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| A chat with IIT Alum & Quality expert C V Murali on his debut novel, Dreams Die Young |
| Author : | thedesk |
| Institute : | |
| Posting Date : | 25/02/08 |
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| Total 15 vote(s). |  | |
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A chat with IIT Alum & 6bridges member C V Murali on his debut novel, Dreams Die Young. Murali is a post graduate in Metallurgical Engineering from M.S.University, Baroda and IIT-Mumbai and is also a Quality expert with 18 yrs of experience, currently working in an MNC in Gurgaon. We caught up with Murali, the writer and professional about his book and other things.
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Dreams Die Young by C V Murali is set in 1960s Calcutta, and deals with the Naxalite movement that aimed for an egalitarian society through violent means. The protagonist, Rajat Sen, a professor in the US, finds memories of his past coming back to torment him. He remembers the days of unbridled idealism when he and his friend Arindam joined the Naxalite movement, chasing visions of a classless society.
As Rajat got absorbed and pulled into the violent of Naxalism, questions were thrust upon him. The grisly reality of death through murder confronts passionate utopian values as the storyline embraces spellbinding moments with situations that challenge our moral dilemmas.
The storyline is absorbing and the characters well etched, though sometimes the clichιd descriptions may not please all. Nevertheless, the story does have a potential to be made into a feature film, considering its pace and drama. This is a book most professionals will find interesting, as they identify with the protagonists in some way or the other. There are moments in our lives when we wish we were certain characters in a story or a film. Rajat Sen makes you feel that way.
We caught up with Murali, the writer and the professional about his book and other things.
Read what he had to say
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C V Murali
Author - Dreams Die Young
1) Having been brought up in Kolkata, how much has the local narrative of the place about the history of naxalism informed your writings?
I had decided to set the story in Kolkata because thats where I have spent most of my life and having lived in that milieu; writing about that place came quite naturally without requiring too much research.
My story is about the protagonist Rajat Sen and how his dreams of a class less society did not quite materialize. The Naxalite movement provided me with a backdrop and platform for the story.
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2) What is your take on the aspect of the intellectual element in every violent movement? Did you get closer to your answers while writing the book?
The rationale for most of the movements-violent or otherwise, arise from inequalities or injustice-perceived or real and a need to correct the wrongs-perfectly noble thoughts.But, perhaps why many of them become violent is because the goal/end assumes paramount importance and the means-even if it through devious means becomes inconsequential.
It appears that violence has been the order of the day-our history and the world today bears witness to it. Pessimistic as it might sound, it only reiterates what somebody had said ages ago Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
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3) When did you first think about writing this book and was there any trigger of inspiration?
Maybe three years back and I thought it could be a good medium to express on issues which concern me (and many of our countrymen/women, I hope) eg.Conflicts in class, caste, religion and I took up the class issue since I had been brought up in Calcutta and I had memories of the Naxalite movement there.
There was no real trigger of inspiration-it just happened.
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4) If you were to sum up the essence of the book for the readers how would you phrase it?
It could be perhaps summed up in the poem by Rabindranath Tagore which I have quoted in the book:
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is lead forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action -
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
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5) Tell us a little about your academic & professional background? What do you cherish most from your IIT days?
I did my schooling in Calcutta-South Point High School & St.Xaviers.Subsequently,I completed my graduation in Metallurgical Engineering from M.S.University,Baroda and my post graduation from IIT,Bombay.
Over the years I have worked in a variety of industries-power, valves, automobiles and currently in oil & gas. My experience has been mostly in Quality Management besides Risk Management & Assurance.
IIT days-What I cherish most was the atmosphere-not something which can be defined easily-which brought out the best in everyone.
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6) How did you manage to keep yourself inspired despite the hectic schedule of a corporate job? Did you ever find the chasm between a writer's creative urges and the mundane regularity of a job too demanding?
Actually writing keeps me inspired and helps me view things more dispassionately at job.
There is a whole world out there which most often than not, one forgets in the hectic atmosphere at work and writing helps me in some ways to strike a balance and put things in perspective.
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7) In the 6bridges community there are professionals couched as aspiring writers, but who haven't yet been able to make a start. What's your message for them?
Its easy to preache, so hear goes-
As everybody knows the first step is the most difficult one and once that is taken, the rest follows. So all you aspiring writers, go home or wherever you can find some silence/solace; let your thoughts flow and the rest will follow.
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8) How difficult did you find it to locate a publisher and convince people around you, being a first time author?
It took me around six months from the time I decided that I should give it to a try to locating a publisher who agreed to publish my work. It was an extremely trying period, as most publishers said they were busy or were not willing to look at first time writers.
But that is only one part of the story; the other part of getting the book stores to stock your books and the reviewers to consider your book for reviews so that the world outside is aware that such a book exists is an even more difficult proposition.
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9) Walk us through your professional journey up until now? How would you like to be remembered - as a professional who turned to writing or as a writer who is also a corporate professional?
I would like to be remembered as a writer
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10) Most corporate professionals dabble in business-oriented works as writers. Your work of fiction is a break from the expected fare. Do you also find a kind of work-life balance as you explore your creative side after work?
Absolutely. This is where I can let my creative juices flow and also express on issues which concern me.
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11) You have lived in more than few cities in India, across multicultural settings. As a professional how would you rate your experiences in each one of them?
Well, from what I have observed, the human mind/behavior patterns are pretty much the same whichever part of the country or world one belongs/lives and this reflects in the corporate world too.
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12) How do you think 6bridges helps professionals in finding a platform to voice their aspirations and interests?
I think 6bridges is a great platform and needs to be popularized further.,,,, |
| Total 15 vote(s). | | |
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