Simran Keshwani Author Of Becoming Assiya – An Interview

This is Simran Keshwani. 20 physically, 85 at heart. Love sleeping, writing and old-school romanticism. Becoming Assiya is her debut title. And it seems to be a quite promising story. Your real name and pen name?

Simrann Keshwanii & Simran Keshwani. You decide which one’s which!

Please share some of the best memories of your childhood.

Simran Keshwani: Touchwood, I’ve had a very protected childhood. I wasn’t exposed to moments of shudder or fear. My world was a happy one. I think, the moments I spent with my maternal grandmother were one of the best. She opened gates to a mystic yet real world. She used to tell me stories of the Apathy of the Lords. Both my grandmothers opened up boxes of stories for me, I think that’s where my love for the world of the Word began.

About your education?

Simran Keshwani: I was blessed enough to go to Montfort school, the topmost in north delhi. It honed me in very different ways. I often hated being at school, I found it stifling and the kids there wouldn’t understand me. But, Years later, I owe all of my discipline to that place. Then, I was lucky enough to get into Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, the country’s premier institution for education. It changed the way I thought. Acceptance was a far off territory. We wouldn’t worry about that. It was about making peace with ourselves first, in this environment. Everyday, I learnt. Everyday, I grew.

What career did you plan during your education days? Simran Keshwani: During school I wanted to follow my father’s footsteps. According to me, he was the perfect son. But, growing up, my delusions faded. Perfect did not exist and he was human, like all of us! He has his share of faults, and that makes him incredibly beautiful as a human. To accord perfection to anybody, is a crime. I no longer wanted to follow his footsteps when I grew up and saw the ugly underbelly of where they lead. They lay a forlorn, unhappy world he had to brace everyday. I wanted different for myself thereon.

Simran Keshwani Author Of Becoming Assiya

What languages you can speak and write?

Hindi and English. I’ve always had a thing for Arabic. Can speak very broken bits.

What is your biggest source of inspiration in life?

Humans and their struggles. I think it is just grand – a tiny creature standing up to ordeals that are gigantic enough to crush him down with the speck of a fingertip, and yet, he makes the effort and moves out of his safe territory and often, wins, against the odds.

What hurts you most in this world?

Human Apathy. When we forget we’re all the same, and when hate forms a solid patina in front of our eyes, that’s when we fail as a race and our monsters win. That is what’s happening to the world today. We are giving in to our fears. What is the biggest challenge you have faced? How did you overcome it? Simran anwers to this question in a video blow in her own beautiful words. Watch it. http://pebbleinthestillwaters.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/VID-20170122-WA0012.mp4

If you had to live a day of your life as one of the living or dead personality, who would it be and why?

As Marina Abramovich, because I’d want to know what happens once you reach a place where you’ve crossed fear. Whether that’s a liberating space or whether, it hurts. Because for me, it must hurt, like any change.

What is your favorite genre and why?

I find the concept a bit constricting. Why do we neatly categorise books into genres? What’s horror to you could be romance to me!

Simran Keshwani Author Of Becoming Assiya

When did you start writing? What is the purpose of your writing?

Ever since I wrote my first alphabet or drew my first drawing or knew the smell of the first paper I held. Pen and paper are my best friends. They’ve never deserted me. That’s why I’m with them. It’s a symbiotic relationship.

Which of your work has been published so far? I’ve been blogging actively and I take to Facebook to share my thoughts on social issues. Like recently, I made a video on the Trump phenomenon and it had some 4K hits. You can find me here – www.fb.com/simran.keshwani

Simran Keshwani Author Of Becoming Assiya

Would you like to share a synopsis of your work?

Simran Keshwani: Becoming Assiya is the journey of a girl through the cracks and crevices of a search for a true identity. But, what do you hold on to when everything you had known has died down to flames? My setting is wartime Syria.

What are your forthcoming writings?

Nothing yet.

What genres you write in and why?I find genres constricting. But mostly, confessional and deeply personal.

Your dream destination on Earth?

Antarctica

Favorite time of the day?

Night

Your zodiac/ sun sign?Virgo

Your favorite color and why?

Black. It absorbs everything you throw at it.

What comes to your mind when you think of India?

Immense potential.

Some quickies: Sun or Moon

Moon Laughter or Smile Neutral Morning or Evening Evening Coffee or Tea Coffee Mountain or Sea Mountain Long Drive or Short Drive Long drive Silence or Conversation Silence  Water or Fire Water Air or Earth Air Mars or Jupiter Mars Tulip or Rose Rose Red or Blue Blue Left or Right Right Glance or Stare Glance  Fame or Money Fame Boy or Girl Girl Day or Night Night Tree or Plant Plant Love or Passion Passion

The best role of a woman is a Mother, Wife, Sister, Daughter, or an independent woman away from all these roles? (or any other role that comes to your mind).

A human too.

In fact, here is another inspiring video from Simran that is very inspiring for all girls on this earth.

http://pebbleinthestillwaters.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/VID-20170121-WA0020.mp4

Links & other relevant details:

Twitter handle: www.twitter.com/becomingassiya

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/becomingassiya

www.instagram.com/becomingassiya Thank you Simran Keshwani! And all the best for your forthcoming book release.