1. Your journey as a poet...

I still do not call myself a poet though my poems have been published in several international journals like iamnotasilent poet, yellow chair review, piker press, dukool, duaneespoetree, random poem tree and so on. Even I have poems in printed anthologies like Red Balloons, Taj Mahal Review and in the world's first Haiku collection that will soon be published. I believe every human has a poet in him or her. Else why should I suddenly start writing poems just a year back when one of my senior editors under whom I worked many years ago asked me just during a conversation if I write poems. It was just a scribble on a piece of paper I started with and then I thought why not use it as a tool of protest against women atrocities. I live in a country where women face abuse in various forms. Either direct like rape, dowry deaths, honor killing or even indirect like mental torture at in-laws place child marriage or even forced abortions. Most of my poems till date have addressed these issues and are extremely spontaneous. For I write while returning from office on my whatsapp. Over the past year I have made friends with some amazing poets from abroad primarily European poets. They urged me to write visual poems. Like they sent their clicked photographs and asked me to interpret them through words and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I write a lot of love poems or nature poems on my own photography too. So I really do not call myself a poet, rather i express my innermost love and feelings through poems as thats the easiest tool to make me happy with life.

2. What are your views about Indian publishing industry?

Indian publishing industry these days is completely driven either by self publishing or publishing only restricted to celebrated authors and even re publishing authors of old times. Hardly we see any new author coming up. Its driven completely by a monetary goal which is very sad. In the process it produces trash mostly and thr quality suffers greatly. Even bookstores ask for money to just display books! That reflects either Indians are reading more online or they do not read. Books are just business today, no more an intellectual pursuit, and yes this is a dangerously degrading trait.

3. Your views on Online readership..

Online readership is huge. My first book Lost Words had the most kindle readerships and purchase rather than hardbacks and softbacks. For my poems I can say the social media is a big place to reach out to your audience. I have a huge fan following for my poems that I exclusively acquired online. I believe the future of print industry is doomed, and will soon be taken over by e publishing. Even though touching and reading a book has an altogether different feel, yet for the younger generation its easier to download and read.

4. Tell us about your book/s

My first published book Lost Words was internationally launched two years back. Its a romantic thriller that highlights a strong willed woman who defies society and the whole story unfolds through letters.. again a dying art in the age of emails. It got great reviews and was launched physically at oxford bookstore Kolkata too. It's still doing good in USA and UK. My short story also featured in a printed short story anthology of short stories called Half Baked Love. My poems are part of many printed anthologies too.

5.  A message for the writer's community...

My message would be:  just write your heart out, do not direct your feelings and writings to commercial success. For that will automatically come if your words touch the heart of readers.