser. But
• If the child was a genuine victim of abuse then he may tend this is a way to free yourself. You
to develop a victim mentality. Such an adult is unable to need to forgive and let go. Also if
come out of his/ her past and talk negatively about you deeply understand the abuser
themselves. too have faced something which
leads him /her to take such actions.
• If the child has over-controlling or overprotective parents
then he/ she is unable to identify his/ her needs. As a result,
they lose a sense of self. Ultimately grew fearful or as an
under-confident adult.

• If a child has not received the love they think then they
usually create a false personality of being loving. This
falsehood image influences their adult relationships.

• Addiction is also a kind of emotional child trauma. The child
tries to escape so as to numb the effects and over a period of
time the addiction reaches a crescendo and most of the time
they end up destroying their life.

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Words of Wisdom

The following steps can be under empathy `process:`

• Ground it: To begin with it find a quiet place for yourself. Sit comfortably with eyes closed and take
several deep breaths. Bring your awareness to your body. Once you feel your entire attention is on
your body go to the next step.

• Recall it: Think of the situation, event, or the time that upsets you. Observe the reactions and
emotions in your body. When emotion begins to rise go to the next step.

• Sense it: Continue breathing and keep getting relaxed with each passing moment. Observe the
physical emotional responses like tingling, burning, or tightness of the muscles. Each and every
sensation is a piece of information to understand your past. Once you find all the sensations go to
the next step.

• Name it: Tie every emotion with the sensation. The sensations will seem the same but have subtle
distinction which you need to percolate and segregate. This will help you to have a richer
knowledge of yourself. Once you identify the emotion, name it, and move to the next step.

• Love it: At this stage fully accept each and every emotion with its sensation. This is a mindful
approach to trauma. Whether you believe it or not further but say aloud “ I accept myself and love
myself with each and every emotion.” Once you absorb this energy of love move to the next step.

• Feel and experience it: Let these new emotions of love and acceptance to get settle into you. Don’t
try to change or hide them. Let your body respond the way it wants. If you want to cry crying, cry.
If you feel like yelling, yell. If you feel like punching, punch pillows. Let the emotion to move out in
a productive way. When you feel its fully out move to the next step.

• Receive its message and wisdom: Now receive the message. Does the present moment make you
realize the root cause of your emotions or sensations? Journal about it for around 10 minutes
without stopping. Then move to the next step.

• Share it: if you feel like sharing your childhood trauma to anyone, do share. Else write the whole
incident. You can also write a letter to those who hurt you. It helps a lot and is a very effective
method to come out of the trauma condition.

• Let it go: Visualize that the trauma energy is going out of your body. You can also perform a ritual
like burning the letter or can mentally ask the things to flush out of your system.

The above emotional process may seem uncomfortable or weird, but I assure you it will be a rewarding journey.
The energy you are currently spending on trauma gets released. Now fill the new space inside with new positive
energy that will help you live a more joyful life.

Take care of yourself:

Once you follow the above process it’s time to take care of yourself. The above process took you more towards self-
love. Thus don’t ignore the further care your body and emotions are demanding from you. You need to nurture
yourself with:

 Proper Diet
 Proper Sleep
 Physical Exercises
 Learning Breathing Techniques
 Meditation
 Being Social
 Rewarding or Pampering yourself from time to time.

Do take some professional help: Though the above methods will definitely bring wonders to your life, sill I would
suggest taking a professional help as well. Do everything under someone’s guidance.

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Words of Wisdom

The Second Lease

What do you do when you feel that you are your own enemy? When you
feel so down that you don’t even want to pursue what you used to love
before? When you feel you are worthless and you start doubting your very
existence on this planet? When things that seem very basic for everyone else
becomes a humongous task for you? When you want to just avoid meeting
people, even your loved ones?

A lot of questions, with a simple yet complex answer. Treatment! Sujay Malik
Sometimes answers are easily available but we do not want to seek them,
just as I did when I suffered from a severe bout of depression more than a
decade and a half back.

