An Exclusive Interview with Manoj Kumar Sharma

About the Author:
Manoj Kumar Sharma spent 31 years in MNCs before transitioning into a full-time author.
Hailing from Thane, Maharashtra, his life’s journey has been filled with twists and turns — much like his thought-provoking fiction. Known for challenging outdated norms, Manoj’s books such as MIRRRO, Me No Pause, Me Play, and Hi God, How Are You have earned him several top literary honors. For him, writing is a soulful act, guided by creativity and a deeper calling.

TLT: Your journey from a corporate professional to a best-selling author is inspiring. What inspired your foray into the world of writing, and how did you manage to produce such a diverse body of work — four distinct books in such a remarkably short time?

Manoj Kumar: As I mentioned earlier, it was not a sudden move. Like many, writing was my childhood aspiration, which couldn’t materialize for many, many years—until my early retirement. Diverse observations and experiences throughout my professional life seem to have found their way into the works I’ve published so far. And this will continue further.

TLT: Your latest title, “Hi God How Are You?” presents a dialogue between a specially-abled child and God. What inspired you to create such a unique and thought-provoking narrative?

Manoj Kumar: If we introspect ourselves through the lens of any philosophy, faith, or religion, we find that we are taught to connect with the Almighty through prayers and various forms of worship, which ultimately converge into expecting blessings. Never has any faith or religion encouraged us to ask God about His own well-being.

If you refer to visuals on TV, media, or social media where statues and temples of God are drowned in floodwaters, Gods in temples are isolated behind locked doors during COVID lockdowns, or Hindu Gods and temples are targeted and destroyed by radical miscreants due to misguided religious animosity people mostly remained silent, not bothered about God’s suffering.

One fine day, all these observations triggered the phrase “Hi God How Are You?”an emotionally abnormal evocation. In this story, the specially-abled child perceives God the Almighty superpower as someone like a near and dear one. Such emotions for God are hard to imagine for a normal person. The rare ailment behind the protagonist’s condition influences erratic psychological turmoils and mood swings, leading to raw, pure, and innocent interactions with God something that rarely exists in today’s life.

TLT: The book explores deep themes like morality, politics, and societal concerns. What key message do you hope readers take away from this story?

Manoj Kumar: The “Wake-up Call” “Wake up Indians, Wake up” and “Wake up World, Wake up” could be considered the key message for readers, as it holistically covers all aspects intrinsically connected to today’s life around the globe.

TLT: Innocence plays a major role in the book’s storytelling. How do you think viewing the world through the eyes of a child changes how we understand complex issues?

Manoj Kumar: We’ve all gone through childhood, which only comes once in a lifetime and somehow lays the foundation for the rest of it. As we age, many of us still feel the same child inside a version of ourselves that is not only purely innocent but perhaps the best version of who we are, far removed from the unnecessarily hyped complexities of life. Sometimes, children are better problem solvers because they are not yet influenced by the notions of “impossible,” “negativity,” or “discrimination.” As the old saying goes: More analysis leads to paralysis.

TLT: Many of your works break social norms to advocate for change. What societal issues did you feel most compelled to address in this book?

Manoj Kumar: I believe all societal issues are equally important and have been prudently addressed in this book, including:

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (a deeply rooted concern in our lives)
The relationship between humans and God and its repercussions
Caring for specially-abled children and people
The influence of mobile phones, electronic gadgets, and social media on our lives
Improvements in the implementation of the Right to Education
Improvements in the implementation of the Right to Health for children and adults
The need for out-of-the-box solutions for ever-growing inflation
The need for out-of-the-box solutions to persistent problems faced by farmers
Malnutrition
Unemployment
Corruption
Terrorism
Crime
Crime against women
Pollution
Global warming
Intolerance in social behavior
Wars constant conflicts disrupting global peace and growth
Democracy how it has become polluted in India and elsewhere; abuse of democracy is becoming the norm and needs correction
Secularism India’s ancient concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam taught true secularism thousands of years ago, unlike today’s pseudo-secularism used by desperate politicians to retain vote banks
Religious animosity, particularly Hindu-Muslim conflicts, and the aspirational expansionism of certain ideologies like “Ghazwa-e-Hind”
Mobocracy, such as stone-pelting, destruction of public/government property, and mob lynching
Vote-bank politics

TLT: You have received numerous awards for your writing. How has this recognition influenced your approach to storytelling?

Manoj Kumar: Not too much. Awards just serve as morale boosters, like stimulators that enhance dopamine. While writing, the author in me is far removed from materialistic things and is deeply submerged in an emotional whirlpool.

TLT: Your stories often feature ‘out-of-the-box’ solutions. Can you share an example from “Hi God How Are You?” where you challenge conventional wisdom?

Manoj Kumar: I think the title itself and the entire story comprehensively sets a significant challenge to conventional wisdom. The more you read, the more questions and answers you’ll find that challenge traditional thinking.

TLT: How do you think fiction can contribute to real societal change? Do you see your books as a tool for inspiring discussions?

Manoj Kumar: Fiction has always laid the path for real-life innovations and changes. Once, people only imagined traveling to space, the Moon, and other planets now it’s happening. Once, people only dreamt of portable calling devices now we have smartphones serving countless functions. Many ideas initially started as fiction but later became reality. Similarly, modern fiction can contribute to societal change. It depends on how effectively we pursue it.

Yes, I do see my books as tools to inspire discussion. I would truly appreciate it if you, Criticspace, could seriously work towards facilitating such dialogues.

TLT: Your books span various themes and genres. How does “Hi God How Are You?” compare to your previous works in terms of style and message?

Manoj Kumar: In terms of style, this book is a fusion of prose and verse, maintaining a harmonious sync to deliver a unified message. It connects the dots through new-age technology while conveying the seriousness of painful societal issues and the urgent need for solutions so that we can leave behind a better, more livable world for future generations. The guileless behavior toward God assuming Him to be like a close family member sets a unique tone.

Though categorized under contemporary fiction, the story tangentially touches upon several other genres.

The central message is the “Wake-up call,” which inclusively and comprehensively covers a 360° spectrum of other messages.

TLT: What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing this book, and how did you overcome it? Also, what’s next for you as an author? Are you working on any new projects that readers can look forward to?

Manoj Kumar: The biggest challenge was preserving the sanctity of the title. The phrase “Hi God How Are You?” though my own creation sounded uniquely peculiar and strangely odd. It was difficult to imagine a story scenario where every element could co-exist with such a title. I initially worked on 3–4 ideas that came to mind one after another, but none of them seemed logically convincing, even for a work of fiction. After much struggle, one fine day, the character of Fairy was born, and her mysterious life unfolded into the story it eventually became. As of now, I intend to continue writing novels for as long as I can. There are a few projects in the pipeline: