Name: Mahendra Jakhar

Birth Date: 15 September, 1974

Academics: B.A, English Literature (Hons.), Kiriri Mal College, Delhi University, PGD is Mass Communications from Centre for Mass Media, New Delhi

Hobbies: Reading, Photography, trekking in Himalayas, going on long walks in forests and National Parks, running.

1. Your journey as an author... 

Well, my journey as an author has been fascinating. I have been a crime reporter and crime thrillers come naturally to me. I have also written many episodes for the TV show CID that served as a school for crime writing. Especially crime writing is an art that combines craft along with keeping the story thrilling and interesting. Also, I write crime fiction not just for thrills and entertainment it provides me a platform to try and understand what is going on in our society, what is wrong with our society that in spite of all the development, education, stringent laws and all the crime rate continues to spiral upwards. So in my own way I try to understand it, look for solutions if there are any and see where we as a society are heading.

Let me tell you, I was writing a film script with the same title THE BUTCHER OF BENARES (my first novel) and approached a lot of film directors and producers but none showed any interest. There are still not many murder mysteries being made in Bollywood. So I had this title and then I started writing the book. The story changed totally from what I had in the film script. And I am a big History lover so yes somewhere I have put history into the book. The history that becomes a part of the book also is something that’s unknown to the common man. It’s not taught in schools and colleges so I turned it into a thriller with historical undertones.

2. What motivates you to write and just keep writing?

I believe what Rumi said, “Everyone has a gift hidden inside us. This life is all about first discovering the gift and then sharing it.” If I look back, my whole life was about discovering the gift hidden inside me and then I found it – writing. So now I am out to share it with many people as I can through my books, TV shows and feature films.

I was an avid reader from my school days and I never thought that I too could ever write a book that will be read by thousands. Still, that desire was certainly there. So when I started writing film scripts and TV shows, I realized that there were stories that might never get made into a film but can be told through a book. So I used this as a medium to tell more stories.

The motivation is not money, fame and recognition. In fact there is no motivation as there seems to be a plethora of stories hidden inside me that I’m dying to write more and more and no external motivation is needed.

 3. For a writer, how important it is to be a good reader? 

Reading for me is like a gym for the writer. Most people go to gym to get a toned body and look good in a similar way if you want to improve your writing and have a head full of ideas, reading becomes essential. Right from my school days I’m almost addicted to reading. There have been times that I have spent money on books rather than paying electricity and phone bills. Nowadays I make sure that I read at least 50-100 pages everyday and read diverse books that kep my brain cells working and brimming with stories.

4. What are your views on online readership?

The digitalization has only helped an author to reach out to more readers and get the book available all across the world in other forms, be it an e-book or kindle versions. Right now the online readership is minimal but soon it will grow as the new generation who are still is school and colleges will be using the hi-tech devices to read. While there are many who prefer the paperback and both will survive.

My first book THE BUTCHER OF BENARES is a heady combination of history, mystery, mythology and thrills. It’s a murder mystery that combines the mysticism of Benares, the mysteries of Vedic astrology and astronomy, the varied religious sects, the history of Benares, the royal family, the many historic sites and temples and how it all connects to the 1857 Revolt. With these ingredients The Butcher of Benares stands out in the crowd. A whole lot of foreign travellers are picking up the book from airport and superb five star reviews have been pouring in from all over.

It was well thought of, researched and planned. We have many books on mythology and crime fiction but none that brings them together in a contemporary setting. So the very setting of Benares, the land of Gods and mysticism bring it all together. Some of the critics have compared me to Dan Brown but I take it as a compliment that I could stand up to that level in my first book.

I took three trips to Benares and stayed there for a week each time. I met with Sadhus, Aghoris, Naga sadhus and spent a lot of time roaming on the Ghats and talking to pundits and touts. It was there I found some interesting characters. I also met with a senior astrology scholar who enlightened me with Vedic astrology and its connection to astronomy. I had to read a lot of background on the royal family of Benares and make sure that I don’t hurt their sentiments and still can turn my book into a thriller that I aspire.

The book THE BUTCHER OF BENARES entertains and educates. At time it kicks you in the gut and jolts you to think about the crimes happening in the society. It grabs you and takes you on a journey through the lanes of Benares and into its dark secrets, its history and the murderer. One thing is sure you’ll love it and won’t be able to sleep till you finish it.

My next book again a thriller will be releasing by the end of 2016 published by Westland Publications.

6. A message for the reader's community... 

There are no books without readers and there are no readers without books. So an author and the reader both become important in story-telling. Today, like many corporate giants the publishers also engage in research trying to find out what the reader wants and they dish out the same romance and mythology. A large number of readers also read what is familiar to them so most people are still reading mythology and romantic stories. It’s only a few who want to try books that are totally out of the box. The readers need to widen their arena of reading and the authors too need to widen their arena of imagination and storytelling. Maybe then we will be producing world class books. 

[ Mahendra Jakhar is author of "The Butcher of Benares" ]