It is not really a rocket science. If you suffer from a heart disease and I tell
you to forget about it. To not concentrate on it and just brush it aside. To
indulge in other extra-curricular activities. Would you agree? The answer is
obvious. Then why would you agree with something like this for a disease
which is so clinical and medically treatable?

I was a bright student, a national level Table Tennis player, a debater, an orator, a speaker, a writer all in my
schooling and college days. Talk about not having things going for you!

Ambition was something I had in abundance but I was always an introvert. A massive introvert at that. I hated
being around too many people. In fact I loved the idea of being to myself. And trust me it took me a long time to
accept that I wasn’t abnormal. I had a deep brooding demeanour to me. People were an obstruction most times. That
meant my ambitious drive wasn’t known to a lot of people around me.

And so, at the stroke of completing my graduation, when I encountered a few massive setbacks along with deceit
and cheating, it took a heavy toll on me mentally. Besides there were a lot of internal issues which made me go into a
shell of my own. And when I mean shell it was a complete cocoon because I anyway wasn’t very social. It made me
stop playing my favourite sport TT, and doing all other things which I loved. A few weeks passed and I began to
gain oodles of weight. I hardly spoke, if ever I did but eventually spoke of worthlessness and insignificance of
everything. And curiously I kept making myself believe that everything was unimportant. Nothing was genuine and
that a human being was simply a bagful of sham and pretence.

One night as I was trying to go to sleep, my heart starting pounding heavily. The thudding was hard, quick and
merciless. I almost felt that it will come out ripping my chest open. I was under extreme stress and wondering what
was happening to me. Curious case of a heart attack, was it? At such an early age? I suffered silently from this
trauma for days and weeks to end.

People spoke to me with reticence. I did not want to engage in many conversations, partly because I was repulsed
easily by them and partly because of the continuous thumping in my chest it was difficult for me to concentrate on
anything else. Some thought I was making things up because I wanted to avoid my exams.

I couldn’t study, and never felt like doing anything else as well. I would gaze right through the television set not
comprehending its content at all. Never in my life before had I felt so bereft of energy, purpose and even thoughts.

After a couple of months of endurance, my mother fixed up an appointment with a doctor. Pat! I was diagnosed with
clinical depression. I was advised to take a break from studies for a while, because according to the doctor, the
anxiety of studying for a competitive exam was adding on to my already severely messed up mental condition. I
gave him blank stares but also derived a lot of comfort out of his empathy and ease. I also understood that not seeing
an expert earlier was a huge mistake. Somewhere the thought of societal paranoia made me extremely jittery. And
that’s where I felt I made a huge mistake.

It took me a good 9 – 12 months to come out of the phase. In that phase I took a complete break from my studies.
Three odd months into my treatment I commenced playing Table Tennis again. I vividly remember how I was
imminently hesitant to go to the TT table again, something I could do with great enthusiasm earlier. The first stroke
after so long and I thought that my heart would rip open and I would collapse in a heap on the floor. But again as is
my nature, nothing too untoward was visible on the outside. All that people could make out was me being a
complete shadow of my past and excessive weight on my body showing easily.

But as time passed and the more I forced myself to engage with the sport along with ongoing treatment, I could feel
changes emerging through.

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Words of Wisdom

When I look back I feel that those twelve odd months were a breeze. But while going through it actually, it was
arduous. Every second felt like a burden. Quite a lot of times the thought of ending the misery by committing
suicide also came through. But here I am. Still trying to embrace the best of what this life has to offer, with all its
uncertainties and differences.
Yes, my attainment of Chartered Accountancy degree got significantly delayed. In fact I had to re-register because
of the break but I had an earnest desire to successfully complete this course. I wanted the naysayers to know that
nothing much could impede my path but more so because I knew I had the ability to get through it.
The commencement of a career got delayed. Yes, even today people ask me why. It feels like an interrogation. It
bothers me sometimes, at other times it doesn’t. Some of them do not want to know what happened. They just want
to probe and then gossip about it later. It sounds great saying, “You know this guy, his career got delayed. Some
personal issue on mental side you know.”
Yeah, makes for a great conversation but something that I have had to willingly embrace. But to be honest for me
everything else that has happened after that is just a bonus. And I am happy that I am still here, able to write about
this, about my story. I am happy to be working at a great role in a great company. I am happy to be qualified with
not one but two professional degrees (CA and LLB). And I am earnestly happy to be pursuing my passion of being
able to write, being an author of two books, being a spoken word storyteller and poet. Yes there is life after any
ailment. One only needs to not be scared to ask for help and bide the time. We can survive. We can overcome.

