Subhechcha Ganguly 
Hey Swarup! It’s a pleasure to have this opportunity to introduce you formally. Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce Swarup Talukdar, an accomplished author and Examiner of Criminal Paperbooks at Calcutta High Court. Swarup has recently been recognized with the prestigious Indian Noble Award for his outstanding solo book “Prelude: A Collection of Short Stories.” With a passion for reading, writing, and a wealth of experience in the legal field, Swarup brings a unique perspective to his work. We are excited to dive deeper into his journey and learn more about his remarkable achievements.
- What inspired you to write “Prelude: A Collection of Short Stories”?
Ans: It was at the age of 13-14 that I wanted to write a book, but at that time I neither had the experience nor the expertise/knowledge to write a book.
Finally at the age of 23-24 I decided,I should start work on my first book & the rest is in front of you.Prelude was released as an e-book in 2018 and as a Paperback this year.
- Can you share a little about your experience as an Examiner of Criminal Paperbooks at Calcutta High Court?
Ans: The experience has been pretty amazing. I admit that the work is tiresome but you get to experience various kinds of criminal cases, sometimes I type index for paperbooks and search for missing files; it is also very difficult but the knowledge you can gather from all these is much bigger than the hardwork that you do.
- What are some of your favorite books or authors that have influenced your writing?
Ans: I have to admit that Chetan Bhagat has inspired me a lot in my writing. He’s the one among Indian Writers who has really compelled people to pick up and read books.Others include J.K. Rowling, John Green, Paulo Coelho, Ashwin Sanghi, Dan Brown.My favourite books are ofcourse the Harry Potter Series, The Alchemist, The Rozabal Line, The Fault in our Stars etc.
- How do you balance your time between your writing and your work at the High Court?
Ans: I get up at around 6-7 am in the morning and then start reading/writing up to 8.30-9 am. Then I get ready for my work, my office ends at around 4.30-4.45 pm. I reach home by 6.30-7 pm. Then from 8 I again start by literary work and sleep very late at night.Till now, I think I have pretty much balanced it in a good manner.
- Do you have any specific writing rituals or routines that help you stay focused and creative?
Ans: I use the Pomodoro techniques in my work and also use music therapy.
- Are there any upcoming projects or books you’re working on that you’re excited about?
Ans: Yes, I am currently working on my second book ‘In Search of Heaven’, I am very much excited about it and very much absorbed in it. After that, I will work on the sequel of Prelude, the second book of the series ‘The Sign of Five’
