Author Jhelum Biswas Bose can’t really remember a time when she wasn’t fascinated by flowers. “I identify with the forces of flowers. Therefore, I like to call myself a flower witch,” begins Jhelum, who debut book Phool Proof was launched in Bengaluru, early this month.
Speaking of which, she says, “It all began as a casual conversation with Gurveen Chadha, who is the editor of the book. She suggested that I could perhaps write a book on beauty. I took it up seriously and sent her a very ambitious book proposal. We arrived at the conclusion that I write a book on flowers and their significance in our daily lives. The focus was on Indian flowers.”
by Jhelum Biswas Bose, Publisher: Penguin Random House, Pp.203, Rs 299
The book, which sheds light on Indian flowers, their myths, traditions, and usage, is best described as a journey in which the author takes you through various aspects of blooms with incantations. A short candid chat with Jhelum is all it takes to learn one thing – how deeply invested she is, in milking the myriad benefits of flowers. “I explain this in the introduction to the book. A witch is someone who does things differently, speaks to forces of nature in rhymes, stirs up strange concoctions, is questioned by society and in turn questions authority. I guess I do all of that,” she avers, elucidating why she calls herself a flower witch.
The author, albeit armed with an editorial background, has had a bumpy ride with publishing houses. But, she’s grateful for the journey nevertheless. “Yes, it is competitive and therefore, very challenging. But, I have enjoyed the challenges because it has helped me to work harder. And, that’s only been good. I have been lucky to have a wonderful editor, who has supported me all through. Even the writing aspect wasn’t easy, as I had to study a lot, do plenty of research and come up with interesting content. I did what I could do to make the book a good and easy read but packed with information.”
Aside from writing, the lady has a flair for aromatherapy, too. “I love cooking and making fragrances. Yes, aromas play a very important role in my life. My cooking is also guided by smells. I like to layer my life and living spaces with scents.”
While she wishes to explore the domain of academic writing next, Jhelum signs off with a sharp message for millennials: “Read a lot and write something every day. And most importantly, don’t give up on your dream.”
