Book interview with Anuraag writer Jyoti Tiwari

Hello friends,

Today we have Jyoti Tiwari, writer of Anuraag. Let us talk about her journey of Journalism and new interest writing.

Can you please introduce yourself to the world of literature?

I am Jyoti Tiwari and I was a blogger and citizen journalist before coming to the world of literature. I am associated with the men issues awareness movement and did a lot of activism related to the cause.

I started writing at a very early age of 16 but it was not in published form. I wrote for school and college magazines. In college I won Dr. Hazari Prasad Gold medal for best essay and Premchand award for best story. Then while working as a news reader at Akashwani, Lucknow, I did diploma in journalism. I always wanted to write a book which could not happen due to several reasons.

When you published first?

I got published recently on 21 May 2017 my first book was unveiled. It was a long pending dream which finally came into shape.

Describe Jyoti in day to day life?

I am a mother and a wife so in day to day life I fulfill those responsibilities. As I am part of men’s issues awareness movement I do a lot of internet to keep people updated about the issues. I write blogs, use twitter for awareness. Recently I started video blogging, I do short videos. My day starts like a normal homemaker and ends like a normal homemaker in between I do all these activities.

What are your hobbies apart from writing?

Music is my second love, I listen to lot of music I love to sing too. So if I am not listening to music I sing. I have recorded some of my songs on soundcloud. Songs are of various moods and tastes. Music is my stress buster. Apart from that I cook and I experiment in cooking. I developed this hobby recently. My reward is the smiles on faces of the people for whom I cook.

Tell us more about your book?

My book is my brother’s biography. I came into men’s movement as my brother passed away while fighting with false allegations. I wanted to write a lot about men and their issues, so I started by telling my brother’s story.

How do you manage your writing time?

That is a very good question; it is difficult to manage when you are managing a house and an office. I used to run a community center for distressed men. I quit that to become a full time writer. I write when kids are not around or late night. Sometimes I used to just close the door and write for hours, my kids cooperated in that by doing their stuff themselves. Before writing I think a lot about it and do a little research if necessary.

What do you think of modern day relationships?

Just like any other thing modern day issues relationships too have become complicated. There is a lot of exposure for everyone. Communication has become easy so it is easy to express yourself.  In that expression sometimes things are miscommunicated or there is no communication at all and problem begins. As moral value system is no more followed casual relations have taken over. Which is alright till it does not hurt people but that is not possible in long run. People are not stones; they are human so it is important to draw a line. The early people understand this the more it will be good for human race.

What do you think about cheating in relationships?

You cannot judge someone just by saying he/she cheated in a relationship. It is important to understand why it happened? What made him/her to cheat? Of course cheating is bad just like any other sin but then any kneejerk reaction is not right either. People should be open if they change their priorities but if they do not, they should be dealt gracefully. I would like to add here legally if a husband cheats on wife there is a law to punish him but for a wife it is assumed that husband was not taking care of her properly. What I want to say is if you want to end a relationship end it gracefully.

How important is physical intimacy in a relationship?

I will not say it is not at all important but it is overrated. There can be a couple which is perfectly alright not being physical. The problem of our society is that sex is a big taboo here. You are not allowed to even talk about it so if people are suffering due to lack of it, they suffer silently. It is important to understand that physical need of a body is just like any other need and that need should be fulfilled. Otherwise there will be crime related to it, there will be cheating in relationships.

Who is your favourite writer and why?

There is not one favorite writer. My favorite writers have changed over the years. When I was a child I used to read comics. Then it was hindi writers like Mahadevi Verma, Nirala, Prem Chand, Bankim Chandra Chatopadhaya, Sumitranandan Pant, Shree Lal Shukla, Dharmveer Bharti. I also read Leo Tolstoy, Shakespeare, William Wordsworth. I can add so many to the list as I am and avid reader but recently whom I read and admired a lot is Amish Tripathi.

What are your upcoming projects?

 

There is one international book coming in October most probably. It is about journey of 21 women all over the world. The title of the book is I bared my chest. Then there is one book coming which is still in pipeline. There are few things in mind about how to give peace of mind to distressed men which will take shape in coming months.

Any tips to the upcoming young generation.

Only two tips I will give,

Gender equality does not mean privileges, rights go side by side with responsibilities and gender does not mean women only.

There is no need to do mudslinging when a relationship is over. End the relationship gracefully, do not blame or accuse.

Jyoti in one sentence.

The fire herself, Jyoti the unstoppable …………….

Thank you Jyoti ji for answering the questions honestly. You are doing a superb job by talking about men and their rights. Not every time, man is wrong. Thank you for showing us the light through your book.

If you are interested to give interviews, please contact me at the earliest.

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