https://www.iitbombay.org/initiatives/book-corner/2016/author-of-the-month-april
• What was the hardest part of writing the book?
Writing technical details in common man’s language was difficult. Special care was needed to maintain technical accuracy while explaining the foundry processes in a simple language. My friend Milind Deshpande (also from Met. 78 batch) read the first draft and helped me in this process. It was also important to ensure that this primarily remained the story of humans though the foundry and furnaces provided the necessary backdrop.
• To what extend you think you carry an impact of being an IITian?
IIT education, industrial training and my first job provided the foundation to this story. This book in particular is a direct outcome of my association with IIT. Even otherwise IIT has shaped my thinking, my approach to life and almost every other aspect of my life.
• Do you have any advice for other writers?
Start writing now if you want to write. Find some time to do so. With practice, you can improve continuously.
• Do you have specific message to your readers?
Message to the readers: Continue reading. Message to those who do not read (or do not read much): Please read.
• Where can readers learn more about your book and purchase them?
The book is available in standard Marathi book shops. It will soon be available on-line. If you do not get it anywhere, contact me.
• What books have most influenced your life most?
Most recently, I was influenced by Thomas Piketty’s ‘Capital in the twenty first century’, a book on modern day economic issues like inequality. Another book that has made an impact is ‘Being Mortal’ by Dr. Atul Gawande. This book presents many thought provoking ideas about old age and the inevitable process that leads to end of life.
United Iron and Steel - Marathi fiction
M.I.D.C. Tambad provides employment opportunities to thousands of skilled and unskilled workers from Tambad and nearby villages. United Iron and Steel (UIS) is a representative factory in this industrial area that nurtures the aspirations of highly educated youngsters from all over India. UIS is the limited world of about three hundred workers struggling to make ends meet. They are at best semi-literate, do not even have a desire to see the outside world and continue to work in the dangerous working conditions without complaining. On the other hand, there are those outsiders who stay in their cocoons and keep complaining about Tambad. They nevertheless bring a cosmopolitan environment to this small place. This is the story of their individual and collective struggle.
• Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Between myB. Tech. (Met - 1978, Hostel 7) and M. Tech. (IE & OR - 1981, Hostel 1), I worked in foundry for a year. Later I spent more than 30 years in IT industry. For the several projects that I worked on, I spent some time working in the USA and Europe. I did consulting assignments in many other countries including Japan, Indonesia, South Africa, Lebanon and of course India. My experience includes Software Development, Quality, Training and HR. Currently I am doing consulting, teaching and most significantly, writing.
• Tell us what motivated you to write this book?
I always wanted to write, but never had time to do so. Only after leaving the full time job and getting in to flexible time working that I could do what I always wanted to do. The first draft of this book was written to enter a contest for the first-time writers. Later I refined and re-wrote significant portions of this book. By then I had published my first book in English, also a fiction on corporate life.
• Did you face challenges while you were writing your book?
Not really. I could manage all the issues without much of a problem.
• Where did you get your inspiration or idea for your book?
Industrialist Mr. S. L. Kirloskar had mentioned somewhere that Indian literature, particularly Marathi literature did not reflect the challenges faced by industrial workers and their way of life. Sometime during my IIT days, I decided to write something on this topic based on my own experience.I took the first step in the mid-80’s, but that attempt was at best half-hearted. It was almost 30 years later that I actually wrote this book.
• What was the most surprising thing you learnt while you were writing the book?
I learnt how satisfying the process of writing was. It was also surprising to note that all the memories of IIT Lectures and Labs, the Industrial Training and the Shop Floor experience came back quickly once I started writing this book.
• What kind of feedback did you get from your readers?
There was a general appreciation that my book covered a topic that is generally neglected in the fictions in Indian languages, particularly Marathi. (About the industrial life.) Some appreciated the fact that I could write in multiple languages (my first book was in English), and that this fiction included what we learnt in Metallurgical Engineering.
• Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Between myB. Tech. (Met - 1978, Hostel 7) and M. Tech. (IE & OR - 1981, Hostel 1), I worked in foundry for a year. Later I spent more than 30 years in IT industry. For the several projects that I worked on, I spent some time working in the USA and Europe. I did consulting assignments in many other countries including Japan, Indonesia, South Africa, Lebanon and of course India. My experience includes Software Development, Quality, Training and HR. Currently I am doing consulting, teaching and most significantly, writing.
• Tell us what motivated you to write this book?
I always wanted to write, but never had time to do so. Only after leaving the full time job and getting in to flexible time working that I could do what I always wanted to do. The first draft of this book was written to enter a contest for the first-time writers. Later I refined and re-wrote significant portions of this book. By then I had published my first book in English, also a fiction on corporate life.
• Did you face challenges while you were writing your book?
Not really. I could manage all the issues without much of a problem.
• Where did you get your inspiration or idea for your book?
Industrialist Mr. S. L. Kirloskar had mentioned somewhere that Indian literature, particularly Marathi literature did not reflect the challenges faced by industrial workers and their way of life. Sometime during my IIT days, I decided to write something on this topic based on my own experience.I took the first step in the mid-80’s, but that attempt was at best half-hearted. It was almost 30 years later that I actually wrote this book.
• What was the most surprising thing you learnt while you were writing the book?
I learnt how satisfying the process of writing was. It was also surprising to note that all the memories of IIT Lectures and Labs, the Industrial Training and the Shop Floor experience came back quickly once I started writing this book.
• What kind of feedback did you get from your readers?
There was a general appreciation that my book covered a topic that is generally neglected in the fictions in Indian languages, particularly Marathi. (About the industrial life.) Some appreciated the fact that I could write in multiple languages (my first book was in English), and that this fiction included what we learnt in Metallurgical Engineering.
• What was the hardest part of writing the book?
Writing technical details in common man’s language was difficult. Special care was needed to maintain technical accuracy while explaining the foundry processes in a simple language. My friend Milind Deshpande (also from Met. 78 batch) read the first draft and helped me in this process. It was also important to ensure that this primarily remained the story of humans though the foundry and furnaces provided the necessary backdrop.
• To what extend you think you carry an impact of being an IITian?
IIT education, industrial training and my first job provided the foundation to this story. This book in particular is a direct outcome of my association with IIT. Even otherwise IIT has shaped my thinking, my approach to life and almost every other aspect of my life.
• Do you have any advice for other writers?
Start writing now if you want to write. Find some time to do so. With practice, you can improve continuously.
• Do you have specific message to your readers?
Message to the readers: Continue reading. Message to those who do not read (or do not read much): Please read.
• Where can readers learn more about your book and purchase them?
The book is available in standard Marathi book shops. It will soon be available on-line. If you do not get it anywhere, contact me.
• What books have most influenced your life most?
Most recently, I was influenced by Thomas Piketty’s ‘Capital in the twenty first century’, a book on modern day economic issues like inequality. Another book that has made an impact is ‘Being Mortal’ by Dr. Atul Gawande. This book presents many thought provoking ideas about old age and the inevitable process that leads to end of life.
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