Amish Tripathi

The youth in India tend to be rebellious, as with everywhere else, and that makes Shiva exciting. He has the rebellious qualities that the youths like. ”

In the India I was growing up in, history wasn't really a wise career option. People would joke and say, 'History's okay, but what's your actual job?' I didn't come from a privileged background and couldn't afford to be irresponsible, so I did the pragmatic thing and did a MBA. ”

If you have to write a fictional adventure to convey a philosophy of evil, the best person is the destroyer of evil himself, Lord Shiva. ”

In the ancient times, bards went around singing the epics, which were storehouses of philosophy. ”

I see a sense of unity in the universe. Spirituality is not limited to only one religion. One can experience it across different religions. I am fascinated by philosophy of Advaita and philosophy of unity. We have to get over the illusion that God is different from us. ”

I believe if you want to convey a complex philosophy, it's advisable to keep it simple: day-to-day lingo. ”

Since I don't come from a privileged background, I couldn't afford to be irresponsible with career decisions. I wrote two books alongside my job and resigned only when I realised I can make a living. ”

There is a wealth of readership for regional language literature in India that is not given importance. We must give respect to our own languages. ”

I don't think I'm any competition to the already-existing canon of writers in Kannada. How can I ever even think of comparing myself? ”

I'm one of those lucky guys making a living out of something I really enjoy doing. That's a blessing. But you never know. What if my subsequent book series flops? I don't come from a wealthy background, so I'd be left with no choice. I'd have to go back into banking! ”