An engineer by profession, Soumitro Chatterjee, was born and brought up in Dhanbad. He was selected by undivided Bihar Government for represent the state in All India National Children Science Congress Contest when he was in class 7. Currently Soumitro works in an IT MNC in Delhi. He is actively associated with an NGO which caters education for slum area kids in Noida. Along with writing he loves to explore new places, listening music, and interacting with peoples. “I Am Still Committed” is Soumitro Chatterjee’s debut novel.
We at Spectralhues got in touch with the author. In a candid interview with Susmita Bose, he tells about his book, expectation and life.
Q. Congratulations for your debut novel “I Am Still Committed… as hopes are yet to die”. Tell us briefly about the book…
Ans:-Thank you very much! My debut novel is all about my own journey that covers all ups & down, success and failure, gain and pain which any individual can connect who have ever been to college.
Q. Are you tensed, as your first novel is about to come in the market?
Ans:- Frankly speaking I am not tensed, I am excited, rather! Today when I look back 2 years ago, since I got transferred to Delhi and recall those sleepless nights, those torn pages of my diaries, I can see that untrodden dream finally turning into a reality.
Q. I have come to know that this story is based on your personal encounter in college? What makes you to write this particular story?
Ans:- Sometimes in your life you want to speak out many things, but due to some circumstances or responsibilities you have to keep your things aside. Something similar happened to me in my life. Some memories of past was dominating my present. I was not aware of my future; I picked up a pen and my old diary, and henceforth, never looked back.
Q. Any inspiration behind the story?
Ans:- I consider few successes and failures of my life are the inspiration behind this story. And moreover, I am thankful to the recession that hit the market in 2009, or else I would have never experienced those tough situations in my life!
Q. How was your experience with your publisher Srishti Publication?
Ans:- It’s being wonderful so far. Even before I started writing a single line for the novel, I had written my acknowledgement page and mentioned Srishti’s name there, without even being aware that they will consider me one day. I read one of their novel long back and therefore, always had their name at the back of my mind. For me they are not just a publisher, they have always stood as my mentor and a guiding star.
Q. What kind of response you are expecting from the readers? Any target viewership in mind?
Ans:- To be very honest, I have not set any target while writing this novel. It is one such that it can be handed over to my parents, to my siblings and friends. If I can do that anyone else can also do that and I feel if I am able to connect my story to the readers, I am sure I will be able to connect millions of heart too!
Q. The title is very interesting. How did you hit upon it?
Ans:- Thank you for the appreciation. Well, initially this was not the title. My publisher has, I guess rejected some 10-12 titles before finalizing this one. Somehow I wanted to give a title which goes along with my story. Hence, the title “I Am Still Committed” struck me one day suddenly while I was in the loo, but the tag line “as hopes are yet to die” was adorned by my elder brother Subir Chatterjee.
Soumitro Chatterjee
Q. Tell us about your journey from Dhanbad to Delhi?
Ans:- Delhi, have always being my second home since childhood. Both Delhi and Dhanbad have welcomed me every time with open arms, no matter I returned back as a looser or winner. So, even if the journey was long, it itself was an interesting one and offered me a lot to talk about each of them I encountered these cities. One such journey plays a vital role in my novel too.
Q. How do you manage time to write from your busy schedule?
Ans:- Who said I am busy? I am always free. Jokes apart. Yes, sometimes keeping a balance between my professional life, my social work at Prayas and writing becomes tough. But at the end of day, I presume, this job earns my livelihood, the social work defines my responsibility and writing is my passion. Hence I cannot intermix these with one another ever.They are the reason of my happiness.
Q. What kind of support you are getting?
Ans:- My strength is my family, my colleagues and my friends (few whom I have got through facebook). And frankly speaking each of them have given me a tremendous support in every possible way, be it it be by sharing, appreciating or providing me with their valuable feedback.
Q. To whom you want to dedicate this book?
Ans:- In my 25 years of age, I haven’t done anything significant for my parents. So I want to dedicate this book to my ‘Dad & Mom
Q. Which book is close to your heart?
Ans:-To be very honest, I am poor in reading books . I was aware there will be questions like this, and I should have taken few names but still I find my Class-12 Hindi poem book close to my heart, which has some amazing collection of poetries of H.R.Bacchan, Makhan Lal Chaturvedi, Mahadevi Verma among others.
Q. Any suggestion for the aspiring authors?
Ans:-I have heard many a times people saying me,’ O’ Nooo! another book on college life’! , few even said I might represent another Chetan Bhagat. I have always smiled on such comments. I don’t know where I land up being an Author, but for all the aspiring Authors I would say believe in yourself, don’t follow others… The way which someone else have chosen might not lead us to the same destiny…follow your own path and give 100% , surely there will be a new fate set by you . And always say “Yes I can”!!!
Q. Tell us something about your future plans?
Ans:- I dream a lot , infact dreams precede my existence. There are few plans that I want to keep within myself for the time being. But yes, over the years I want to learn from each individual, I want to do better with each passing day, and I want to add more smile in people’s life with each growing age of mine.
Q. Any message for readers who would buy your books.
Ans:- First of all anyone who wants to buy my book, I would convey my thanks to them not only because they would spent 100 bucks for the book, but because one such reader would henceforth become a part of my life’s journey, with whom I too would reconnect in return, and most importantly, if I feel I can connect or add any value in their life though my pen, I would consider that I have done my bit as a writer. I will surely look ahead for their reviews & suggestions/feedbacks upon which I will try to work on.
Many thanks to Spectralhues for giving me this platform to speak few more words to the world. Thank you!
That was Soumitro Chatterjee! The aspiring young author is very excited as his debut novel “Am Still Committed” is releasing and about to hit the market. Soumitro is anxious to get responses across book lovers in India. Spectralhues is wishing him all the very best for his future endeavors.
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