Techie Protagonist in popular Novel
By Suneetha

Chandi Prasad Rout Ray’s Kismet is certainly good. His debut novel, where the protagonist is a techie stuck in the rut of a typical life, is a straight from the gut narrative, finding an echo in many a techie’s heart. The reader reviews drool with empathy on the protagonist’s thinking and the charts hold Kismet 3.0 high. Techgoss finds out from the author how the book was born.

Techgoss (TG): Chandi Prasad, could you give us an intro?
Chandi Prasad Rout Ray: (CR): I joined Wipro as a fresher and it is my 4th year with Wipro. I am currently working in the capacity of Lead Consultant for a new division in Wipro - Wipro Eco Energy.

TG: How did Kismet 3.0' happen?   
CR: Kismet 3.0 captures the essence of 3Ws - Wealth, Wine & Women and how it affects and shapes each person's KISMET (destiny). The KISMET 3.0 idea originated in a flight from Toronto to London. I was sitting beside a young European couple with a year old baby. The baby was crying out loud and was irritating everyone. This led to a heated argument between the couple. After sometime baby and mom fell asleep and the husband kicked off the conversation with an apology. After few beers the guy started throwing some glimpses of his life. A year back he was due for an Ivy League college and his wife was a professional dancer. Then this happened (showing his finger to the beer) which made this happen (now showing his finger to the baby). He said - this small beer bottle changed my life definitely for good but has changed. That gave me lots of sleepless nights and made me realize that a small beer bottle can also sometime change an entire life and KISMET 3.0 happened.

TG: Have you always been interested in writing? 
CR: This is my first piece of writing. I have a tendency to surprise myself and this is one of them :)

TG: How long did you take to write this? How did you collect such specific details of a techie's life, how did you manage the research part?
CR: It took me around 3 months to write the first draft book and once my editor Sandipan Deb came into picture under his guidance it took me a month extra to complete the book.

I am a part of a techie organization from last 4 years and at any point of time I am surrounded by 1000's of people if not more. Everyone works for the same organizational goal, same routine but different personal aspiration. The key is observing each of them and that helps a lot to your research.

TG: How soon could you publish this? Was it easy to get a publisher?
CR: I have been lucky to get a publisher within three months after I finished writing and published it within nine months. After I finished writing I had no idea of how to publish it. I wrote to few publishers but didn't get any response. My colleague found the reference of Aardvark Words in Facebook and I approached them. I have been very lucky to be associated with these stalwarts of the industry.

TG: How has the book been received? 
CR: To my pleasant surprise the book has been amazingly well received. Till now 90% of the readers have given 5 out of 5 ratings and the rest 4 out of 5 in Flipkart and Amazon.

I have received lots of great reviews. One particular review from a housewife where she forgot to watch her favourite soap is my own favourite - “Amazing book .............how could it make me forget my very fav serial....Pavitra Rishta."   I presume soaps are very important to these people :)

TG: What do you read? Who is your favourite author/book?
CR: I read a lot of articles and interviews on a daily basis and sometimes book. The only author whose book I have read diligently is JK Rowling's :)

TG: What do you think is your big influence on writing?
CR: The biggest influence on my writing was travelling and meeting people from various cultures.

TG: What next? Any more books waiting?
CR: The next is a play I have written entitled “ONE MORE TIME”. I have started writing my next book also.