The People I Met Said So.... (Part 5)

Do you like reading about the dons of the Mumbai mafia? If yes, then you are happily welcomed to the world of S. Hussain Zaidi, specialist in the Mumbai mafia and its chronicles.

The author has written three books on the subject, Black Friday: story of the 1993 bomb-blasts, mafia queens of Mumbai: dons of the ganglands, and the latest, Dongri to Dubai: six decades of the Mumbai mafia, on the greatest of the dons, Dawood Ibrahim.

Some excerpts of the interview:

You have written three books on the Mumbai Mafia. Why did the mafia interest you so much?

• As a journalist I wanted to be a specialist in certain beat and not a reporter who is part of general reporting. My editor assigned crime beat to me. In the process of covering crime, I specialized in writing on mafia.

Your books always have a detailed and thorough observation of the smallest of things. How did you make this possible?

• With diligent effort and extensive research. 

You have interviewed so many notorious gangsters and criminals. Have you ever received any threats from anyone?

• Just once, before Black Friday was released, when I recieved a call from a man telling me about my son. I was scared out of my wits then. But I replied to the caller, "he is in so and so school and class". I didn't know what to do.

You have also interviewed the most wanted mafia king, number 1 terrorist declared by the US, Dawood Ibrahim himself. How was the experience?

• I could not believe that Dawood could be so polite and sophisticated in his conversation.

Which gangster has fascinated you the most? Why?

• None. They don't fascinate me, it's my job to make them fascinating for you.

According to you, is your field of crime reporting dangerous?

• If you stick to your beat and not get personal, then it’s not dangerous.

Did you go into crime reporting by choice or by mere coincidence?

• My editor at Indian Express wanted me to cover crime. That's how I got into this profession.

I would like to know your take on this: was the Mumbai Police too laid back when 26/11 happened, even though the city had suffered from so many attacks like the 1993 Bomb blasts before?

• They are always laidback and never learn from their mistakes.

You are first a journalist and then a writer. Can you please enlighten us about your work as a journalist?

• Journalism is a difficult beat. It’s like lighting a lamp on bare palm.

According to you, which is the most important thing that a writer must do to become successful?

• He should remain honest and dedicated to the core.

Has your life changed after your first book was released? How did it change?

• It got me more recognition.

Can you tell us a little about your schooling and graduation?

• I studied at Guru Nanak School in Mumbai and went to college at Chetana College of Commerce.

Describe yourself, in not more than 20 words!

• I want to remain a humble man all my life.

Only a person, who can read, can write. What books do you read and which is your favorite genre and your favorite book?

• I read Steve Martini, David Baldacci, John Grisham, Gerald Seymour etc.

What do you have to say about the banning of books? Do we really need to ban novels on the basis of inappropriate content?

• No books should be banned. It’s not Kafkaesque regime any more.

Were any of your books subject to banning?

• Never.

Have you ever thought about writing something else other than the Mumbai mafia?

• My next book is about David Headley.

We all are awaiting your next book. Will it be coming out anytime soon?

• It should be released by this year end.

We would be waiting, wouldn't we?

The people I met said so... (Part 2)

A few days back I got an oppurtunity to interview a debut author, 'Vinita Bali'. Her first novel “Life serves Love…the fullest form of living” was unvieled by Mr. Chetan Bhagat, an honour in itself.

Know more about her through the interview:


A bubbly, fun loving and somewhat having a soft-corner for romance, she is the new girl on the block. We present to you the debut author of the book “Life Serves Love”, Vinita Bali. She one of the youngest authors published in 2012 by Power publishers.She is brave on the outside and soft on the inside, she is just 21 but she has the courage to voice out her feelings and thoughts courageously. She is the future of new age Indian authors.
Vinita Bali, in a candid talk with Vaishnavi Patil, gives us an insight on her book, her opinions of the Indian literature in the 21^st century and most importantly tells us about herself!!!
click here to read more.









-This article by me appeared in the debut writer sahitya column of isahitya media.




(To read the part 1 of this series, click here.)

Are you game for a True Story; Fiction Style??

             Walking through the long rows of shelves in the library, I was searching for a book which would give me company for the next few days. As I walked past the non-fiction section (which is not my favorite genre), my eyes set on a book named "Aruna’s story” by Pinki Virani. I picked up that book and after reading a page, decided that this was the book I would like to read. And this very book opened up a whole new world of non-fiction and true stories to me!

             After that one, I have read many books in this genre. Mafia queens in Mumbai, based on the lady dons in the city, Black Friday, based on the1993 Mumbai blasts and recently Death in Mumbai, based on the Neeraj Grover murder case are a few of them.
               These works of non-fiction are a treat to our minds.... to read the article further click-here.









-This article by me appeared in the journalistic sahitya column of isahitya media.

A Dose of Reality in Fiction

            There has been a tremendous evolution in the Indian literature scenario over the past decade. There is a wave of new people taking up writing to express their thoughts and ideas rather than just penning down a story to entertain the reader.
            These people are neither professional writers and nor have they studied the techniques of being a good writer, but still they are here, wooing the audience and enthralling them with each new novel. The last couple of years have seen young IT professionals; financial advisors and even housewives pick up their pens and write down their thoughts in the form of a novel. And the most common trait them is a simple factor: They all are very near to the world we live in! Their stories are not of princes and princesses; they don’t have the clichéd topic of lovelorn couples and family opposition; but they have what we call a glimpse of our lives.....
 to read the whole article- click.








-This article by me appeared in the new age sahitya column of isahitya media.