Profession or passion?

Saamia with Durjoy Dutta

Is writing just another job?

This question has been haunting me every since I met Durjoy Datta, one of the most popular contemporary Indian authors, during the recently-held Sharjah International Book Fair.

Interacting with the audience at one of the sessions, the celebrated author said, “I never had a writer’s block because I used to write something every day. Writing is just another job.”

Since then, I have been trying hard to convince myself that yes, writing is just another job, but failed. I remembered how often I had writer’s block and failed to find a cure for it.

However, I liked his opinion of developing a habit of writing something every day, as it would be helpful for all those who wish to become a good writer.

I remember a quote, “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

Similarly, until and unless one starts to write he cannot understand what is useful for writing and what is not and what tricks are to be applied in a good piece of work.

But I do not think that writing is just another job. One is sometimes forced by others to complete their job, but no one can force you to write. The passion for writing comes from within and not by force.

If the writer does not have an interest in writing, the reader too shall lose the interest. Thus I feel that writing can be just another job only for those who are forced to write to earn their livelihood, not for those who have the passion for writing.

In other words, it can be a job for those who have adopted writing for commercial purposes. This is very much reflected in the recent trend of people leaving their lucrative jobs for writing books, mainly fiction, but failed to leave a lasting impression on the reader’s mind.

(Published in The Gulf Today on November 21, 2015)

Bitten by the book bug

The majestic Sharjah International Book Fair is the best place for book lovers in the UAE. Literary celebrities from all over the world gather here in order to promote reading and also to inspire book lovers to go the extra mile.

During one of my visits, I met the famous Indian author, Durjoy Dutta. I was very pleased and considered myself lucky when I got a photo clicked with him. I was surprised to know that his first book was published when he was just 21 years old and he has written 11 books till now.

During one of his sessions at the book fair, Durjoy Dutta told the audience that he used to read something before sleeping. First it was a responsibility but later it became an addiction.

“Everyone must read a lot of books. My parents were also very encouraging and never stopped me from reading,” he said.

I realised that parents have the responsibility to inculcate the love for reading in a child. 

And it is quite common to see nowadays parents as well as the school faculty encourage children to develop the habit of reading good books. Reading is slowly developing as a hobby among youngsters.

I was thrilled to see a large number of young book lovers touring the stalls looking for titles that appeal them.

But I noticed something that put me off. Some of them were desperate to buy books of their choice but unfortunately couldn’t do so as their parents were not interested in books. 

I saw many of them bargaining for more discounts as they had very limited amount with  them. After befriending one of them, I came to know that their parents thought buying books was a waste of money. They were told to read books online instead.

Being a book lover, I know that smartphones are distractions. Although, you can buy eBooks, holding a smartphone you may start playing a game or chatting with your friends. On the contrary, while you have a book in your hand, it will attract you to the characters and their situation.

Durjoy Dutta was right when he said that the reading habit was declining. He felt that the main reason was the coming up of mobile phones.

(Published in The Gulf Today on November 14, 2015)

Party animals

Youngsters have added a new item in their hobby list that is going out with friends. Nowadays, everyone seems to be going out with their friends for some reason or the other. 

Someone gives a birthday treat, while others just go for hangouts with their best friends. But I have often seen people forcing others to give them a treat. If someone doesn’t want to go along with them, they start pressuring them.

I often share with my cousins exciting things that happen during our hangouts or some treat. 

During one such chat, surprisingly everyone pointed out that the excitement turns into a headache if your friends keep forcing you to go out with them. 

Sharing her experience, one of my cousins said that she had decided not to celebrate her upcoming birthday with school friends. But her friends were so excited that they had even decided the venue and timings for their special treat two weeks in advance.

On her birthday, they paid a surprise visit to her house. Ultimately, she had to go as they were not ready to leave her. The result was that she couldn’t enjoy the treat well and felt it was a waste of time.

Sometimes, people get so crazy about something that they forget what impression they are putting about themselves. I hope they realise this and stop making such mistakes.

(Published in The Gulf Today on November 7, 2015)

Scary souls

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

Halloween is the yearly celebration usually observed on Oct.31 in the West to remember the dead. 

However, it has now become a popular culture and is celebrated all over the world, albeit for a different reason. Usually people participate in Halloween celebrations as a way to have fun and teach children to explore their imagination.

Once on a Halloween, I came to know that one of my cousins was scared of ghosts. So her sister and I together planned to scare her. One night, we switched off the main power supply. Then we went to scare her. She was frightened a lot. 

After switching on the power supply, we went back to her. She narrated to us how two ghosts came and she got frightened. We had a hearty laugh together after revealing the truth.

But there are many superstitious people who believe that ghosts are real. A few days back, my cousin sister narrated an incident. She and her friend were watching horror movies on a hot and humid afternoon. They were alone in the house.

In the movie, it was shown that ghosts resided mostly in mirrors and that they didn’t have any reflections.

Just then the doorbell rang. My cousin went to open the door. Suddenly there was a scream and my cousin rushed back to see what had happened. The friend was frightened, as she couldn’t see her reflection in the mirror.

My cousin laughed and then explained that she couldn’t see her reflection due to the sunlight reflected in the mirror. After the windows were closed, her reflection was clear in the mirror.

I think it is foolish to believe in ghosts. I hope that along with time, this belief also changes.

(Published in The Gulf Today on October 31, 2015)

Heart of gold

Living a luxurious life outside India often makes us (the NRIs) forget the pitiable condition of a section of our fellow citizens of India.

During my recent visit to India, I met one of my cousins, who was visiting India after a long gap. She was surprised to find beggars almost in every village, town and city, because in the Gulf countries begging is banned.

But she was glad to help the unfortunate ones of the society and said that they accepted with grace whatever she gave them. However, she got irritated when a group of beggars followed her as she came out of a holy place.

“The situation was such that we had to give money to them just to get rid of them and not out of pity,” she said.

Another cousin told her that she cannot generalise.

Recalling her experience, she said that once she and her friends went out cycling together. They were so much engaged in chatting that they failed to realise that they had come out of the city. Suddenly my cousin’s cycle hit a person sitting off the street.

As she went to apologise, she found out that he was very friendly and even shook hands with her. 

But later when she reached home, she realised that she had lost her gold ring. She thought that the person who shook hands with her must have cleverly slipped off the precious ring from her hand.

After a few weeks again she went out riding her bicycle. Suddenly she collided with another cycle and fell unconscious. When she regained her consciousness, she found herself in a hospital. She was told that a very poor man helped her.

She realised that it was the same person whom she had hit earlier, and assumed that he would have stolen her gold ring. She was embarrassed thinking that a man with a heart of gold cannot steal a gold ring.

It is rightly said that only a few people do wrong things and others just suffer the consequences.

(Published in The Gulf Today on October 24, 2015)