Deepam Chatterjee is happy that his debut fiction The Millenial Yogi is in stands. The Army officer turned writer shares what made him shift from guns to pen and paper and reveals his journey so far.
“The Millennial Yogi is about how a chance meeting with a wise mystic turns a young man’s life inside out. I have written it in the tradition of ‘The Monk who Sold His Ferrari’, ‘The Alchemist’ and ‘The Secret’. Such themes are rare and I have tried to give a contemporary touch to the timeless theme of loss and redemption. I do hope that this book leaves an everlasting imprint on the landscape of literary fiction. I am certain that The Millennial Yogi is going to become the harbinger of a new era in Mind Body Spirit literature,” he says.
Deepam is an Ex-Army officer, who is endeavouring to integrate ancient Indian ethics and values with modern ideals. He is an alumnus of The National Defence Academy and The Indian Military Academy.
“I was injured in Siachen Glacier, the coldest and highest battlefield on earth, and I succumbed to an attack of paralysis which took its toll upon me. After a long soul searching journey, I began teaching Meditation and Mysticism. I have also been visiting faculty at the Mumbai University. During my travels, I met and learned from The Dalai Lama, and Sri Sri Ravishankar. Media mavens, international trainers, and corporate heads of the likes of Disney Entertainment etc. call me a “Game Changer”,” he adds.
Over the past few years, he has been a consultant to the Indian and International Television and Film industries, app makers, as well as virtual reality based game creators and animators from the Silicon Valley. A number of screenwriters and visualisers from Hollywood have also approached him for advice too. He has taught the Art of Living courses, been visiting faculty on Mysticism at Mumbai University, and a regularly consulted by the comics industry, fiction writers, researchers, journalists, directors, actors, etc for his expert suggestions, visualisations for my narrative expertise. His writings are regularly published in newspapers and periodicals. He also conducts storytelling sessions/ workshops on Mysticism, Ancient History, Meditation traditions of the World and Mythology. “Ashutosh Gowariker is one of the few great filmmakers that I have always wanted to work with. I do hope the dream comes true soon!”, he adds.
“I have been writing since I was a young boy. What is written well is because we have been taught by great teachers. They instilled in me a sense of wonder and the joy of reading. My childhood is filled with memories of books. From the classics to mysteries and adventure, I wanted to read everything. Even during my Army days, I used to write articles. During my 27-odd years post my leaving the Army, I have written on a wide variety of subjects in newspapers. I have also written one published pamphlet, ‘The Timeless Faith’ and a number of Graphic Novels,” says Deepam, who has created a large body of writings, categorised in the genres like Mysticism Non-Fiction and Fiction, Mythology Non Fiction and Mythological Fiction, Meditation and Self Help, Historical Fiction – Ancient, Medieval and Recent and Military Non-Fiction and Fiction.
It is said that there is a writer in every person. Commenting on the same, Deepam says, “We all have stories to share. We may not be able to express them in excellent language. But that is not important. All stories are born as thoughts and a writer is born the moment they begin to put these thoughts into words. I encourage everyone to tell their stories. Language can be refined later. Great stories are lying in everyone’s heart. We have to share them. I am always excited when I see people create stories. My message to all people is to write the ideas and thoughts down, or they are lost. Don’t worry about becoming a Shakespeare. Our stories are in our souls. Let them come out through your pens. They will live through your words forever.”
