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Showing posts with label nazaqat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nazaqat. Show all posts

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Author Interview and spotlight: Harsh Agarwal


He is one of those rare multi-faceted personalities you get to know in a lifetime.
Harsh Agarwal, who has just embarked his twenties, believes that life is all about experimenting and exploring. An artist by soul, an entrepreneur by profession and an engineer by education, Harsh has played a diverse range of roles in a very short span of time. A true foodie and a huge travel enthusiast, Harsh loves to meet new people and try new things. At present, he is residing in the beautiful state of Assam to complete his graduation in National Institute of Technology, Silchar
Harsh Aggarwal is the author of three books. His latest, Nazaqat was reviewed by us here.

1)     How do you feel on getting published?
Well it’s my third time but trust me, it feels equally good! I was equally ecstatic when I held the book in my hands for the first time. As clichéd as it maybe, but there is no better way to put it – that is it felt like you are holding your baby for the first time.
2)     What was writing like? Lonely? What was it like to get under the skin of the characters, especially since you have etched certain intricate characters?
Writing the book is definitely lonely. Especially when you are writing a full length book, you need to avoid all sorts of temptations and keep on writing it. Usually authors take break of months and write it in a very intermittent manner. I personally don’t believe in taking such long breaks while writing which makes the entire procedure tedious and of course, lonely. Getting into the skin of characters – it can give you Goosebumps at times. While you are diving into the depths of character, knowing their darkest secrets, knowing them better than themselves…you get a point where you can feel them alive. And that is the point from where they go with their own flow. You no more direct them. Rather, you become one with them. It’s just amazing…beyond description perhaps.
3)     Why did you choose to write the story of a prostitute, some calculated risk?
I never chose the concept. It chose me. That’s what I believe when it comes to concepts and ideas. We don’t control them. They just happen at random times at random places and this is indeed the sheer beauty of ideas.
Didn’t really think about risk. I just thought it was a brilliant idea and I won’t die in peace if I had abandon it!
4)     What is your life like, apart from writing? Who/what inspires you to write.
Apart from writing, I have this small firm of mine named The Asylum which consumes most of my time. And I am still completing my graduation in NIT Silchar, Assam. In my leisurely hours, I like to travel, interact, socialize, read, observe and think. You can visit my website www.agarwalharsh.com to know more about me.
I get inspired by small little things in life. A moment of happiness or gloom, a little playing kid on the street or maybe an old woman sitting on a desolated bench in the park. Just anything!

5)     So, who is the writer, Sasha, Mathews, or Harsh?
All of them actually. Mathews wrote it initially. I guess Harsh found it somewhere and then maybe, Sasha stole it!

6)     Any message to your readers?
Just keep reading! It definitely rinses your soul. Be open-minded and keep on trying new things. Life is all about experimenting and exploring!
Information source: personal author interview and author website agarwalharsh.com






Sunday 9 February 2014

Book Review: Nazaqat by Sasha H Singhal

About the book:
Naazani, a shy girl with a lonely childhood, was born and brought up in Dehradun. She moves to a metropolitan for further education and gets absorbed. In a series of events, she decides to adopt prostitution and becomes one of the most successful high profile escorts of the city with the help of her manager Sharat.
In a quest to be successful, she leaves her friends behind and dedicates more time to her profession. Nazaqat witnesses a police raid at a nearby place and the real scenario of prostitution terrifies her.She decides to take a stand and do something about it. However, Sharat convinces her that she is not powerful enough to make a difference
Nazaqat retires and pool all her money and starts a restaurant – Joy
foods in partnership with Sharat. The business grows and soon enough they have numerous outlets in various cities and Naazani Singh Shekhawat emerges as a significant entrepreneur of nation.
To cherish the old memories, she organizes a group together and calls all her old friends. Next morning, it is found that something drastic happened the night before.
Meanwhile, she invites an author – Matthews, who is an old acquaintance to pen down her own biography. He visits her each night and in a series of ten nights, her story finds its crescendo.
Will prostitution be legalized?  What’s her intention with the biography she is planning? What shall be the fate of Naazani Singh Shekhawat aka Nazaqat?
Nazaqat is a very detailed and carefully woven story which is a unique blend of thrill and drama. It is a refreshing story about a girl who adopts prostitution on her own will and starts a quest to legalize prostitution in India. While it’s entertaining because of the commercial voice, it also addresses grave issues of feminism, prostitution and homosexuality in society.
About the author:
The identity of the author remains a mystery: Mathews, Harsh A singhal, or Sasha H, Singhal. (wink)
Read our author interview here.
My Review:

The author's setting, plot, idea, narration, character etching all are fairly commendable. The part I like the most was that the story is replete with twists and turns and that helps to keep the reader hooked till the last page.
The distressing aspect, if any, was an abrupt ending and the editing especially for a grammar Nazi.
The book takes a neutral take on human foibles and human choices. With rhetoric comments on marriage writers life morals et al, this is undoubtedly worthy of a read.
Also, with fallible characters what sets this book apart is the fact that he does not attempt to reveal any dark side or pretend to have a funny bone. in other words unlike contemporary authors the author does not try to force his humor or seriousness upon anyone, particularly the characters and the readers. Smoothly read, and fortunately not one of the books trying to get into IIT of contemporaries, if you know what I mean.
The poem whose stanza is given before each chapter is exotically and brilliantly crafted. The character of Nazaqat is so exquisite, one can't help but smile at her idiosyncrasies.
Add to that the social tangent that the author introduces by addressing the issues of homosexuality, prostitution in a way that blends in the novel flawlessly, and you have a perfect read.
My judgment:
A very open ended book which dies at one level mark the triumph of good over evil nevertheless leaves much to the readers interpretation. overall a pretty serene read.
Best line:

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