Ramendra Kumar (Ramen) is a children’s writer with 32 books to his name. He also writes satire, poetry, fiction and non-fiction. He has won 31 awards in the competition for writers of children’s literature organised by Children’s Book Trust (CBT), over the years. This tally is the highest by any writer and is thus a national record. His writings have been translated into 14 Indian and 13 foreign languages and have found a place in several school text books as well as anthologies, both in India and abroad.
Ramen is a much sought after inspirational speaker, storyteller and mentor. An Engineer & an MBA, Ramen is working as Chief of Communications in Rourkela Steel Plant, Odisha. In an e-mail interview with Bhaskar Parichha he speaks about his writings. Bhaskar Parichha is a senior journalist and currently associated with OdishaLIVE as Consulting Editor.
When did it occur to you that you can become a writer?
I wrote my first poem when I was in class III. It was quite pathetic and went something like this:
Topsy & Tim went for a swim,
Topsy swam well and broke the spell
Tim swam badly
And went home sadly.
I showed it to my father with a lot of apprehension. I thought he would reprimand me for not studying Maths or Science or trash my poem. He did neither. He simply picked me up, gave me a hug and said just one word: Wonderful!!
Today if I am a writer it is because of that one word.
How has the environment around you helped you in penning your thoughts?
I have been lucky to have spent my entire career in a beautiful place like Rourkela. I love its green and clean ambience, its quiet, unhurried life and its cosmopolitan nature. At times the focus on the steel plant does get a trifle claustrophobic but the camaraderie among the people more than makes up for it. The steel plant is only a fifteen minute drive, the kids’ school a ten minute one, everything is just a shout or a phone call away – in a big city you can only dream of such advantages. In a metro I would have possibly wasted more than a couple of hours in commuting and also got my mind addled with all the traffic, noise. Rourkela saves a lot of time and cocoons me from the chaos thereby helping me to concentrate on my job and my writing.
You mostly write for children. What makes you think and write about children?
I love writing for children the most. I would like to mention here that I am also an inspirational speaker for children and I am frequently invited by schools to address the young minds as well as to conduct creative writing workshops. Writing for children and being with kids has taught me that the only way to be happy is to be like them. When I’m in the company of kids I feel much younger and far more vibrant. Even a few minutes with little hearts and souls are like an injection of elixir.
The response of the young has been very encouraging to my initiatives. After the workshops the children have often mobbed me with their slam books, class copies and even pieces of paper, asking for autographs, posing for selfies and later deluging me with Facebook requests. On each of these occasions I have felt like a rock star!
You seem to be taking interest in parenting too. You have a book on the subject. How did this happen?
My book on parenting was inspired by my wife Madhavi who felt that most of the books on this vital theme are serious tomes written by psychologists, pedagogues or paediatricians. Their tone is highly pedantic. She wanted me to write a book on parenting which would offer hands on tips, be fun to read and easy to practice.
Effective Parenting: A New Paradigm is based on ideas culled from my own experiences as a child from a broken home, my observations as a writer for children and my own struggles as a parent. It is a framework offering only gentle suggestions, hints and thoughts which would hopefully serve the mum/dad as unobtrusive guides as he/she journeys across the tough terrain of Parenting. An added feature in the book, which I hope shall enhance its readability quotient, is a basket of poems, stories and anecdotes.
You have been holding workshops for children. What do you find special in today’s kids?
The youngsters of today are very intelligent, curious and sharp. However, their attention span is limited. Hence it is a real challenge for any writer or story teller to keep them hooked to the written and spoken word.
Being a PR professional, how has it helped you to become a writer? Do they go together?
I don’t think my being a PR professional has helped me in my writing. But yes, my writing certainly has helped me in my profession. Communication is the very essence of PR and my writing ability has gone a long way in making me a more effective PR professional.
What is your next book?
I have just started working on a novel for teens on the theme of poaching of tigers. It is about four youngsters who go on a visit to a jungle on the Himalayan slopes. There they are a witness to the heinous crime and take it upon themselves to bust the racket. The first draft should be ready by March end.
I have been researching for a book which would deal with the rather sensitive and controversial issue of sexual offences against children. It will be based on a few case studies (fictional) and would focus on how the parents and society actually react in real life and ideally how they should. The POV would be entirely the child’s and the target audience would be 9 to 13 years. I will include a segment on the salient features of the POCSO act. The Act would be presented in a simple way minus the jargon and legalese. I am hoping to complete the book by June.
You were in Sri Lanka recently. How was the experience?
I had an awesome experience. I was felicitated by the Writers and Publishers of Sri Lanka, for my contribution to children’s literature, on 22nd December at Colombo.Deshabandhu Sirisunama Godage, award winning publisher and Mr. Bobby G. Boteju, acclaimed translator honoured me. Earlier, my book ‘Dilemma and other stories’ translated into Sinhala was released by the dignitaries. This is my 4th book in Sinhala. I was also informed that my stories have been included every year, since 2011, in a text book brought out by the government of Sri Lanka. These books are distributed by the government to more than 10000 schools across the country. I am the only author from outside Sri Lanka to achieve this rare distinction. On 21st I addressed a large gathering of students, teachers and parents. The first copies of 40 books written by children were presented to me. My Sri Lanka sojourn commenced at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda where I addressed the students and professors.
What is your advice to the younger generation of writers?
I would like to tell every writer, aspiring or otherwise: Don’t write for money, don’t write for fame. Write for the love of writing; write for the joy of creating.. Your writing may not make you rich, it may not make you famous, it may not even make you popular but if your words can lighten someone’s burden with a ray of happiness then you can take pride in a job well done.
How have your books fared?
I am happy to say that most of my books have fared rather well. Many of them have gone into multiple reprints and translated into several languages, both Indian and foreign. Six books written by me have been recommended by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as Supplementary Readers. One of my Read Aloud books ‘Paplu, the Giant’ was selected to mark the International Literacy Day in September, 2013. More than 1000 story telling sessions were held in 25 languages across the country as well as abroad. It was also selected by Radio Mirchi for broadcast as an audio book in five languages. Several stories written by me have also been included in text books and anthologies published in India and abroad.
