Dream – Chaos And Beyond

Akhila Saroha: I would like to begin by congratulating you on the publication of “Dream: Chaos and Beyond”. How has the response to the book been so far?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: Thank you so much! I haven’t looked at the numbers yet, but people are calling and messaging me that the book is great. They haven’t read this kind of work in a long time. They are saying, they can feel, Nandu’s(The Main character) ups and downs, they want him to be successful in his life,  they can relate to him on a personal level, and once they finish the book, the book leaves them in a certain way. The feeling of the story doesn’t go so easily. They are in that ‘awe zone’. They keep thinking about it and that’s they messaging me. So I think it’s a good response for any writer that a reader can feel the book on a personal level.

Akhila Saroha: What led to the idea of writing of such a strong and heart wrenching issue? Were there any events that inspired the work?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: So I play guitar a little bit, just for myself, and I used to teach it. At that time, one of my students was a principle. He was a principle of M.G. convent school, Bareilly. So he was in his fifties, I guess. And in one conversation, he told me that he always wanted to play the guitar, but because of situations, he couldn’t. And now he is learning it because he has money and time. And at that time, I had completed a story, which is called, Meera. And I was searching for an idea.  Then a thought came into my mind that how much love and passion he would have in his younger days that the wish didn’t fade away and he still has the heart to pursue it. So I thought, for a story, this is going too well. I have to make changes. So I thought what if I just flip the situation that he is running a school successfully and he has lots of money and everything is going fine but what would be the situation of the person who wouldn’t have any of this and still wants to pursue his dream. So from this, I created the whole story.

And I If talk about the events, there are one or two incidents where I took the direct inspiration and rest I created it thinking, why would he not able to do in his childhood, what would be the situations around him when he would be in his twenties, why would he keep pushing his aim, etc.

Akhila Saroha: Do you know any Nandu who has gone through the same circumstances as you have described in the book?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: No. Not personally. But I’m sure that there will be because I see some parts of Nandu in everyone. People are dying to pursue what they love but they are trapped like Nandu.

Akhila Saroha: What are your views about the present day writing? Do you think it does complete justice to the different classes and social groups of the society?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: Well, I don’t read much through books. I observe people. Whether a person is poor or rich, it doesn’t matter. I just try to figure out why is he in that condition. So I don’t know people are writing about it or not but there are more than 7 billion people and each one of them has their own story. But most of the people choose to write about a person who has a great amount of wealth or a well-known personality. But I think there are lots of beautiful and simple stories that need to be told or maybe people are writing about it and I’m not aware of it. I think you can give us a better answer to this one because you read a lot.

 Akhila Saroha: Are there any authors that you enjoy reading or any books which are your favourites?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: There are some books and films which have impact on me. Some of them are – Draupadi by Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Guide by R.K. Narayan, Asad ka Ek din a play by Mohan Rakes, and Bhumika a film by Shyam Benegal. There are some other stories as well but these are the stories which still have a great impact on me.

Akhila Saroha: Do you think calling “Dream: Chaos and Beyond” a work which is socially relevant would be right?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: Yes, you can say that. But I don’t see a story as socially relevant or irrelevant. As far as you enjoy and feel my story, you can put it in whatever category you want.

Akhila Saroha: Your writing has given a very strong introduction of your potential as a writer. Can the readers expect more from you in the future? Please share about your future projects.

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: Thank you for the compliment! I have a few stories in my mind and I have written down some. But I don’t want to write any of those for now because I always wanted to write a fantasy, so I have started working on it; I have made the few maps and the globe for it. I have written a basic story too. It will be in two or three parts. In the story, you’ll be encountering, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Devas, Apsarayen, wars, love, hate, magical weapons and creatures, and so on! I’m extremely excited to write it! I will be posting some of my drawings and maps on my Instagram profile within a few days. And it’s Called, “Hasta hua ped bolti hu tehni”(The laughing tree and the speaking branches).

Akhila Saroha: What is the story behind the title of your work, “Dream: Chaos and Beyond”?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: The first title was ‘Nandu’ but it was not enough. So I came up with, ‘A common man has Dream’, ‘The auto driver has a wish’, ‘The auto driver’, and so on. But all these titles didn’t give the sense and the feel that is there in the story. So I was searching for a name and I asked my one friend, so he suggested me that you should write all the titles on separate papers and put it in a bowl and then pick one. Whatever comes in your hand, it will be your tittle. It was a fantastic idea but I didn’t want to leave my tittle on chance. So I kept thinking about it that what is really in the story. And then suddenly the title clicked in my mind and decided to use it, “Dream: Chaos and beyond”.

Akhila Saroha: How easy or difficult was it for you to create the character of Nandu and show his life as well as the problems he faces?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: I was very certain that my character would be in his thirties and would have children and all the responsibilities of the house. Why in his thirties? Because it creates tension and once there is a tension, people want to know about it more. So after that, I needed to create a situation and drama around him. And fortunately, I have paid enough attention to people and to myself to build a story or rather a life around him. So it became very easy for me.

Akhila Saroha: In the present time, not much is written on the life of the less well-off. What made you take up this strong subject which has the touch of Dickens and Premchand together?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: I think it depends on the character that what kind of a path the character needs. For me, once I create a character and give it some characteristics, it becomes alive. And I have seen,  if you’ve given enough characteristics to your character, it will not be about the less well-off, or well-off. It will lead you the way by itself. It will tell you what it will say and what it will not say. So I just listened to my character and he led me through his story. And I think that’s why Nandu is a strong character.

Akhila Saroha: If you were to describe your book in a few words without giving any spoilers, what would those words be?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: I think the title of the book is enough. I don’t think so that there will be more powerful words to describe the story especially without giving any spoilers than those three words – Dream, Chaos, Beyond. I think these words summarize the story pretty well.

Akhila Saroha: Do you think that the present day writing has forgotten to write on issues which more or less from the heart of India? What according to you, are the other issues which have been ignored in the recent times?

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: I don’t want to comment on this because everybody writes what he likes, dislikes, sees, and perceives. But I want to say one thing, whatever you write, just write what matters to you and write it well.   

Akhila Saroha: Thank you very much for sparing your time. I look forward to reading more books by you in the future. All the best.

Devesh Kumar Krishdhan: Thank you! Thank you so much!

Book: Dream – Chaos And Beyond
Author: Devesh Kumar Krishdhan
Pages: 195
Publisher: Evincepub Publishing
Interviewed by: Akhila Saroha
Buy Book: Order on Amazon