Firstly thanks for interviewing me. I am a big fan of Oxford Bookstore and the Cha-bar! I think Five Point Someone strikes a chord, with everyone who has been a student in India. I have always felt that if we face our problems in life in a light-hearted manner, they cease to remain problems. That is why I gave a humorous treatment to the characters in Five Point Someone. Of course, good humor is highly entertaining, and you win reader’s heart very fast if you can make them smile. Therefore, that is my genre from now. I would not specify any but how far are the side-splitting and grim incidents narrated in the book true to life? Believe it or not, all the incidents have a realistic basis. The setting, sequence or timing may have been changed somewhat – but the events are plausible. Yes, it has happened!

Out of the three – Ryan, Hari and Alok – it is fat and confused Hari who comes closest to what most of us are like in college. What do you think makes young people so confused at such a critical stage in life?

That is correct. Hari is the universal character that most of us can identify with. I think it has to do with the age – when we are suddenly away from the sheltered childhood of our parents, and are forced to find our own identity. Are we Ryan or are we Alok? Fact is we are a mix of these, and these dual contradicting aspects of our personality keep us confused.

How much of Hari Kumar is Chetan Bhagat? Hari Kumar is Chetan Bhagat. The character is written in first person and based on how I was in those days. I was over weight, confused, had self-worth issues and always wanted to be like the cool people. In fact, some of those aspects still remain in my personality until today. There is a dark side to Five Point Someone and it is disturbing because it is ‘so real’. It stays with you after you have finished turning the pages of this otherwise funny book. If the varied yet tough experiences in IIT bring about ‘genetic mutations’ in a student, what would you say to ‘those’ who do not make it to this ‘system’ of life? That is a good observation. Yes, while most people see Five Point Someone as a comedy, some people have told me the book is quite dark and touching. This is because it deals with the vulnerability of each of the characters – every person in the book is suffering a little bit, just as all of us are in real life. I think that is what people see – that amidst the laughter and fun, there is a dark side to everything. It makes the book more real.

Friendship and GPAs (Grade Point Average) – At the end of the day, does life in IIT come down to these? Life in IITs has lots of elements, but yes if I had to keep the essence, these two aspects remain the dominant themes in one’s stay there. Though I think it applies to non-IIT colleges as well.

Did writing a sequel to Five Point Someone come to your mind?

Yes, a lot of people have asked for a sequel. I think it is a huge compliment, because it means people love the characters so much that they want to be in touch with them all the time.

However, there will be no sequel. Sometimes, the unsaid is more powerful. The story is left slightly incomplete, because I want readers to connect some of the dots.

Also, I want to work on something new – a new setting, new characters while keeping the fun element of Five Point Someone. If readers liked the characters in this book, they should like the characters in my next book as well.

How about writing a book on what not to do at IIM?

No plans at the moment. It is a good concept, but one must realize that with FPS, the campus thing has been done. One of the reasons FPS clicked is that it was the first major book on Indian student life. I see the sense in doing something on the IIMs, but not as my second book.

So what are you planning to write for us now?

Yes, I am planning Book-II. As of now I am still in preliminary stages – so cannot give more details.

What are your interests other than Yoga?

Apart from Yoga and writing, my other love is films. I try to watch as many as I can, though things have been busy lately. I love music of course, as the Flyod references in the book can tell you. However, I have no talent for it – can’t sing or play an instrument sadly!

Who are the other authors you like reading?

A wide variety of them, though contemporary ones are better. I just finished Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

Finally, what does losing and winning mean to you?

This is a very deep question – and the quest for an answer continues. However, one should always try to put things in perspective. Winning is important, and it is fun – but somehow it is not always possible. A obsession with success can be counter-productive to happiness.

I try to tell myself this everyday – but it is challenging in a world where people only want to look at winners. I’d say these kinds of people are not worth it anyway. That is when people who really matter – your friends come in. It is a short life – yes do try and win – but if you lose – NO BIG DEAL! Just read my book and you will feel better.