My Belated Foray into the Literary World

My Belated Foray into the Literary World
People frequently inquire why I embarked on a writing journey so late in life, crossing the threshold into senior citizenship. This question often leads me to reflect on my past. Literature was my Achilles’ heel during my school years, an ironic twist given my later passion for the written word. While I excelled in other subjects, my literary endeavours were met with harsh criticism from teachers and earnest concern from my family, especially my sisters, who endeavoured tirelessly to nurture my literary skills. One particularly vivid memory stands out: our literature teacher, a figure of both dread and admiration, assigned us an essay—its topic now lost to time. After submitting my piece, he asked, “Why did you write a shopping list? I asked for an essay!” The classroom’s laughter was a poignant reminder of my struggles. Despite these challenges, I managed to scrape through high school with a modest 45 marks out of 100 in literature—a few more could have secured me a state rank and that day planted a seed of resolve within me—a promise to myself that I would one day prove my worth in the realm of literature. However, my academic path in engineering and subsequent career as a project engineer diverted my focus, relegating my literary aspirations to the periphery of my life. The most I could manage were occasional letters to newspaper editors and cryptic notes scribbled on cigarette packets. Life has a way of steering us back to our true passions, often through unforeseen circumstances. In the twilight of my career, a severe heart attack and the subsequent ordeal of major surgery brought me face-to-face with my mortality. During those vulnerable moments in the ICU, I resolved that if I emerged from the ordeal, I would honour my long-standing promise to myself. This epiphany marked the true beginning of my writing journey. Post-retirement, I faced another significant decision: whether to return to my ancestral home or remain in the city of Guwahati, where advanced medical facilities could better support my health. With a heavy heart, I acquiesced to stay in the city. But this change of scenery became a catalyst for my writing. Without delay, I embarked on my first book, an autobiography entitled A Sanguine Tale Unfolding the Life of a Project Engineer. This work delved into my experiences in the remote, pristine yet isolated regions of Northeast India. These areas, while breathtakingly beautiful, lacked modern conveniences—communication, healthcare, and educational facilities. The narrative, crafted in simple language and devoid of technical jargon, focused on the human spirit and the ingenuity required to overcome the formidable challenges of working in such an environment to make hydro Power Stations in those places. The book resonated deeply with readers, garnering the Golden Book Award 2024 and the Emerging Writer of the Year accolade at the Kolkata Literary Carnival 2024 and also translated into French, Spanish and Chinese languages. Buoyed by the success of my debut, I ventured into my second book, A New Dawn Adventure in the Golden Years, which swiftly became an Amazon bestseller. My third offering, a collection of short stories titled Whispers of the Diverse Tale, is now accessible online. Although logistical and financial constraints prevent my books from gracing physical store shelves, they are available to a global audience through Amazon and Flipkart. Currently, my first novel, Behind the Headlines—a gripping tale of investigative journalism—and my inaugural poetry collection, Symphony of Life, are in the press. Additionally, I contribute to various anthologies and maintain a blog at musingofrajat.wordpress.com, where I share musings and literary reflections. In essence, my decision to write stems not from a delayed ambition but from a deep-seated determination to fulfil a long-standing promise to myself. This journey underscores the timeless adage that age is merely a number. In fact, the maturity and wisdom acquired over the years have enriched my writing, enabling me to communicate with greater depth and empathy. My evolution from a struggling schoolboy to a winner of the International Tagore Award 24 by DRDC stands as a testament to the belief that it is never too late to pursue one’s true calling and leave a lasting legacy in the literary world.

Name of Published book

1. A SANGUINE TALE UNFOLDING THE LIFE OF A PROJECT ENGINEER ( English)

ISBN 979-8-88704-866-6

Book Amazon link :https://amzn.in/d/02xkVwdV

Award :

a. Emerging writer of the year (Non-Fiction) at Kolkotta Literary Carnival 2024.

b.Golden Book Award 2024

2. CHINESE VERSION ISBN: 978939201382

Book Link: https://amzn.eu/d/eSp7r1m

3. FRENCH VERSION ( A la vie d’un ingenieur CONTE de projet SANGLANT ISBN:9789359208657

Book Link: https://a.co/d/0iPjo381

4. SPANISH VERSION (UN desarrollo de la vida de un ingeniero CUENTO de proyectos SANGRIENTO