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Words of Wisdom

Are we really talking about mental health? Adity Gogia

Probably just a few years ago, mental health was a non-existent concept. The
conversations about feeling depressed or anxious were met with the comeback of
‘Depression what?’ and ‘Anxiety who?’. It was so hard to make people realise that
depression and anxiety were real and it was important for people to seek
medications and therapy to be feel better. Psychiatrists were seen as doctors who can
only be visited if someone is having an absolute nervous breakdown. You know the
kind that makes you land into a mental asylum? So as long as someone was not
going berserk in their rooms, throwing things around and acting like absolute
maniacs, there was no need to visit a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Of course, that
does not nullify the fact that people have still needed medical attention and help
over the years for their conditions of depression and anxiety and received it too. But,
if at all someone did seek therapy or medical help, it was done in closed rooms
because ‘Oh what would people say if they found out I was seeing a doctor for a
mental condition?’

That has been the world for us so far with respect to mental health issues, or actually any social or political issues that
are difficult to talk about. Because who would rather talk about harassment, rape or racism instead of that insanely
cute rom-coms or the latest football match series? There’s always a hush around difficult topics. A hush that comes in
the ver`sions of changed topics and glaring eyes that require you to ‘keep your mouth shut!’ And these hushes
surround mental health issues like a group of ants around a cube of sugar.

But then, some magic happened one day! Like an earthquake, shaky and unexpected, came the reign of Social Media.
Like an earthquake, but actually not as bad. Social media first became the king of convenient communication of
course but gradually, without anyone noticing, social media became the new court, the new source of information
and an innovative platform for all kinds of difficult conversations that one can dream to have. Everyone became
suddenly interested in mental health and the issues around it. Words like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders,
ADHD, attachment styles started flowing around. Literally everyone started using these words to either tell a story or
to express their support around others’ stories. Honestly, full credits to social media for being able to gather the
attention of people around issues of mental health and depression but at the same time, negative score for making
people forget about them as easily as they started talking about them. The overall situation today is that we are
talking about mental health. We are! Check the ‘mentalhealthmatters’ hashtag on Instagram, it would have more than
a million posts. But the question is, ‘Are we really talking about mental health’?

Over the years, as the conversations have started flowing around depression, anxiety and other mental disorders,
there has been an increased focus upon how there is no space or platform for the people to be able to come out and
speak about their suffering, which is true too because remember hushed tones and closed doors? As a result, there is
one statement that has been traveling around from Instagram to Twitter, profile to profile, in support of mental health
and those who suffer from disorders – ‘Please feel free to talk to me or your friends about your mental health.’ It’s
sweet right? Like an open bus door to Candyland! Just hop on without any hesitation because you’re wanted and
welcomed. ‘Please feel free to talk to me.’ is the free pass to your favourite artist’s concert. It’s a free plane ticket for an
all-expense paid world tour. It is an invitation to hop into a BMW and drive it for a lifetime without even buying it.
‘Please feel free to talk to me’ is the supposed ultimate treatment for mental health disorders. But, the reality is that as
soon as you will try to enter the bus door, the concert entrance, the flight to Europe or the BMW, you’ll be politely and
diplomatically asked to stop and go back to where you came from. Because the invitations to come and talk are
honestly as good as lottery tickets that you get excited about but win only once in a lifetime. The conversations and
acceptance around mental health disorders are as temporary as the interest that people have in social issues and
concerns. It seems true that despite being the smartest living creatures on earth, humans still have the memory of a
goldfish when it comes it actual, real, difficult issues. Humans just forget about them in one scroll because ‘Hey that
ice-cream looks scrumptious, where is it from?’ The fact is that even though everyone is talking about mental health,
there is only a small percentage of people who actually even understand what depression, anxiety, ADHD or bipolar
disorders are. And these aren’t even all the mental health disorders that one can possibly suffer from.

