In conversation with Om Swami: The monk who writes for a living
This best-selling author is not your conventional writer. Om Swami is a mystic, a monk, a siddha. He became a millionaire in his 20s, only to renounce it all at 30. Today, he lives in the Himalayan foothills, and helps people solve their problems — spiritual or mundane, and writes books.
The Last Gambit is his latest and first fiction. Having written six non-fiction books, he decided to venture into fiction writing because, “Fiction gives you scope to use your imagination. I have taken a vow of truth, so with non-fiction I could only write the truth. Sometimes you need to present ideas in a way that people will relate to, certain age groups might need to be told things in a different way and with different analogy,” Om Swami says about the book, which is the story of a 14-year-old boy who goes on to become a Chess champ with the help of a mysterious teacher. The book imparts some truth about life in a non-didactic manner, has the element of mystery and serves complex ideas palatably.
‘Why write at all?’ is a question he has been asked several times. Also the author of A Million Thoughts, Om Swami says, “I don’t want donations for my expenditures, whatever little they are. I write for a living. Also, don’t want to preach to a crowd. Writing is how I promote the truth, those who read my books are the ones who want to really know. I don’t want to be famous.”
On the mention of that word, we remind him of his namesake, Swami Om — a Bigg Boss contestant who is notorious for his acts. With his contagious calm, and peaceful smile Om Swami answers, “I have heard of him. Our portal’s (omswami. com) admin told me that we received a lot of interesting mails addressed to the other ‘Om Swami’. I am happy that those who are really seeking me will only come to me, because if they type my name, the search engine will give them more options.”
Our portal’s admin told me that we received a lot of interesting mails addressed to the other ‘Om Swami’. I’m happy that those who are really seeking me will only come to me OM SWAMI