Could you talk about your career journey in writing?
My journey in writing started with writing a diary when my father used to bring back diaries from his office. In 1989 when I moved from Patna to Pune we had a Remington typewriter. I started typing articles which got published in the Indian Express. They would give topics like ‘Write about your mother’. They would pay for this 100, 150 Rs. Life went on, my children got married. My writing career began again slowly during the covid time. At this time, there started a platform called Momexpresso. Typically, here the stories would be 100 words, 300 words, 500 words. It was my main time to write. Unfortunately, the platform closed down in 2023. I was on a poor digital model then. I thought I had saved everything, but I lost all my writing. Everything was gone. Being a psychology student, and trying to find a solution I created a group for MomExpresso. I started writing again for TMC – The Momma Clan run by Harshita Udani. We would give writing goals – 600 words, one line, self prompts etc. I soon had content ready for a book. Being a teacher, I wrote small small stories. Harsita Udani, was also a publisher and she asked, ‘when do you want to publish?’ I decide to publish for my 75th Birthday in June. Harshita got all the illustrations made. The book got published and 80-85 copies sold. I also donated 15 copies. One of the schools, bought five copies for the library. I have published in 4 anthologies. I want to slow down. But maybe I will surprise people with new writing next year.
Could you talk about your knowledge system? Your value system?
As I grew up I saw my mother and grandmother – how they took care of my family. My values are very simple. When someone is distressed, I try to help them. I do my duty. God has given a lot to us – two times to eat, a home to stay. God has made us all different from each other so that we can all learn from each other. We often crib about everything. In winter about the cold, in summers about the heat. We keep cribbing. This is not good. My philosophy is to be good to everyone.
Life is too competitive these days. Children are expected to get 99 or 100 out of 100, sometimes even 110 out of hundred. Even 60% children are doing well. When I was teacher, I used say just as we have five fingers, all useful, all different, we have to learn to accept difference in children too.
Story Practices 