A strange turn of fate

Rahul Bhatt’s Roots is the story of an astrologer who comes from a small town to make a living in Delhi and then, in all its irony, becomes part of a twist of fate. It takes you through the trials and tribulations of a common man in a time of rapid development. The author talks about his latest novel and more.

When did the idea for Roots germinate?

It is very difficult to pinpoint the exact time, but it germinated a long time ago. Actually I had  very closely seen the real story of a person who had left his hometown and felt lost in the new city. I was interested to explore a city-dweller’s psyche. The challenge was to fictionalise the real account.

Does the genre you enjoy writing also give you as much pleasure when reading?

Yes. Actually I enjoy reading all sorts of fiction and sometimes non-fiction also. Perhaps categorising into genres is more for the experts, libraries and sales. For me, any content can be captivating if it has interesting elements.

One fictional character close to your heart and why?

It is very difficult to choose one. There are many including Salim of Midnight’s Children, Sunil of Surendra Mohan Pathak’s murder mysteries, protagonist of The Alchemist and more.

What is your antidote for a writer’s block?

Read, research and write again.

How can budding writers prevent rejection from turning into dejection?

Perhaps rejection is part of writing. My initial drafts were rejected many times. But then I re-wrote them. It’s like polishing your craft. For a new writer, it’s really difficult and dejection is quite natural. Perhaps it’s about how a writer is possessed by his/her passion and keeps refining his/her art. If a budding writer is receptive of the feedback he/she gets then he/she can find his/her way.