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Words of Wisdom

Some time passes and a celebrity commits suicide. You come across a swarm of Instagram stories, Facebook statuses
and tweets about how important mental health is, how important seeking therapy is, and how one should never
ever give up on themselves. Your friends post five stories and statuses a day talking about how it’s okay to seek
medical help for your depression or ADHD. Because how different is it from a physical injury or illness after all,
right? Their statuses ooze out irritation and wrath about how mental health needs to stop being a stigma or a taboo.
One fine day you take a leap and decide to meet a therapist. You call a friend or a close relative to help you out and
look for a good therapist out there who would be helpful. Or maybe you just call them to share how your therapy
session went. The result? One of the most hilarious and yet the most demeaning responses – ‘Why do you need to
go to a therapist? Just pay me, I’ll happily listen to you blabber about all that’s wrong in your life.’ There are more of
such responses too. Like, ‘But what will everyone say? They’ll think you are crazy. That’s why you are going to a
psychologist or psychiatrist’, and ‘Get it together man! Life is difficult for everyone. We can’t all be visiting
psychologists right?’. But actually, why not? If we all can go to the general physician for flu, cough and cold, why
can’t we all, at some point in our lives, visit a psychologist if that is what we feel the need for? Indeed, these are
some of the responses that people suffering from mental health problems receive when they come forward and
‘talk’ about their problems. It is for sure that anyone who has, at any time, dealt with depression, anxiety or some
other mental health issue, is absolutely rolling their eyes again reading about such responses because they have all
heard it before. Even those who are blessed with the most amazing parents or spouse or children or friends who
supported them in their journey of battling with mental health, have heard these at least once.

‘Talking’ about mental health issues does not just stop here. There are still endless taboos or hush actions that one
has to experience in their battle. These could include questions or statements about how a psychologist cannot
actually help because you only have to work on yourself; or about how it has been too long for someone in therapy
and it’s high time that they get over their trauma. Some go on to question how people talking about mental illnesses
may be seeking sympathy. They say, ‘Why do you have to discuss your situation on social media? Do you want
people to sympathise with you? Why can’t you get better without creating so much noise about it?’ Someone who
suffers through a bad break up and seeks help is told how they should ‘chill’ because ‘It was just a girl/guy! There’ll
always be another one’. Then there are those who question the strength of one’s mind and emotions because how
weak you must be for needing someone else’s help to feel better, right? People who feel demotivated and
humiliated by their parents are told, ‘Parents are like that only. What if they said something absolutely rude and
condescending that no one should ever say to their kids? They mean well at least.’

The paradox of ‘talking’ about mental health is indeed met with such responses as quick as lightning. And the more
those who suffer talk about their suffering, the more they come across these questions, statements and responses.
Let’s not get it wrong! There are indeed people who genuinely and unconditionally support their friends, peers and
family members in dealing with and coming out of depression and anxiety. They hold their hand through a panic
attack and let them stay home when a dinner party seems too much to handle. They send them positive affirmations
about life, about how they are not alone and how it is okay for them to lay low for some time. They even talk their
friends out of suicidal thoughts. But honestly, such people are rare. Increasing every day, yet rare!

The question still is, ‘Are we really talking about mental health?’ The answer largely seems to be a big fat NO! We
aren’t talking about mental health. We aren’t talking about what depression, anxiety or bipolar disorders feel like.
We’re just talking about an ideal world where we all understand mental health in all its glory, while acting like we
care about something that we actually don’t care about. It seems that mental health issues are just one of those
trends that pop-up very often and everyone wants to ride the bus of ‘being understanding and empathetic’; without
actually wanting to learn or willingly understand even one ounce of what it is like to experience a never-passing
feeling of an impending doom or wanting to stay locked up in a dark room for days. We don’t want to learn what
we should actually say or do in support of a friend who experienced a panic attack just yesterday. And even those
of us who are willing, just sometimes find it difficult to understand what is being expected from us in terms of
support. We are not talking about mental health and extending support, because support is supposed to help and
what we give in the real life is the opposite of it. What we are talking about is the faux understanding of everything
to do with mental health.

