Continuing my passion for blogging and at the same time keeping my promise of introducing new dreamers who took actions to make their dream a reality here is another maverick who chose road less traveled. A successful professional and now a published author Dr. Vivek has shown that it can be done and can be done with gusto.
Here is the excerpt of the ten questions we asked from him about his work, life and passion,
Q: You started as a blogger and then turned into an author. How and why you decided to chart this unheralded journey of writing your own book?
A: My blogging is a manifestation of my desire to do something else besides my profession. The book developed from a long story I was doing on my blog. The involvement and encouragement from co-bloggers and readers on Rediff iLand was the motivation behind turning it into a book.
Q: What is the theme of your book and why you chose this particular title? Why don’t you tell us more about the story?
A: It is the story of five resident doctors from varied backgrounds who join post-graduation in Grant Medical College, Mumbai. The effect of the pressures of the profession on personal life of doctors constitutes the story. The mercurial romance between Sarika and Rahul and the consequences arising out of Sarika’s single minded perusal of academic and professional excellence is the main thread running through the story. The determined fight of Hina (another protagonist) to rise above the circumstances of her birth is another important aspect. There are a couple of more sub-plots involving the others.
The title ‘The Long Road’ is taken from the fact that in the medical profession, it takes a long time to finish your studies and studying to be a Doctor is akin to travelling on a long road. The title also signifies the journey undertaken by the various protagonists to achieve success and happiness in their lives.
Q: Since you published this book as a serial blog first and then wrote it in a book form so what do you think is the future of publishing- paper format or eBooks?
A: Blogging is an excellent medium of self expression but I so not foresee much of a future for eBooks in India for the next many years. The future still belongs to paper books (at least till we run out of paper).
Q: How you managed your time for writing and your profession?
A: Simple, at the cost of my sleep. The usual writing time was 11.00 PM to 3.00 AM (for two months.)
Q: “No man is an island” and true to this statement, there are a lot of people behind every accomplishment. Whom do you consider your biggest ally in your journey (and why)?
A: That is indeed a long list. I have already talked about my Rediff friends. I will like to mention Ms. C. Sinha, my English teacher and mentor from St. Aloysius High School, Kanpur for her constant encouragement and belief. I would also like to thank Jayantada (Jayanta Basu of Srishti Publication) for making me believe in myself and my script. I still treasure his encouraging emails on the subject. Many others have a major role and are mentioned in the long acknowledgement I have written in the book.
Q: How much of your book is inspired from your own life? Did you really face any of the circumstances described in the book in your real life? If yes, then which one of that?
A: The book is not autobiographical. In fact, I have never seen Grant Medical College, J J Hospital or much of Mumbai (where most of the book is based). Yes, the circumstances are familiar, not only to me but to most doctors who are feeling a very strong sense of connect with the book. But I am particularly happy that people from varied back-grounds and professions are identifying with the book and its characters.
Q: Nowadays marketing is more than a necessity than an option so it is imperative to ask that according to you how much affect a good marketing campaign has on a book’s success and what kind of initiatives you are taking for your book.
A: Marketing is a must but horribly expensive. I tried to rope in a P R firm for the project but could not afford it. Getting into mainstream print media seems to be almost impossible for a newcomer. At the moment, I am relying on my blogs, twitter and facebook. In due course of time, I hope, word of mouth publicity will bring me success. Ultimately, it is the reader who decides the fate of a book.
Q: What are your future plans in terms of writing? Do you intend to write books on this genre or juggle in any other genres also?
A: I wish to write a thriller next. Whether I can or not, only time will tell.
Q. What suggestions would you like to give budding authors?
A. Writing in India is not a profession. At the best, it is a hobby. In other words, it is imperative for you to have a profession or a source of income.
A writer must primarily write for him/her-self. Everything else comes later.
Q: On a parting note,what do you want to say to the readers of this blog and the readers of your book?
A: Thank you for your time and patience.
You can buy the book here.
That is all from my side this time
Happy reading
Ankit Uttam
Here is the excerpt of the ten questions we asked from him about his work, life and passion,
Q: You started as a blogger and then turned into an author. How and why you decided to chart this unheralded journey of writing your own book?
A: My blogging is a manifestation of my desire to do something else besides my profession. The book developed from a long story I was doing on my blog. The involvement and encouragement from co-bloggers and readers on Rediff iLand was the motivation behind turning it into a book.
Q: What is the theme of your book and why you chose this particular title? Why don’t you tell us more about the story?
A: It is the story of five resident doctors from varied backgrounds who join post-graduation in Grant Medical College, Mumbai. The effect of the pressures of the profession on personal life of doctors constitutes the story. The mercurial romance between Sarika and Rahul and the consequences arising out of Sarika’s single minded perusal of academic and professional excellence is the main thread running through the story. The determined fight of Hina (another protagonist) to rise above the circumstances of her birth is another important aspect. There are a couple of more sub-plots involving the others.
The title ‘The Long Road’ is taken from the fact that in the medical profession, it takes a long time to finish your studies and studying to be a Doctor is akin to travelling on a long road. The title also signifies the journey undertaken by the various protagonists to achieve success and happiness in their lives.
Q: Since you published this book as a serial blog first and then wrote it in a book form so what do you think is the future of publishing- paper format or eBooks?
A: Blogging is an excellent medium of self expression but I so not foresee much of a future for eBooks in India for the next many years. The future still belongs to paper books (at least till we run out of paper).
