Subhechcha Ganguly 
Anupama we are so proud of you, that you have been one of the sponsors of National Changemakers Forum Exhibition. Do answer these questions so that people can know more about you.
- Congratulations on your book, “Dear Manusha”! Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind it and what you hope readers will take away from it?
Ans : Hi National Changemakers Forum & Subhechcha. Firstly, thank you so much for having me join your wonderful purpose in this literary world. It’s a privilege to have “Dear Manusha” and myself featured by your team. That’s a beautifully curated question but with a depth that goes well & beyond. Let’s see, where do I begin?
I think I’ve mentioned this repeatedly but why not another time since it’s the only answer I have. I’ve always believed myself to be an old school soul entrapped in the shell of a millennial body. My likes are very much encompassed by little miracles of life. With years of working in the medical fraternity & wisdom finally kicking in (poetically saying age & grey hair flourishing… haha), I realized that life was getting a bit too mundane in this era of modernity. It was disheartening to watch the silent extinction of love & human emotions under the rampant currents of modernization & materialism.
Oftentimes taken for granted & rarely acknowledged these days, love is undeniably the primal force wired into the core existence of humanity. Being able to love abundantly, then be loved boundlessly & little attempts to carve a smile on loved ones, is actually what gives you a prideful, swollen heart when you hit bed night after night. It is an epiphanic realisation to fully embrace that love is the one true parameter of fulfilling life.
Exhausted by this never-ending vicious cycle of today’s life, I found writing as my secret escapade, a liberation from this preordained dogmas & societal defined success & achievements. I realised writing helped me fall in love with love & life all over again. Hence, writing was an outlet of fresh air, to voice this out loud & clear. A shoutout to everyone who still believes in love. And that started the writing journey to the creation of my debut novel venture “Dear Manusha”, an excerpt evoking love & all of its enticing entirety.A memoir dedicated in honour of love and beloved ones, “Dear Manusha” is a homage to each & everyone of you to reignite the many hidden emotions. The genre is undeniably love but a little more tweaked & twisted adding on as a good bite for thoughts. It is nothing like your stereotypical version of boy meets girl, their turbulence & then their happily ever after. On the contrary, Dear Manusha is bird’s eye view, through the lens of someone who has lost & carries the essence of love & its memories in every beat & breath they pledge to live. It gives a fresh take on how the energy of lost love fuels up self empowerment & betterment opening up avenues to grattitude & appreciation. It is a read that teleports you down your very own memory lane , revoking beautiful moments & dust buried memories, both inspiring & healing in many ways.. Something everyone can relate too as losing a loved one is something we all experience as a passing rite in life… Dear Manusha was written with exclusive inclusiveness, tailored for every person from every walk of life. The read caters to the coolest of a teen right upto the wisest of an old school thinker.. The only mandatory reading criteria being that you know what love means..
As per the inspiration, I have always been in awe of, by & in love. Travelling down memory lane, I remember strutting in the hallway whilst basking in the ambience of the vintage aroma of old hardback books that filled bookshelves of my dad’s library, watching my mom cut out articles from good old News Straits Times to pin up on our reading board & observing my Amumma & Apuppa turn the crisp cut pages of their monthly subscribed Reader’s Digest as they read & narrate stories to the eagerly excited grandchildren. It was love in its purest form, watching beloved ones share their passion & interest, watching their eyes twinkle with smile sowing the early seeds of love deep within us. It was indeed an enthralling experience of falling in love with both the doers and their action. That being said, I think the essence of life, love & my loved ones will be my ultimate literary cornucopia. Without a shadow of doubt, this is my driving force in every endeavour I pursue.So yes, it’s a bit of everything, a lot of reading & a load more firsthand experience of love and life from loved ones namely, my dad, Mr Ravindran Menon, mom, Madam Prema Nair, Apuppa & Amumma, Mr Krishnan Kutty Menon & Madam Sankari Menon, Cheru, Madam Sugunna Krishnan, Mama, Mr Sateesh Menon, amma, Madam Sujatha Krishnan, sisters, Anitha, Anisha & Ashwani & beloved ones Uncle John Arulrajah, Gautham Raj, Daniel Benjamin & many more that moulded both the writing and the writer herself.
- Your writing talent has been recognized through various awards, including the NotionPress International Stories Writing Contest and the International Dublin Literary Writing Competition. How do these accolades inspire and motivate you as an author?
Ans : Hahaha… It is indeed an amazing feeling to be recognised and acknowledged by such many accomplished establishments. I’m honoured and humbled mostly. But I think such accolades are a small part of the entire journey. Regardless of the recognitions and awards obtained, I think the nascent voice of authenticity and genuineness, channelled through writing is what keeps every author fuelled and fired for the long haul.
- As a medical doctor in the Armed Forces, how do you find the time to pursue your hobbies of painting, writing/blogging, nature photography, and travelling? How do these activities contribute to your overall well-being?
Ans : I believe in a lot of experimentation and art is such a dynamically, versatile medium that it turns every good and bad into something beautifully worthwhile. It would be utter exaggeration if I were to claim that I manage them all well because there are moments of frustration and disappointment clouding our thoughts. But I’d tell you one thing for sure, when there is love and passion, we always find a way to do it. I try my best to do a little of them all on and off, although I’m still not disciplined enough to do it daily. They keep me driven and pumped because it always carves a smile on my face whenever I endeavour into it. So, yes they make upto a lot of who I am today.
- Your artwork has been showcased in your first solo art exhibition, “Hridhaya: The Language of Heartbeats.” Can you share a bit about your artistic style and the messages you convey through your paintings?