Page 67

Featured Release of the Month

The Midas Touch: 99 Pages To Acquire The
Art Of Alchemy & Forge Champions
-by Dr. Sheetal Nair

Amazon Ratings 4.0 out of 5 stars

Book Review by Bhuvanashree Manjunath

Great insight
The book mainly talks about inspiring topics in order to achieve dreams and build in good leadership qualities. It is
complete guide about learning leadership skills. The book comes with many theories related and some real life
examples. Though I have read many non-fictional books, I haven’t come across something helpful like this one.
The book holds 22 chapters well equipped with techniques that helps us in development. A lot of Vedic & Greco-Roman
cultural influence is found in this book. The author discusses about leadership, how it should be, what makes a good
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leader can lead to best teamwork but this book helps us become good leader. This is not like a usual self-help book or
some personal development one it’s more like a practical guide. Author in this book has said that even he has followed
spiritual thinker’s way in order to achieve his dreams. Skills are more essential in any fields and this book shows us the
way to learn skills of our comfort.
The title is in reference with the name of king Midas who used his mind power to turn his dreams true. The cover gives
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Recommended to nonfiction readers and a must read to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Page 68

Featured Release of the Month

You Never Know: Sometimes Love Can
Drag You through Hell…
-by Akash Verma

Amazon Ratings 3.8 out of 5 stars

` There will be times when you feel you have the best relationship, ever . . .
There will be times when it will be the worst that has happened to you
There will be times when you know you are getting into something
horrible, something that will not stop till it destroys you,
And yet . . .
You are pulled so inextricably, unstoppably . . .
She was my true love, I knew that. So despite being married and having
children, I still went ahead with our affair. I hid it from my wife and colleagues.
I told lies so I could be with her-it was that amazing! But I couldn't hide from the
dark truth she was keeping. It pulled me into a vortex of danger so deep that I
lost all I had. It happened to me and if you think it won't happen to you-think
again.

Book Review by -Reviewer.21:

You never know
You never know by Akash Verma is a romantic thriller novel that revolves around the life of Dhruv, his wife Shalini
and his extra-marital affair with Anuradha. Despite being married to Shalini he falls in love with Anuradha but at that
time he didn't know he is going to get himself into trouble.
After reading the blurb I was excited to read this book as I wanted to know what will happen to the love triangle but
there was nothing in the book which I expected. The story was totally different and interesting. Though I didn't like
the characters having an extra-marital affair. The book starts with a thrilling scene which was enough to give chills.
The book has some scenes which are common in every romance novel and I love them every time I read. The
protagonist has to face many obstacles when the past of his girlfriend comes face to face with him. What happens in
the story? I won't reveal because it will spoil the fun. Read the book to know what will happen to this love triangle?
The best thing I like about this novel was its bold cover. It is in red shades and is enough to attract readers. I liked the
tagline on the front which says.
"Sometimes love can drag you through hell"
Which is very appropriate according to the story. The title "You never know" also goes with the theme of the story. The
book has suspense, romance, thrill, drama, almost all the elements which are necessary for a novel to become
interesting read.

Page 69

Featured Release of the Month

MARS, LOVE AND BREAKUP:
Manned Mission to Mars
- by PRAVIN ANAND

Amazon Ratings 4.1 out of 5 stars

About Book:

Four persons , two male and two female of different nationalities travelled into the Mars shuttle. No human still
reached at Mars.These four took the risk to go to strange planet Mars and that also in 50 days.
No one can stay for a very long time in space due to lots of dangers. Thes four also faced lots of dangers like
space dust,solar effects,meteorites and black hole in their way. During this dangerous journey they also shared
their love stories.
How they left their loved ones to travel into the Mars shuttle? How they came out of danger of space dust,
meteorite and massive black hole? Have they reached on Mars in the targeted 50 days? Author narrated
everything very dramatically, with the dilemma between human behavior and science and technology.

