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Three Questions with...Ruzbeh Bharucha
Priyanka Mathur
February, 2011
They say the pen is the mightiest sword, and considering Ruzbeh
Bharucha's works, this couldn't be any truer. This Pune-based writer
believes in reaching out to the masses through his stories which are
often based on true incidents. Born in 1967 in Mumbai, Bharucha, who
has published eight books since, found his true calling as a writer
while in his last year of college. He switched from studying
economics to editing and publishing a magazine called Venture.
He worked as the chief editor of Pune's first weekly newspaper - the
Pune Tribune, and was also the executive editor of the
business publication division of the Indian Express. Presently, he
is the executive editor of The 4th D Wellbeing Journal.
"Believe me India is better off with me being an author and a
film-maker than an economist," said Bharucha. As his latest book
The Fakir - The Journey Continues hits bookstores, we questioned
this journalist and writer.
What is Fakir - The Journey Continues all about?
The prequel to this book, The Fakir, was about one's master,
faith and surrender. The book has been translated into German,
Marathi and Hindi, and shall be soon published in Bulgarian and
Bengali. The Fakir - The Journey Continues, deals with free
will, karma, life after death and spirit communication. I have
always believed that we come with our inherent characteristics,
weaknesses, strengths, limitations and the sum total of our past
actions, thoughts and deeds. When we kick the bucket, we depart with
our karma, unfinished and newly created emotions, prejudices, fears,
kinks, and our inherent tendencies.
What kind of audiences do you keep in mind when writing?
My Paranormal themed books are written for those who want to walk
the path and those like me, who are rather messed up but still want
to make their master happy and proud of him or her. They are books
of hope and love for the master. I write books on social issues
because I do believe that there are innumerable families who would
like to help those less fortunate than themselves and would want to
know how to do so through a book devoid of legal mumbo jumbo, but
filled with conversations and emotions, humour and tears. And trust
me, my readers do go out of their way to lend a helping hand. I am
proud of my readers.
Most of your published works revolve around topics like
mysticism, paranormal activity, travel, and of course social change.
Why these particular themes?
The Fakir and its sequel deals with issues that are real.
There's no bullshitting or shadow boxing in social issues or
spiritual ones. Both issues are real and I do believe that books on
such issues, if written with humour, emotions, and not taking
oneself seriously, makes a positive difference in the lives of the
reader and the lives the reader touches. I have had the pleasure of
being inspired by rock stars of the spiritual world and the common
man - the salt of the earth; the social worker who earns barely
enough to keep body and soul intact, but toils day in and out to
make somebody else's life more respectable and dignified; those who
have lost everything, but yet are spiritually so centred that they
bring hope and kindle faith in mankind; and who are the scum
creation with a programmed DNA of self-destruction and pettiness.
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