Ans : As much as I’m an amateur writer, I’m that much of an budding artist as well. I was just fortunate enough to be selected for an exhibition by a very generous and renowned art gallery, SensoArt Gallery, who provided platforms for budding artists like myself. That was how “Hridhaya” came to life. I usually stick to acrylics mostly and occasionally tip toe into oil paintings. As it is a work of impetuosity, I try to paint a story through my canvas encapsulating love being the essence of life. To be honest, each chapter of “Dear Manusha” had a painting made based on it. They were the start up paintings that hit the gallery initially.
- You’ve also been involved in important peacekeeping missions, receiving awards and certificates of appreciation from the United Nations. How has your experience as a medical officer in UNIFIL and your role as a gender focal point impacted your perspective on global peacekeeping efforts?
Ans : Setting foot as a doctor & an officer in the military was a unique experience of its own quoting it a privilege to have served under the United Nations (UN) flagship in a peacekeeping operation in Lebanon in 2019-2020 (UNIFIL) as a part of an entourage of the Malaysian Battalion 850-7. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to join international exercises that provided an arena, pivoting as a melting pot of culture & brains, enabling the exchange of personal & professional experiences between various cultures & continents. Amongst many other feathers adorned on my hat, I had my first hand experience of juggling the role as the Gender Focal Point representative for the contingent. The UN is an establishment that believed and practised gender equality and equity in all aspects. I personally felt gratified for the wonderful opportunity to be walking hand in hand with all these beautiful ladies of all walks of life, hearing & experiencing their life first hand. I was also an active part of the COVID-19 crisis team under the tutelage of UNIFIL Medical HQ & WHO. Being the representative speaker for Malaysia,I participated in international virtual symposiums to present regarding the adversities & challenges of COVID-19 in operational areas, namely by the Vietnamese Defence & UNDPKO & CUNPKO of India. It was an experience like no other and I’m humbled to have been apart of it all.
- How do you balance your career as a medical doctor with your passion for writing and art? Do you find any connections between these different aspects of your life?
Ans :I’m not sure if I’d be the best person to answer this but I just put in my humble two cents. As my dad always quoted “Being grounded & humble is the only way to stay true to yourself.” It was one of the ground values he insistently drove into us.. It took me years to understand this pearl of wisdom & now I think I am somewhere there. I believe that having a good depth of self-understanding that all these aspects only constitute a small part of you & do not define you as a whole, provides a good sense of clarity of yourself. It prevents you from getting too much into your own head, only to be entangled in the self-woven webs. Never forget that the only constant about this impermanent force of life is impermanence itself, embrace it. Your up today, maybe my downfall tomorrow & my right today might as well be your wrong another day. This enables you to clearly demarcate a boundary between different components of life. Furthermore, a good touch of authenticity with a large amount of passion, an abundance of love from loved ones, and a decent ability of time management helps maintain an equilibrium in the dynamics of life.
- Travelling seems to be one of your hobbies. Can you share a memorable travel experience that has influenced you or inspired your creative pursuits?
Ans : My beloved uncle, Mr Sateesh Menon, was my inspiration when it came to travelling. He had completed travelling to almost 30 countries by the time he was 30. So it sort of ignited the spark deep within me to pursue his footsteps. I used to be a backpacker during pre-university and university days which then continued on to my years of internship. However it became a lot lesser after joining service as I was tied down by work and duties. Due to due diligence of being a uniformed personnel, travelling also required tedious paperwork and approvals. I dreaded it at all levels. This made me feel like I lost a big chunk in life feeling stuck in one place. As an attempt to find my escapade, I resorted to short and long drives to destinations around. I began to delve into my cravings of travelling by shooting off to somewhere completely random with some good music and small traveller’s pack. This got me recharged and even kickstarted my photography and painting. It’s my instant charger to channel in some good vibes.
- What advice would you give to aspiring writers and artists who are looking to pursue their passions while juggling other responsibilities?
Ans : Being the new child in the block myself, I don’t think I’m qualified enough to advise. But as another comrade in this world of writing, I’d like to say never give up and keep going at it. Confidence & mastery of the language is indeed essential to create beautiful writings. However, they are only apart of many other building blocks to realise our dreams. They are both skills that can be acquired with consistent practice and progressive learning. What truly makes an author is the authenticity of your individuality translating into words. There is nothing as pure as the genuine effort and nascent of your own voice, evolving into words that my change the world one day. It is the true ephemeral epitome of world revolutionaries throughout. Uniqueness and authenticity makes you stand out in any field you venture into. It’s alright to stumble and fall, but never forget to stand up and move.
- How can readers and art enthusiasts connect with you and explore your work further?
Ans : I’d be honoured to have such enthusiasts get in touch to share ideas and get good feedback on my work. I’d love to hear to hear more from all of you out there.
Do drop me a message via email ravinu_24@yahoo.com
I am also available to be reached out via social medias, Instagram @https://instagram.com/ravinu_24
Or Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/anupama.ravindran.5
- Please tell us about your blog and send details for the same.
Ans : I’ve just recently launched my very own Author’s website which encompasses all about Dear Manusha, my paintings, photography and blog updates. You can also reach out to me via the portal @https://anupamaravimenon.com
- Lastly, what are your future goals and aspirations, both in your medical career and in your creative endeavours?
Ans : I honestly don’t have the slightest of clue of what the future has in store for me but I guess that’s the adventure we all signed up for ya? The fun in living our lives is the never ending possibilities that is laid out before us. Let’s just seize the moment and make the best of it. I just hope to continue doing what I do with all my heart and soul and hopefully the passion shines through to those around, both healing and inspiring. Thank you for this opportunity once again and kudos again for your amazing service and work.