Book Review by Nikhil Pahanpate:

Everything about this book fascinates me, and I suppose every space fan too. The insights of space and time will
generate a lot of information to people that can promote the same passion for space science.
Author have great knowledge of different culture, people and places. He also has described all the emotions
and feelings in simple and easy language. The book is long but can be easily completed within 8 to 10 hours of
sitting.

Page 70

International Book Review

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

About Book:

This is the fourth Murakami-book I've read so far (counting the 1Q81 triology as one), and it did not
disappoint. I can be a bit random when it comes to what I read, but Murakami just seems to have hit
home. I both devour and slowly chew up these books. Rushing through the pages to find out what
happens next, at the same time as I take my time to enjoy the (what someone might call mundane)
descriptions about listening to the wind, making food and staring up into the sky.
The story is enthralling but also entangling. A bit chaotic before I got used to it, though it does not
feel as "staccato" as the POV shifting between Tengo and Aomame in 1Q84. There are a lot of
mysteries at once in this book, and we only get a clear explanation or answer to some of them. Some
might hate that fact, while I'm getting used to it now (in terms of reading Murakami).
This book was very bizarre and weird, but I can deal with weird, so that's not an issue for me. I
reckon this book first and foremost hit home with fans of the writer, but it might also be worth
checking out if you like sci-fi/fantasy/bizarre mixed with day-to-day problems and happenings, but
have yet to check out this amazing author.
I have no idea how Murakami does it, but to me he is a genius and a master of words. I'm happy with
the english translation, and in general the translation of this book, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and
After Dark surpass the translation of 1Q84. The latter having an insane amount of a few, selected
words. At least everything isn't taciturn or lopsided in Kafka on the Shore, and thank god for that.

Page 71

Poetic Beauties by Bhavesh Pant

Page 72

Poetic Beauties by Bhavesh Pant

Page 73

Top 5 Picks for the Month

Mad Money Journey: A Financial Adventure is a book that deals with the financial emancipation of an average joe. It
is a story filled with adventure and mystery that delves into the very soul of the relationship between man and
money.
John Pinto, a man tired of his middle-class money-draining life, decides to end it all and walks in the path of
oncoming traffic. He almost succeeds in taking his own life but through the quirk of fate he is saved. After being
saved, he starts his financial study tour across the world. As he travels around the world, he has many encounters,
some exotic, some shocking and some dangerous. Through these encounters he understands the true meaning of
being financially independent.
Life, the best teacher of all, introduces John Pinto to people who truly live a life of financial freedom. He meets some
very interesting people who have imbibed the commandments of financial freedom and are leading a risk free life (in
terms of money). He meets his financial gurus in the strangest of ways. Some of his gurus include Afghani terrorists,
Kenyan marathon runners, Chinese mystics, Bangkok prostitutes and other interesting personalities. Each person he
meets on his incredible journey is insightful on how to have a good relationship with one's money. to achieve true
financial freedom, John Pinto has to face a lot of hardships. In his crazy adventure, he finds his monetary teachers in
the most unexpected of ways and in the end of his mission he finds monetary rewards.
Mad Money Journey: A Financial Adventure is a beautifully written book about how to secure a financially
independent and secure life. The book imparts these valuable lessons in the form of a story. Mad Money Journey: A
Financial Adventure was published by Jaico Publishing House in the year 2014 in paperback. It has 260 pages and is
in English.

Mad Money Journey: A Financial Adventure
-by Mehrab Irani

Amazon Ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars

Page 74

Top 5 Picks for the Month

Jeeva, a 14-year-old teenager, lies on her death bed. A girl, who never felt the love and warmth of her dad in her entire
life, is now waiting to embrace death. A girl, for whom the entire world until today was her mother, is meeting her
dad “Aryan” for the first time.
Aryan is a 37-year-old unsuccessful writer, who is still heedful of his ambitions to taste success in life. When Jeeva
desires to know what life is, Aryan takes up the task to narrate the story of Life in an hour.
Will Jeeva survive? What does she learn about Life?
Read the Hour of Life to find out.
Get ready to embark on a Journey of Life together.
Dhruthik Shankar is an IT professional who is a writer by passion. His first book : “Love or Hate: The Dilemma in her
heart” released in 2017. He is the Creative Head of “E-Brew” a bi-monthly magazine through which he encourages
people to showcase their writing and talents. He was recently awarded as “Author of the Year-2019” and “Voice of
Indian Literature” by Ne8x Lit Fest for his contributions to Literary industry. He was also featured as the “Author of
Month” by Poets of Bangalore.

