A WRITER OF TABOO An author by night and a businessman by day, Manoj Jain’s second book - The THC - promises to highlight psychological <strong>issue</strong>s that are often not acknowledged, and how the cure to them lies within oneself. The title of the book is intriguing. Tell us more about it. The THC revolves around a healing center and the lives of the patients seeking cures therein. It is a centre that offers cures for physical problems like arthritis, insomnia, impotence and so on. However, these are tangible problems and are very often due to deeper psychological <strong>issue</strong>s, and that is the real <strong>issue</strong> that needs to be resolved. The THC is an attempt to highlight this thought. Therefore, it’s a positively spirited book with a simple message - that all problems have a solution (however unusual). Closing doors from the past, good friendships and introspecting all help to resolve deeper <strong>issue</strong>s and to open new doors The subtitle reads ‘Under A Gibbous Moon’. Why is the gibbous moon relevant? A gibbous moon is a phase of the moon when it is an incomplete moon (before it becomes a full moon) – I have used that as an allegory for a person’s inner growth. We are all nearly there, but there is something missing. We need to resolve the <strong>issue</strong>s so we can shine with our full light How do the characters Samar, Sanjaneka and Varun relate to each other, despite having different character sketches? Samar, Sanjaneka and Varun are strangers – they meet at the THC and soon realise that they will help each other heal. They are dealing with their own physical and psychological problems. Their histories are totally diverse, the reasons they come to the THC are different. However, when they meet at the center, they connect over their underlying <strong>issue</strong>s. They realise that despite being so different, they are still similar in a certain way. The differences are set aside and the cures gain importance. They beautifully help each other tide the wave of this physical and psychological imbalance. They realise that the cure to any problem lies within oneself. It is magical when the healing starts and crescendos into a cure. The book touches upon the psychological aspect of human life. Does it have any resonance with your life, or the people in your life? Human relations and human psychology have always held my attention, and the best way to express that aspect is through my books. Like my first book - The BNO - this too focusses on relationships, people and the problems attached therewith. Therefore there will always be some aspect or some views or some character that o might have resonance with real life. The plot, the character or the view will definitely relate to someone’s life in some way or the other. I have many readers always coming up to me to say they saw shades of themselves in the book - the books represent urban life, not me personally. The THC focusses on sensitive <strong>issue</strong>s like impotency. Do you think the Indian audience is ready for this kind of a subject? Like I said before, human relations and human psychology grabs my attention. I write about topics that are usually not discussed, thoughts that people prefer to be hide below a rug. But hiding and escaping from it does not solve the problem, and it needs to be addressed. In fact, unleashed emotions can often lead to repression, and this results in deeper <strong>issue</strong>s and more complicated relationships. Therefore I make an attempt to highlight these <strong>issue</strong> and put forth a solution through my books. At the end of the book, there is always a message to ponder upon. The stories are a slice of urban life as we know it today, and my books make me an “Author of the Uncomfortable”. I have been called a writer of taboo, too. Would you like to give any message to those who are going through psychological or emotional <strong>issue</strong>s? Life is never easy – it is an attitude. Every human being has his / her emotional insecurities or physical insecurities which are not acknowledged. Firstly, one must learn to accept flaws and deal with it themselves in the beginning. One must realise there is nothing wrong in putting forth unleashed and unexpressed emotions and pain, be it mentally or physically. People who are going through psychological <strong>issue</strong>s need help – from themselves, from their families and from a professional if need be. The characters in The THC are flawed, as we all are, and find their cures and solutions during their stay. The book works on the promise that the THC exists amongst each of us - we just need to check in more often. Sometimes happiness is waiting for you in unusual places. 130 ||||| NOVEMBER <strong>2016</strong>
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