People need books with solutions, not just insights, says author
Choose your friends as you choose your books. They should have depth, integrity and authenticity. And this is one of the guiding principles of my life.”
Murzban F. Shroff, author
dubai — Painting a picture of social realities through the story of his “hard-hustling hero”, Mumbaibased writer Murzban F. Shroff read out excerpts from his latest book, Waiting For Jonathan Koshy, during his recent participation in the Emirates Literature Festival.
Shroff said that after he went through a litigation for some word that was “taken out of context” in his previous book, he decided to write more vigorously and boldly to tell the truth. It was the rebellion in his heart that led him to write Waiting for Jonathan Koshy and create a larger-thanlife character.
“Through Jonathan, I addressed some important aspects such as how do you define success in an economy in transition, which was India. And the second was, can we really understand India?”
The book was a finalist for the Horatio Nelson Fiction Prize, and it is available at Magrudy’s in the UAE. It will also be released in China and Turkey soon.
Shroff emphasised that people nowadays want books not only with insights but with solutions.
“Instead of giving insights, books now need to give solutions to people, because people are hungry to improve themselves and hungry for knowledge. And a book has to deliver those solutions.”
Through the protagonist of his book, Jonathan, who comes from a dysfunctional family, Shroff also reflected on the triumph of his spirit that thrives on humour and quick thinking, even in the face of intense personal adversity. He shared insights on how to choose friends, what success really is and how to find inspiration. “Choose your friends as you choose your books. They should have depth, integrity and authenticity. And this is one of the guiding principles of my life,” Shroff said.
The author, who has published his fiction in over 65 literary journals in the US and UK, also equated success with fulfillment.
“Do not mistake gratification for success because success is fulfillment, which means you can be yourself and do the work that you love. Success is when you can live life on your terms without really trucking up to institutions and being unfaithful to yourself. Money is important only to the level of self-realisation. It is just the means and not the end,” he said.
Talking about the importance of finding one’s inspiration, Shroff said: “When you feel satisfied materially, then it’s time to start looking inward and you will find a book inside you, like your soul. So look inwards and see the ocean that lies within.”
Among Shroff ’s upcoming projects is, in fact, a creative writing programme in the UAE.
“The creative programme I am looking to launch will not only teach the nuts and bolts of writing and all the components required. It will also unlock your muse.
“A lot of people want to write and may have a germinal story in mind or they may have no story at all. Through my course, I’m looking to deal with some ground realities of writing, such as teach them how to find inspiration to write, how to fight writer’s block, how to deal with publisher rejection, among others.”