We would have heard the saying that, “Pen is mightier than the sword.” It’s true. Words can indeed shape a new sculpture or cut it more profoundly than a knife. Some writers are working hard to shape the future through their words. Today’s story is about one such writer, Naman Thakkar. Were they ever heard of the quote by Anton Chekhov? He said, “Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” A writer has to show things to the readers. Naman is one such talented writer.
Naman Thakkar – His Story
Everyone has some expectations and looks forward to something every day. What does Naman look forward to or expect from his day?
‘What will I teach my students today, what’s the next topic and what’s there for my studies today.’
He is a teacher and doing his master’s in physics. Physics and writing are two different paths, aren’t they?
‘Writing is something that blends with everything…
It doesn’t matter if you are a commerce student or a science nerd. You need observation and a thought process to convert it into a piece.’
For everything that happens in our lives, there is always a hidden reason behind it. A single incident or single person could change our life completely. So What is the one particular incident that made Naman into a writer?
‘I started reading novels when I was in 6th standard, which made me think about, I want to write a novel. I used to read novels after the 10th board. Then the two movies that drew me closer to writing and vision were “2 states and Ek Deewana tha”. I might have watched it more than 100 times. Every time I watch it, I get something new.
So life happened, Teenage happened, love happened, and I felt for it, which made me rise and then again some ups and downs. Like Humpty dumpy, I sat on the wall of love and eventually had a great fall. I had a dream to write.
Whenever we had some fights, I used to say, and you are the director of my story, that doesn’t give you the right to bring unexpected climax scenes. Then, I got one more reason to follow my dream.’
In life, we all have passion for something, but one thing always triggers it. Naman also has one more reason to follow his passion, what is that?
‘We all have the same stories, and it’s like Khichdi. You go to different states, and you get different flavors. So our love story is nothing but a khichdi, the basics of which are common, just some have different spices and taste its all on chef’s hand. That made me write a story. It’s filled with a feeling, like a comfy person to hug.’
Love is like air, and it’s always around us. Everyone has a different way of expressing love. I haven’t heard someone comparing love with food. What is it with Naman and cooking? What are his passions?
‘Even a chef can be a writer, and life made me both. Not professionally, but passionately. If nothing goes right, I can sing songs too. And okay, I can teach you how to play the guitar as well.’
Hurdles and blocks in life are inevitable for everyone. Sometimes it would teach us the valuable lesson which no one could ever teach us. Those difficulties and hurdles might slow us in the race but keeping pace with life lies in our hands. We are the ones to decide whether or not to live our own life as we desire. Sometimes writers face such hurdles while writing. Writer’s block. Has Naman faced such hurdles? If yes, how did he overcome it?
‘There is nothing like writer’s block. It’s just another excuse for laziness.
Okay, there might be days when you will not write anything, so there’s nothing to pan about. Instead, look around and observe. There are plenty of stories.
There is no burden to write every day. But yes, writing every day gets you a good flow.
Like I had covid recently, the last time I visited my chapter in my book was 18 days ago, but I also wrote scribbles and snippets.
I was all alone in a room. Even the fan’s speed resonated with my story, the clock ticks, the shutters of the calendar, the night lamp, the waning moon partially visible from my window, the wind.
Everything induced feelings in me, and I used to convert them into the write-up.’
Different people have different perspectives on life. And Naman has a different perspective on how he sees the hurdles. What makes him think that everything around him helps him with his writing rather than disturbing him?
‘Actually, it’s all in your company. I have good friends who stay. People around me understand me, like author Bajrang Sultania, a brother from another mother. He is my go-to person anytime. Whenever I feel I’m down, I’ll call him. The best part is, he never gives me advice cause he knows everyone around me will give me advice. Rather he takes the mood to the next level of creativity. And I would forget why in the first place I was sad. Whatever I am today, it’s because of him.’
As Michael P. Watson said, “Strong people don’t put others down.. They lift them”, strong people inspire us and would never put us down. We look up to someone in our life. Someone who inspired Naman, and what is so special about them?
‘Bajrang Sultania. He is an author and the humblest person I’ve ever met. He is like a family, and yeah, family is always unique. I read a novel by Bajrang Sultania. The story was so gripping that I couldn’t resist myself to text him on Instagram. Unexpectedly, he replied. Not only did he reply, but we had a good conversation. I had this dream of writing a novel, which I expressed to him.
I said, I write, but I don’t feel it’s mature writing. He asked me to send some, and damn he said, “If this is not mature writing, then I don’t know what is. There is a scope of learning, as we are all learners here. I’ll add you to a group, write there. Write whatever comes to your mind. Write on prompts they give. My happiness knew no bounce: that group, a family, or my virtual diary, to be more precise. I used to write every day, whatever came to my mind without thinking twice. I just had that desire to learn.’
Life has a different transformation within itself. There would be a point where our life would have transformed. How was his life before he started writing and after he started it?
‘Life is pretty identical, but now whenever I travel, I do something more. Wherever I go, I observe people, surroundings, feelings, silence, the sound of the train running in track, the meadows, the sunset, locating Mars on the night sky. Look at the moon. It feels as if it’s coming closer. Earlier, they were just a sight for me. Now it’s more of like peace to me.
You can trap me by Hallucination of the night sky!’
We all have goals in our life. You travel through a dark tunnel to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. The destination and path to reach there might be different for everyone. So, What are Naman’s future goals? And when does he plan to release his book?
I go with the flow. I don’t have a rigid plan much, and instead, it’s a flexible one. If one gate closes, I’ll make another way. I want to teach Physics with the utmost simplicity and feel. Currently, I’m a Physics expert at Chegg. Doing Masters, so next plan is for Ph.D. and then teaching is like I can teach in any mood, so it’s a good career option for me.’
I’ve been planning for this novel for the past three years, delayed by constraints and creativity. Maybe next year, I’ll launch it if I complete it and feel satisfied.’
What is the one piece of advice that he would give to the budding writers and the students?
‘No advice. Everyone is there to advise teenagers.
I’ll say, if you need me, I’ll always be there for you, or at least I’ll try my best.
It’s your life. Feel it in your way, learn it in your way. People may inspire you, but it’s on you how you take life and its lessons. For students, I will say that follow the path where your heart beats comfortably. Don’t go for the sheep race. Failure is part of life, accept it, improve and move on.’
What is the message he wants to give our readers?
‘I too go through downs, but after every thoughtful dusk, there is a night where I dive deeper into feelings and emotions, sometimes I even wake up the sun and move to my bed.
But eventually, life goes on. And everyone should know its worth.
So it’s okay, even if you are confused with life, one day, one scene, one incident, one song, one conversation, one person, will make it straightforward for you, even if no one does, I know you will make it straightforward for yourself.’
He has an optimistic way of seeing things, and he sees his hurdles as an opportunity to improve himself. Whenever he faces a mountain, he doesn’t change his direction instead. He climbs up to reach the other end. He might not know what awaits him on the other side, but he finds out what life had for him.
“Optimism is essential to achievement, and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.”
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