The Hour of Life -by Dhruthik Shankar
Amazon Ratings 4.4 out of 5 stars

Page 75

Top 5 Picks for the Month

Swasthi’s idyllic childhood in a rustic island village has been a medley of memorable experiences, colourful temple
festivals, grandmother’s delicious snacks and stories of enchanting invisible steps and a silent banyan tree. But life
takes Swasthi away from the only love she has ever known, and when time threatens to destroy that way of life, she
has no choice but to return and to rise to the challenge of safeguarding all that she considers sacred.
Creating a new definition to her home, she captures the lost notes of a forgotten lifestyle and presents it to a new
audience. But over time, beyond the tall coconut orchards and the green paddy fields surrounding her, there are
many destinies that await her. Set in God’s own country, Kerala, The Boat Song celebrates the eternal charm of this
magical state, a mythical and poetic ode to its enchanting character.

The Boat Song-by Smitha Vasudevan
Amazon Ratings 4.3 out of 5 stars

Page 76

Top 5 Picks for the Month

It is a widely acclaimed book by Benjamin Graham on value investing. Written by one of the greatest investment
advisers of twentieth century, the book aims at preventing potential investors from substantial errors and also teaches
them strategies to achieve long-term investment goals.
Over the years, investment market has been following teachings and strategies of Graham for growth and
development. In the book, Graham has explained various principles and strategies for investing safely and
successfully without taking bigger risks. Modern-day investors still continue to use his proven and well-executed
techniques for value investment.
The current edition highlights some of the important concepts that are useful for latest financial orders and plans.
Keeping Graham's unique text in original form, the book focuses on major principles that can be applied in day-to-day
life. All the concepts and principles are explained with the help of examples for better clarity and understanding of the
financial world.
Combination of original plan of Graham and the current financial situations are the reason behind this book’s
preference today’s investors. It is a detailed version with several wisdom quotes that are likely to change one’s
investing career and lead to the path of financial safety and security.

The Intelligent Investor -by Benjamin Graham
Amazon Ratings 4.4 out of 5 stars

Page 77

Top 5 Picks for the Month

When two Genetics scientists, Chad and Friedrich reach a dead-end in their cross-species experiment at a premier
Molecular Genetics Institute in Berlin, they look to the mystical East for answers. Here, in the lap of a timeless
civilization, they find a fellow seeker in historian Geeta. Together, the trio begin a thrilling odyssey of discovery,
which spans continents and cultures, challenges life-long religious and scientific truths and puts their lives in
grave danger.
They are horrified to learn that they are mere puppets, their fate controlled by an all-seeing sinister villain, who
yearns to “cleanse” the world and create a new order. As they connect the dots, they join forces with an Afghan
professor, a British archaeologist and an American General.
Finally, a mind-bending, unpredictable climax which stuns the world’s brightest minds… Even as it answers
many questions, it throws up new ones. Based on two years of research, The Evolution Cradle is an
unputdownable book, which blurs the lines between reality and imagination, ancient and modern, fact and faith.
Breathless in its pace, the rollercoaster narrative is packed with non-stop action, escapes and chases, thrills and
chills, and edge-of-the-seat twists and turns. It continues to haunt the reader long after the last page is turned.

Evolution Cradle: The Aryan Origin
-by Dr. Charith Venkat Pidikiti
Amazon Ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars

Page 78

Awardees of the Indian Literary Awards, 2020

`

Page 79

#Edition: 2
Issue: 3

The
Biblograph

The Other Side of Literature

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– Leonardo Da Vinci

Magazine Compiled and Edited by: Miss Tushti Bhatia