Swarupa Chavan

I am a proud Leo!

Aha! I love cooking, especially non-veg food. I find it very creative and therapeutic too. I enjoy it thoroughly and love it more to serve it to my loved ones. It is a completely joyful activity. I also love to sing and act! Although not a professional in it, I find it quite natural in me. I am passionate about it and I would love to bring it to another level soon! I love travelling and I am a published writer, making me something of a public figure. Though I have a big friend circle and I am popular in my friend’s circle, inside I am a reserved person. I would prefer a quiet moment with myself as compared to a social party. I take my time to make a new friend or open up to people.

The loss of a closed one or the fear of your loved one leaving you, leaves you vulnerable. And when you lose a loved one at a young age you are even more insecure. You experience life in a completely different perspective when you face death of your loved one. Until that moment, you believe people close to you would always be there for you, no matter what. You tend to depend on them making it difficult to imagine life without them. You make your happiness depend on external factors and other people. And then you realize you are wrong. Life and death is that reality circle which keeps going on and we get caught up in their whirlwind. I had the fear of loneliness. I would fear losing people either to death or to life, when life’s circumstances would make them leave me and move on. I overcame this fear. I have learned to be happy from within. Be my own source of immense happiness and love. I have become the love that I was seeking from the external world, or rather I discovered that I am that love!

I wouldn’t call it my greatest achievement as I believe I still have a long way to go. I still have to reach that heights which I strongly believe I am capable of reaching. At the same time, I do not forget to appreciate myself of becoming a published author and a poet while working with a corporate in a leadership role. It is an achievement in itself where my job role is very demanding and technical while writing is a completely creative field. And yet, I have managed to balance the two worlds so far.

I will share few of the recent high points of my life. One was when I accomplished one of my dreams of scuba diving while I was on a vacation in Andaman. It was a truly awesome experience. Something which needs to be experienced to relate to it. It makes me feel immensely happy to have experienced this thrilling and adventurous feat. And Winning the Best Sci-Fi Novel Of The Year Award for my novel THE PREDICTION is another milestone of my life! When I had embarked upon my journey as a writer, I had never imagined winning an award in this field. I had merely thought of following my passion, for myself. The award strengthens my belief that anything is possible, you just have to believe in yourself and keep doing your best.

I live life to my fullest and though to an onlooker it might be an ordinary, just round the corner type of a life, I do not think I have any low points in it. Having said this, when I lost my father while I was in school was the lowest point of my life. It took immense efforts and a lot of trust on my part to restart my life and give it a positive turn.

My mother! She is a continuous source of inspiration and strength to me. If it had not been for her, I wouldn’t have been where I am today. I admire her for her inanimate strength to face life in adversities and be a source of strength to her children.

I simply love Bertie Wooster, the main character of the novels of P.G. Wodehouse. He is charming and funny. He steals my heart with his funny antics and makes me laugh. He makes me pick up a P.G Wodehouse every single time I go to a bookstore.

I love Tom, the supposedly the bad guy in the Tom and Jerry series. His ingenious ways to harass Jerry are funny. His devious plans to win over Jerry in all of their adventures would never fail to make you love him even though he is a bad cat!

A whole lot of them! I love the works of a lot of writers. The way they articulate, plot, present and manage to touch the heart is endearing. Just to name a few, I love the works of P.G Wodehouse, Ayn Rand, Ken Follet, Richard Bach, Robin Sharma and a lot more.

Illusions by Richard Bach, Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Fountain head by Ayn Rand, Many lives Many Masters by Dr Brain Weiss, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I keep reading The Illusions time and again. It is not a book. It is a life diary, a reference manual for me. Whenever I have a question which life poses on me, I randomly open a page of the book and find my answer. It is simply beautiful beyond words.

Sholay, Andaaz Apna Apna, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Maine Pyar Kiya, Chupke Chupke

I would love to fly! I wish I had wings, I wish I were an angel who makes dreams and wishes true! I would fly with my glittering wings and my magic wand and sparkle love and miracles in the lives of people. I believe in miracles and I believe there are angels around me too!

Wow!! What an awesome life Swarupa! You spread joy and love to all around you and would be deeply missed by all!

In my wish list I have several to-do things which I would like to achieve. One of them is to learn a dance form and learn to play a musical instrument.

A lot of them! Whenever I read a book which touches my soul, moves me deeply I wish I had written it. It resonated with me completely. All my favourite novels and their authors work fall in this category. For instance, I wish I had penned Illusions. It is deep and a true work of art. The philosophy of the author has changed my thinking and approach to life.

I write in the night in my favourite corner. I like the coolness of the night, when the day has gently set and my mind is relaxed. There is no disturbance of the outer world and my creativity is at its best.

Both at their preferred time and my mood. I love to spend some time in silence every day. I unwind at the end of the day ruminating over the events of the day, over my thoughts, how I am feeling, where I am going, what I am doing, what am I becoming… And I love to listen to music in the evening while travelling home. Listening to my favourite songs relaxes my mood.

‘Thoughts become things’.

Not really. I do not believe in binding myself to any particular ritual or belief. I allow my creativity to flow freely.

I had a guilty reading pleasure in the past, I would read anywhere and everywhere and anytime possible. For example, while having dinner or while travelling. I then realized I was not giving my time and attention to my family and friends during those rare spare moments. I have released myself from this guilt. I now read only in the night.

Write what comes from within. Don’t try to follow the masses. Write for your passion.