Teenagers pen a new literary script
WRITE THING School students make a mark as writers, bring fresh themes, insights to fore
A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
Colin Powell
In this age of intense competition, as budding actors, singers, dancers and painters vie with each other to climb the ladder of success, a number of child authors, too, are making waves.
Yashvardhan Shukla of Mount St Mary’s School, Delhi Cantonment, for instance, has written two novels. His foray into fiction began with the mythological novel titled The Gods of Antarctica, which he wrote at the age of 13. He followed it with a mythology/science novel, A Space Odyssey. The Class 11 student, who began writing at the age of 11, says, “I have always put in creativity through art, which gave me the idea of penning novellas.”
Yashwardhan’s list of favourite authors include RK Narayan, Ashwin Sanghi, JK Rowling as well as Rick Riordan. His inclination for writing has received solid support from people who are closest to him. “My father is my best critic, who shares inputs on story drafts and also on the illustrations/photos that would be suitable for the story,” adds the young writer who also aspires to take up medicine.
Udyan Sharma from Springdales School, Pusa Road, began writing at the age of eight and is the proud author of two books titled Tech Rich Century and The Secrets Of Asphadite, respectively, published in 2013 and 2015.
“I was inspired to write my first novel after reading HG Well’s The War Of The Worlds. Extra terrestrial life fascinates me and it was one of the reasons for my inclination towards science-fiction novels. The cover designs were done by my mother and my father helped me edit the books,” says the Class 10 student.
“Literature has helped shape my imagination as well as creativity and offers a strong platform to reach out to the masses. I write for people of all age groups because it is extremely important to target and write on issues concerning the society, altogether,” says Udyan, who was the youngest speaker at the Jaipur Literature Festival last year.
Udyan, who regards Stephen Hawking as his role model, credits the iconic physicist’s ideas and achievements with having sparked his imagination. One day, he hopes to occupy a high public office – that of the President of India.
Another up and coming writer is Class 11 student Anusha Subramaniam from the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai.
Acclaimed as the country’s youngest published author, her first novella, Heirs of Catriona, was published when she was barely 12 years old. “I feel that I have now matured as an author, since my first novel, which was a fantasy. I will continue writing for my age group, as I will neither have to pretend as an adult nor imagine a world which is yet to come to me,” says Anusha, whose list of Cassandra Clare and JK Rowling among her literary icons.
Acknowledging constant support from her father, noted author Ravi Subramanian, who has written bestselling corporate thrillers, Anusha says: “My parents have been the greatest support, they would point out mistakes and help me with editing without altering the flavour of my original write-up.”
Her second novel, Never Gone, which released last month, spins around multiple concepts that are very close to her heart and the characters are a reflection of the people we see all around.
These budding writers may be young, but their yen for excellence and determination to make an impact in their chosen field reveals maturity far beyond their age.