Exclusive Interview with Author Sudanand

Let us get to know Sudanand, an author who has captivated readers with his novel, ‘Beethoven’s Last Symphony’. Join me in getting to know more about him and his writing journey.

1.     What inspired you to write ‘Beethoven’s Last Symphony’ and how did your aviation and racing experiences influence your writing?

Ans: A crisis of faith, a decade ago, caused me to embark on an existential journey and, consequently, an exploration of literary works of philosophical and existential essence. The aforesaid journey was a revelation of sorts, for I became aware of the stark, tragic human condition that has been a consistent feature of our conscious existence for as long as our species has been around. We have told ourselves and each other various tales to assuage this angst—stories of a super being or beings, celestial hereafter resorts, afterlives of permanent youthfulness and the like. As a narrative-driven species, telling, re-telling and hearing these and other stories are a part of our nature, and, perhaps, have an adaptative element as well, never mind the possible or even apparent dubiety of these tales. That said, as a single parent to a young teen daughter who was beginning to question the world around her, I found myself pressed to formulate answers to which not only did I not know the answers, but neither did those who claimed to with all manner of bluster and vehemence. ‘Beethoven’s Last Symphony’ was in many ways my reply in the form of a story, even if not exactly an answer, to my daughter as well as to those of my willing fellow travellers in humanity’s existential peregrinations to whom I wished to offer a tale imbued with tangible meaning and purpose, particularly pertinent in a world that, for the most part, offers these through certitude of notions that are as yet beyond human grasp except through theological and metaphysical speculation. Throughout the novel, the protagonist, Zoey, uncovers, layer by layer, the mystery surrounding her great-grandfather, a long-deceased World War Two pilot, and this is where my knowledge of military aviation history kicks in. A depiction of a chariot racing scene at the Circus Maximus and a later reminiscence of the same at a present-day motorsport event would be the meagre contribution of my racing influence in the novel.

2.How did you find the time to pursue your passion for writing alongside your demanding career as a pilot and director of a hospital?

Ans: I began work on my novel in 2017 while I was still flying for Air Asia in Malaysia. In late 2021, I resigned and returned to India to help take care of the hospital, which is, incidentally, our family business. Though flying and my work at the hospital did not exactly coincide, the limited flying duties during the COVID pandemic did offer ample opportunity to complete and fine-tune the manuscript which was then submitted for publishing at the end of 2022.

3. Can you tell us a bit about the genre of ‘literary fiction’ and what readers can expect from your novel?

Ans: I like to joke that literary fiction is the unwanted child of literary genres. Levity aside, Literary Fiction appears to be describable as the exclusion of the mainstream categories of romance, horror, thriller or even books that do not neatly fit into a particular genre. That said, ‘Beethoven’s Last Symphony’ is an ‘existentially’ themed bildungsroman, comprising elements of a mystery, a Greek tragedy, a powerful emotional arc, historical events and frequent allusions to the transcendental power of art, literature and music.

4. How do you manage to balance your various hobbies, such as playing the piano, reading, and building model aeroplanes, with your busy schedule?

Ans: Aeromodelling, pencil sketching and even railroad modelling are hobbies that I have dabbled in episodically, though frequently, since I was very young. Nonetheless, it does remain for me to attempt, often poorly, a balancing act between work at the hospital, fatherhood, reading and playing the piano. Though tempted, I will refrain from further comment to avoid platitudes and cliches.

5. What role does fitness play in your life, especially considering your racing background?

Ans: I raced for close to sixteen years, right until the COVID pandemic struck, in both junior and intermediate racing categories at the national level where one could get away with a less-than-ideal level of fitness. However, I did take it upon myself to maintain a moderate level of fitness, which also came in handy in ensuring that my yearly pilot medical tests were anything but adventurous, what with the degree of scrutiny one could be subject to by the examiners. One can never adequately overstate the importance of fitness in one’s life.

6. Could you share a memorable moment or experience from your racing career that has had a lasting impact on you?

Ans: To do justice to your question, a bit of context could come in handy. Growing up, I never imagined that I’d have the opportunity to race. After the racing bug bit me whilst participating in an autocross event in 2000, the next opportunity to race came a few years later. What started out as a single season of racing to tick off an item from my bucket list turned into a memorable and enjoyable 16-year racing career that included 160+ races, 50+ podium finishes, 10 race wins, top three positions in the national championship on four occasions and a sole national championship victory. To finally answer your question, every pole position, fastest lap, or podium, won in a competitive grid was memorable.

7. How do you approach the process of creating pencil portrait sketches and what do you enjoy most about this artistic hobby?

Ans: My pencil sketching skills are raw and instinctive. Other than remarking on the satisfaction and pleasure gleaned from creating any work of art, pencil sketches included, I haven’t much else to say.

8. What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are trying to juggle multiple passions and responsibilities?

Ans: As much as I try my best to avoid cliches, you have put me in a bit of a quandary here, so I guess I’ll just say it with a ‘tad bit’ of brevity: ‘Always prioritize’!