How this young schoolgirl became an author
new delhi — It grew over time by joining the dots and the outcome is Different. Fifteen-year-old Neeha Gupta’s debut book tells the story of Nicole Grace, the only surviving member of Bridgen — a planet in the neighbouring galaxy of Andromeda — after her father sent her to earth when her planet was on the verge of destruction.
Quite a handful, would you say, for a 10th grader at Mumbai’s Jamnabai Narsee International School who’s pledged to donate the proceedings from the sale of the book to Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s Children’s Foundation.
Not really, because the point Gupta is making is that teenagers aren’t as indifferent as they’re made out to be. They pull up their socks and deliver when it really matters. Also, they love challenges and they care about right and wrong.
“Initially it was about joining the dots on the plot — so whenever I got an idea, I’d write it down. Later, I would develop those ideas whenever I had the time. But, during the later stages of the book, which are the most difficult parts to complete, I made sure to reach a word limit every day. Discipline actually helped me finish my book,” Gupta said in an interview.
To backtrack a bit, how did the book come about? “I have always been an avid reader, and my love for reading translated into a desire to write. In my 7th grade, I began to blog. As I grew up, I realised I grew out of that story too! Then I thought to myself, that a book would actually just be a really large blog! So, in my 9th grade summer break, an idea came to me, that got me all excited — about how an alien would adjust to high school. I made up my mind to complete the story and began writing,” Gupta explained.
Is there another book on the cards? “Haven’t really thought of another book yet. But when I met Mr. Shashi Tharoor, he told me that I must keep writing. So if the time and idea seem right, I will definitely take up the challenge! “As of now, I’m focusing on my upcoming 10th board examinations. Some day, I wish to win an Olympic medal for India in pistol shooting,” she added rather modestly.
Gupta had called on Satyarthi during a visit to the national capital earlier this month and found the experience “very humbling”. —