Aksara Bhagavad Gita by Haribakth is a book to treasure forever.

Interview:

What/who inspired you to write?

Who else but He, with His dangling the carrot of His supreme love in return for propagating His teachings.  BG: 18.69

Which is your favourite part from the book?

                The Dedication page, because it bares my soul. It has the renderer of Gita, the prime mover and doer of all actions stationed in all splendour in His abode, Dwarka. It has Him in His form as Narasimha Swami stationed at Namakkal, accompanied by the original proponents  of the four Sampradaya, accompanied by family, It has the same Lord in His form as sacrificial fire accepting my offering of the book which itself is His another form.   

Describe your publishing journey in 5 words.

Submit, Rejections, Re-submit, struggle & Self-Publish.

Your favourite sloka from the Gita?

My favourite sloka in Gita is 18.65.

मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु |
मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे || 18.65||

At all times, think of me, be my devotee, worship me, and offer Pranaams to me. I promise you my abode, because you are very dear to me.

This is my favourite because it carries the Lord’s Divine Guarantee, It has a personal message and also it tells how to attain Him easily, unlike my publishing journey.

How has been your writing schedule?

Would jot down anything that comes into the mind. Had a notebook nearby always even whilst sleeping so as not to forget. Committing the ideas jotted down into the Computer scheduled four days a week each comprising of 3-4 hour sessions.

How much time it took in the process of writing?

It has taken 3 years with additional 6 months for refining, revising and reviewing and modifying the script where required.

5 Books one must read?

Depends on the purpose and taste. For spiritual evolvement and enlightenment, Gita is sufficient. For the curious type, different versions of the Gita will give them high.

For history, read Mahabharata and Ramayana. For developing love towards God Srimad Bhagavatam of ISKCON  may be read. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, Principia Mathematica  by Bertrand Russell are my other favourites with the former advocating objectivism and the latter taking you down the lane of  logic of philosophy.

Mythology story you love the most?

Mahabharata, but it isn’t mythology. So mythological stories I like would be Arabian nights or Greek mythology which I used to read in schooldays.

Books that shaped you as a writer?

                You are asking a non-writer. I needed to communicate, and did it. Besides, I still require shaping both as a writer and as a fellow human being, I guess.

 A message for all the readers.

                Thanks for reading my book. Feel free to offer your comments. Read, Read & Read. It enriches you, expands your horizon, gives you a high, and will never let you feel lonely.

I thank Ms Vidya Thakkar for taking time out to converse with me and for bringing out the best in me.