Author interview: Bhagaban Chandra Patra on his book 'My Discovery of America'

Congratulations on the release of "My Discovery Of America ". You are not a full-time writer. How and when do you manage time to write it in between pursuing your regular career?

Just like I am not a full-time writer, I am also not a full-time doctor. As a gynaecologist, I am supposed to conduct deliveries and do operations. But I have stopped doing both for the last ten years and I am concentrating only on consultation and minor operations to get time for writing. As such, I have already published five to six books and have already written two to three more.

What kind of books inspire you as a writer? Who are your favourite authors and poets?

Any book which is actually inspiring does inspire me and I write.

Most of the famous writers who write fictions that touch millions of hearts are my favourite writers like cold Robin, R.K. Narayan, etc.

Why did you want to become a writer? Who inspired you to become a writer? What triggered you to come into writing?

The lure of fame and not money drew me to this life even at the cost of losing some practices. Of course, this has been going on for a long time in the mind since childhood. My argument was as suggested by many: the rich or the king is worshiped in one place where as the learned is worshipped everywhere. This idea was smouldering for a long time and was not getting expressed because of pressure as a doctor.

But then I came in contact with a doctor. I have no objection to taking his name. He is Dr. Asis Dey, a fellow gynaecologist and my senior, who was also a like-minded person, and a writer. He left for his heavenly abode about six months ago. His encouragement and continuous persuasion, I think, brought me to this stage.

What are you doing to let readers know about your book?

I plan to take it to print media, social media, and electronic media.

Tell me something about yourself and your background.

This is not an ordinary travel diary where travellers look at a list of things but see very little. My visit of just three weeks into this land of miracles has gone deep into the psyche of the people. So this is a different kind of expression.
 
Do you plan to take it up as a full-time profession if the response is good?

Certainly yes. I have already bid goodbye to my medical profession.