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Writer's pictureAjiva Talks

Interview with Piyush Rohankar

Updated: May 19


Piyush Rohankar

Piyush Rohankar, hailing from Nagpur, India, is a distinguished Indian Civil Servant who successfully cleared the UPSC Civil Service Exam in 2014. His journey in the civil services led him to be allotted the allied service: Delhi and Andaman & Nicobar Island civil services (DANICS). Piyush's academic foundation is rooted in a Bachelor's Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from VNIT, Nagpur. He further honed his skills by pursuing an MBA in Finance from SIBM, Bangalore.

Beyond the realm of bureaucracy, Piyush is a multifaceted individual with a keen interest in literature and the arts. His foray into the world of writing is marked by his debut suspense novel, "A Pleasant Escape," a narrative that delves into the intricate lives of IAS aspirants, offering readers a gripping and insightful perspective on their challenges and aspirations.

In addition to his novel, Piyush has made a notable mark in the realm of poetry, having published three anthologies: "Saint Hazel Poems to a Maiden," "Narcissistic Romanticism," and "Fuchi." Through these collections, he showcases his poetic prowess, exploring various themes and emotions with eloquence and depth.

When not immersed in the responsibilities of his civil service role, Piyush finds solace and passion in a variety of activities. He is an avid writer, crafting verses that reflect his creative spirit. His love for literature extends to reading, where he explores diverse genres to broaden his understanding and perspective.

Piyush's interests extend beyond the written word. He finds inspiration in the harmonies of western classical music, and his leisure time often involves watching movies, a pastime that allows him to appreciate storytelling in different forms. Additionally, Piyush enjoys the thrill of competition, engaging in table tennis, showcasing his athleticism and determination on the table.

A globetrotter at heart, Piyush Rohankar embraces the joy of travel. Exploring new places, experiencing diverse cultures, and soaking in the beauty of the world are integral to his well-rounded lifestyle. Amidst his diverse pursuits, Piyush has carved out time to focus on his latest literary endeavor, "The Lost Treasure of Azad Hind Fauj: A Historical Mystery." This book promises to take readers on a gripping journey through the annals of the Second World War, weaving together a tale of mystery and intrigue.

In summary, Piyush Rohankar is not only a dedicated civil servant but also a versatile individual whose passion for literature, poetry, and a myriad of other interests enriches his personal and professional life. His contributions to the literary world and commitment to his responsibilities in the civil services exemplify a harmonious blend of intellect, creativity, and public service.

1. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest book, "The Lost Treasure of Azad Hind Fauj: A Historical Mystery"? What compelled you to explore this particular historical theme?

> Love for history especially world war and Indian freedom struggle and getting the opportunity to serve on the beautiful islands of Andaman and Nicobar was the inspiration behind this book. There were stories during world war one and two which according to me not many people know about along with the way of life and belief of the primitive tribal group of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. This compelled me to explore this particular historical theme.

 

2. The Second World War provides a vast backdrop for historical fiction. What drew you specifically to the Azad Hind Fauj and its lost treasure as the central theme for your book?

> Azad Hind Fauj had a profound impact on the freedom struggle against the British. Further, since I had the opportunity of serving in Andaman and Nicobar islands, which happened to be the first Indian territory to be liberated from the Britishers by the Japanese and handed over to the Azad Hind Fauj, I thought of weaving a fictional story based on historical facts so that many people become aware of the complex relationship arising out of war time necessity between natives and the Japanese and the British. So I decided to introduce Andaman and Nicobar islands to the readers through Azad Hind Fauj and a fictional lost treasure.

 

3. How did your background as an Indian Civil Servant and your experiences shape the narrative of your book? Did your professional life influence the way you approached historical research and storytelling?

> Having the opportunity to serve on the islands as a civil servant gave me the chance to intimately understand the place from historical context and gave me an insight into the social and cultural aspects of the natives. Further, in the line of duty I had access to places which one would not get in normal circumstances. Hence my professional background helped me in writing this novel.

 

4. "The Lost Treasure of Azad Hind Fauj" seems to blend historical facts with fiction. How did you strike a balance between staying true to historical events and incorporating elements of mystery and suspense into the narrative?

> History is a function of space and time. Staying true to the event, at times the sequencing of historical event has been played with along with fictionalising the events in the life of historical figures has been done in order to incorporate elements of mystery and suspense into the narrative.

 

5. Given your educational background in Electronics and Communication Engineering and an MBA in Finance, how did you transition into the world of writing and particularly, historical fiction? What challenges did you face in making this shift?

> I started writing poetries since my engineering college days and gradually got into novelling. Historical fiction happened by accident as I got an opportunity to serve on Andaman and Nicobar islands. The obvious challenge that one faces is in terms of Time management since one has to balance studies and professional endeavours with writing.

 

6. Your debut suspense novel, "A Pleasant Escape," focused on the lives of IAS aspirants. How does your writing in "The Lost Treasure of Azad Hind Fauj" differ, and what themes or messages do you aim to convey through this historical mystery?

> Other than the fact that "The Lost Treasure of Azad Hind Fauj” is a historical fiction and “ A Pleasant Escape” is a contemporary fiction, both the novels are fact based fiction which have an element of suspense, mystery and supernatural involved in it. However, the timeline involved in story telling is non-linear in "The Lost Treasure of Azad Hind Fauj" as in the story shifts to and fro, between different time periods, weaving a tapestry of sub-stories which culminates in the main story at the end.

 

7. Can you share any interesting anecdotes or experiences from your research process for this book? Were there any surprising discoveries or challenges you encountered while delving into the history of Azad Hind Fauj?

One interesting story I discovered during the research was the German plan to liberate Andaman and Nicobar from the British during the first world war. However, this information got leaked and they had to drop the plan.

Another interesting story that I discovered during research that India was attacked during world war one by the Germans. A German cruiser Emden bombed Chennai during World War one and after that the word Emden entered the Tamil language.

Further, during the research, I came across the complex equation that Azad Hind Fauj had with Japan especially in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Although they were allies, the relationship had a complicated angle to it because of war time necessity.

 

8. With three anthologies of poetry already published, how does your love for poetry influence your prose writing, especially in a genre like historical mystery?

> Poetries, so far, have been an integral part of my story-telling. A Pleasant Escape has half a dozen or so poetries which are part of the storyline.

Similarly, The Lost Treasure of Azad Hind Fauj has two poetries in it which are all integral to the plot. In fact, one poetry holds the clue to the secret weapon which is being searched by the British on one of the islands of Nicobar.

 

9. As someone who enjoys various hobbies like playing Table-Tennis, reading, and traveling, did any of these personal interests find their way into the characters or settings of your book?

> My hobbies of reading and travelling did influence the settings of the book and they did find their way, partially, into the characters of my book.

 

10. What do you hope readers will take away from "The Lost Treasure of Azad Hind Fauj"? Are there specific messages or reflections on history that you aim to impart through this gripping story?

> One important message I wish that the readers will take away is that history is not as simple as it looks. It has its shades of black and grey. Each nation looks after it’s interest whether it is your friendly nation or your enemy nation. And that friends becomes foes and foes becomes friends depending on the situation.




 

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