Q: How you managed your time for writing and your profession?
A: Simple, at the cost of my sleep. The usual writing time was 11.00 PM to 3.00 AM (for two months.)
Q: “No man is an island” and true to this statement, there are a lot of people behind every accomplishment. Whom do you consider your biggest ally in your journey (and why)?
A: That is indeed a long list. I have already talked about my Rediff friends. I will like to mention Ms. C. Sinha, my English teacher and mentor from St. Aloysius High School, Kanpur for her constant encouragement and belief. I would also like to thank Jayantada (Jayanta Basu of Srishti Publication) for making me believe in myself and my script. I still treasure his encouraging emails on the subject. Many others have a major role and are mentioned in the long acknowledgement I have written in the book.
Q: How much of your book is inspired from your own life? Did you really face any of the circumstances described in the book in your real life? If yes, then which one of that?
A: The book is not autobiographical. In fact, I have never seen Grant Medical College, J J Hospital or much of Mumbai (where most of the book is based). Yes, the circumstances are familiar, not only to me but to most doctors who are feeling a very strong sense of connect with the book. But I am particularly happy that people from varied back-grounds and professions are identifying with the book and its characters.
Q: Nowadays marketing is more than a necessity than an option so it is imperative to ask that according to you how much affect a good marketing campaign has on a book’s success and what kind of initiatives you are taking for your book.
A: Marketing is a must but horribly expensive. I tried to rope in a P R firm for the project but could not afford it. Getting into mainstream print media seems to be almost impossible for a newcomer. At the moment, I am relying on my blogs, twitter and facebook. In due course of time, I hope, word of mouth publicity will bring me success. Ultimately, it is the reader who decides the fate of a book.
Q: What are your future plans in terms of writing? Do you intend to write books on this genre or juggle in any other genres also?
A: I wish to write a thriller next. Whether I can or not, only time will tell.
Q. What suggestions would you like to give budding authors?
A. Writing in India is not a profession. At the best, it is a hobby. In other words, it is imperative for you to have a profession or a source of income.
A writer must primarily write for him/her-self. Everything else comes later.
Q: On a parting note,what do you want to say to the readers of this blog and the readers of your book?
A: Thank you for your time and patience.
You can buy the book here.
That is all from my side this time
Happy reading
Ankit Uttam
Synopsis of the book
This is the story of young doctors as they pursue post graduation in medical college and then make their way into the real world. In the tumult of everyday life, personal aspirations and professional goals get mired. Rahul and Sarika are in love right from their bachelor degree days but they keep fighting till a potentially fatal accident decides it for them. Hina, a young woman from the bylanes of Bhiwandi, finds the lifestyle of her co-students more difficult to adjust to than the academic challenges. Ranjiv, a rich kid turned rebel who would travel his own path rather than the one laid by his famous doctor dad. Sagarika, who finds her American dream shattered unexpectedly.
The Long Road explores the vulnerabilities of growing up of young doctors and the rigours of their studies. This tale handles with sensitivity the challenges of young doctors in the profession to the demands of a new India where old paradigms are fast crumbling. It also talks about the interpersonal relationships of doctors and hospital romance. The pressures of medical profession and its impact on the personal life of doctors are explored in the later part of the novel.
About the Author
"
A pediatrician by profession, Vivek Banerjee lives in Saharanpur with his parents, obstetrician wife and two children. The hectic schedules of his profession leave him with little leisure but he still finds time for his varied interests. An avid traveller, he has covered the length and breadth of the country in real life and the rest of the world in his imagination. A voracious reader, music lover, self-confessed geek and an amateur ornithologist, he would rather walk the road less travelled, given the time and opportunity. A Bengali by birth, he has grown up in various towns of North India and studied in many different schools and colleges. He started writing on Rediff blogs where he is known as Ben and went on to write this novel. He has also authored many short stories as a preparation for writing this novel.
"
This is the story of young doctors as they pursue post graduation in medical college and then make their way into the real world. In the tumult of everyday life, personal aspirations and professional goals get mired. Rahul and Sarika are in love right from their bachelor degree days but they keep fighting till a potentially fatal accident decides it for them. Hina, a young woman from the bylanes of Bhiwandi, finds the lifestyle of her co-students more difficult to adjust to than the academic challenges. Ranjiv, a rich kid turned rebel who would travel his own path rather than the one laid by his famous doctor dad. Sagarika, who finds her American dream shattered unexpectedly.
The Long Road explores the vulnerabilities of growing up of young doctors and the rigours of their studies. This tale handles with sensitivity the challenges of young doctors in the profession to the demands of a new India where old paradigms are fast crumbling. It also talks about the interpersonal relationships of doctors and hospital romance. The pressures of medical profession and its impact on the personal life of doctors are explored in the later part of the novel.
About the Author
"
A pediatrician by profession, Vivek Banerjee lives in Saharanpur with his parents, obstetrician wife and two children. The hectic schedules of his profession leave him with little leisure but he still finds time for his varied interests. An avid traveller, he has covered the length and breadth of the country in real life and the rest of the world in his imagination. A voracious reader, music lover, self-confessed geek and an amateur ornithologist, he would rather walk the road less travelled, given the time and opportunity. A Bengali by birth, he has grown up in various towns of North India and studied in many different schools and colleges. He started writing on Rediff blogs where he is known as Ben and went on to write this novel. He has also authored many short stories as a preparation for writing this novel.
"
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