{"id":292,"date":"2025-03-02T05:17:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nityarao.in\/?page_id=292"},"modified":"2025-03-02T06:46:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T06:46:26","slug":"interviews","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nityarao.in\/index.php\/interviews\/","title":{"rendered":"Interviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0What is the inspiration behind “Faces of Humanity”?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr. Nitya Rao<\/strong>: It all began with my niece, who would share her poems with me. In response, I would send her a few lines about each poem. She was so impressed that she asked if I could write a short story based on a single line she found on the internet.
For example – They took his father, and only returned a flag. I gave it a try, and she loved it. Soon, she sent me more lines. From those 18 lines,\u00a0Faces of Humanity\u00a0was born\u2014a collection of stories that reflect the vast and varied experiences of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0Tell us about the first story titled Books. In your book Faces of Humanity .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>: The pandemic affected people from all walks of life\u2014 physically, mentally, and financially. The affluent managed without much issue, and the upper middle class saw it as a forced vacation. The middle class struggled but got by, supporting one another. But the hardest hit were the lowest in society\u2014the street dwellers and those living in jhopdis (slums). I don\u2019t think anyone truly studied what they went through. Looking back, I wondered about their hardships, and that\u2019s where the story\u00a0Books\u00a0was born in Faces of Humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0in your book Faces of Humanity is “Crooked Lines” the story of a woman\u2019s struggle?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr. Nitya Rao<\/strong>: In part, yes. But it\u2019s also about the pressures parents place on their children \u2014the way parents often impose their aspirations without considering the child\u2019s natural talents. The story is how single artist mother struggles with life and her child not being able to draw a straight line. It\u2019s not just about personal struggle but the weight of parental expectations on the child. I tried to bring out this aspect in Faces of Humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0“Going with the Flow” the story from Faces of Humanity, has a bit of a lecture feel. Is that you speaking your mind?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0Yes and no. I\u2019m not much of a public speaker, but I know I have to promote my book, hence this interview. Deep down, I do believe children need role models to inspire them. If they are exposed to the right figures and they connect, a spark is lit within them.\u00a0Going with the Flow\u00a0is a reflection of that belief. In this story from Faces of Humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0in your book Faces of Humanity the story “Kick in the Stomach” takes a turn into love story territory. How did that happen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>: In my book Faces of Humanity,\u00a0I wanted the challenge of writing a different kind of love story. Thats when Kick in the Stomach was born. So I wove in multiple characters to push the narrative forward, making it more than just a typical love story. The result, I believe, is something unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0“Toys” seems to be about more than just toys. What inspired you to make it a part of Faces of Humanity?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>: You\u2019re right\u2014it\u2019s not really about the toys themselves. It\u2019s about the bond between children. In Faces of Humanity it\u2019s about a story found in many homes, where children treasure their toys and become possessive of them. At its heart, it\u2019s about the relationships formed through play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0Have you had personal experiences with the armed forces, as suggested by your story “Flags”?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0Yes, I\u2019ve been to the barracks, and I know four families from the armed forces personally. However,\u00a0Flags\u00a0isn\u2019t their story. It\u2019s about the families of those who serve\u2014the sacrifices they make, the pride they carry, and the challenges they face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0“Mother @ 50” is an unusual story. How did it come about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0I\u2019ve read about elderly women abroad getting pregnant later in life, but I hadn\u2019t come across any stories like that from India. I imagined how such a situation would play out here. How would the family react? How would society perceive it? We tend to look down on families in these circumstances, and I wanted to explore those dynamics in the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0Tradition is a common theme in literature. What inspired you to explore this subject?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0Tradition has evolved with each generation, and I wanted to delve into the aspects that may no longer serve us well today. I focused on the shortcomings of existing traditions and how the younger generation is reimagining them in the current environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0In your srory\u00a0Executive Director, what inspired your portrayal of the corporate world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0The influence of western corporate culture is quite prominent in today’s India. However, my story only touches on the “work from home” dynamic, while the rest could apply to any corporate environment. What really captivated me were the human emotions at play within that setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0In\u00a0Ocean, the Ganapati festivities play a role in the story. How did they influence your writing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0Anyone who has lived in Mumbai can’t escape the influence of the Ganapati festivities. It\u2019s a major event that everyone eagerly anticipates, and it\u2019s a time when young people form new friendships. The festival\u2019s significance is so strong that I couldn\u2019t leave it out of my story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0What themes were you trying to explore in\u00a0Coins?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0Coins\u00a0is a deeply interesting story with layers of meaning. It reflects the importance of planting the seeds of education early in children\u2019s lives, teaching them self-reliance. It also shows that true knowledge goes beyond what we learn in school or college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0In\u00a0Creator, do you attempt to resolve the debate between Religion and Science?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>: I don\u2019t explicitly offer a resolution. Readers will find my perspective within the story. Both science and religion hold important places in life, and debating them can be fruitful if done in the right spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0Your story\u00a0I am Hungry\u00a0seems to be shaped by your empathy for the poor. How has this affected your writing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>: Living in Mumbai exposes you to the full spectrum of life\u2014from extreme wealth to extreme poverty. Observing these contrasts deeply affects me, especially the plight of those living in inhuman conditions through no fault of their own. As a writer, it\u2019s impossible not to reflect this in my work. I\u2019ve always had a soft spot for the underdog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0In\u00a0Fools, you come across as someone willing to take risks and experiment. Is this a reflection of you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0Ha! Yes, I\u2019ve always been a risk-taker. I love experimenting, even when I fail. Whether it’s in cooking, gardening, or other areas, trying something new excites me. I remember as a child, I once read about thieves using hairpins to open locks, and I managed to unlock small ones myself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0Is\u00a0Familiar Voice\u00a0based on your own life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>: Not directly. It\u2019s more about introverts and honest people and how they\u2019re often perceived or used by others. It\u2019s a reflection on how society views and treats these individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0In\u00a0Heaven, there\u2019s a mentor guiding a young mind. Did you experience something similar growing up?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>: I wasn\u2019t as fortunate to have someone sit down and clarify life’s deeper concepts for me when I was young. Or maybe I wasn\u2019t ready to understand them at the time. With\u00a0Heaven, I wanted to simplify such ideas so that both children and adults could grasp them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0Your story\u00a0Laugh and Love\u00a0transports the reader to ancient times. How did you conceive that idea?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0The concept came from the idea of challenging someone to laugh. Ancient kings often posed bizarre challenges, like the ones you hear about with Akbar and Birbal. I fused that with the idea of laughter and found a story emerging. The ending, however, was particularly challenging to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer<\/strong>:\u00a0Does\u00a0Add Friends\u00a0reflect personal experiences?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>: Yes, in a way. I had two close friends in school, and I often wonder where they are now. We shared some great times, and I miss them. I\u2019ve been fortunate to have a steady flow of friends throughout my life, but I still wish I could reconnect with those early friendships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer:<\/strong>\u00a0Children feature prominently in many of your stories in Faces of Humanity. What draws you to them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0You\u2019re absolutely right. I\u2019ve always had a soft spot for children. Even as a child myself, unknown kids would approach me on buses or trains. I think it\u2019s because I still feel young at heart, and that connection naturally finds its way into my stories in the book Faces of Humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interviewer:<\/strong>\u00a0Tragedy seems to be a recurring element in your work in the book Faces of Humanity. Can you explain why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author, Mr Nitya Rao<\/strong>:\u00a0I believe tragedy is an inseparable part of life. It shapes who we become. Overcoming tragedy makes us stronger, much like failure is an essential stepping stone to success. Life’s challenges are what help us grow. Naturally it finds its way into my stories in the book Faces of Humanity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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