Mohanaswamy

by Vasudhendra

‘Then, why didn’t God teach me? What was my fault?’

The ship floating in the middle of the sea was caught in massive waves. Even if people in the ship cried for help, Sumit, who was lying on the bed under the sheet, could never hear it. It was a cry in the wilderness. It was more helpless than the cry of the sea.

May be riding a bicycle is a symbol of masculinity.

For a happy, peaceful life, a human being needs another human being as a companion. Isn’t it as simple as that?

this realization was a bitter pill to swallow.

Nothing ceases to move. Nothing reaches its destination. What the poet Kuvempu said is perhaps right.

When we are on the earth, we never realize the importance of oxygen.

Abundance breeds contempt. Mohanaswamy felt that this extended to life, and we should never be easily available to anyone, lest we are taken for granted.

Unfamiliar terrains lay bare our personal weaknesses and faults. That’s why that we must travel. Mountains allow us to transform ourselves, to face realities and admit our vulnerabilities. They kill our ego and make us humble,

Before the sun’s rays begin to poke through the clouds and turn the spotlight on the pitfalls of my life, I must finish my journey up to the destination through this inky night. A hundred salutes to darkness!

Nobody waits for anybody. Everyone has their own path and destination.

Come what may, never back off. Never allow negative thoughts to waver your mind. Never consider descending before reaching your destination. No matter how tired you are, compose yourself and keep going. It is not enough to have a strong body. You must have a strong mind as well.

Patience and perseverance. And one more thing, go steady, step by step. No need to show the zeal of a runner vying for a gold medal.

We must respect the mountain we are climbing. Don’t ever think that you are going to conquer the mountain. Remember, if you show arrogance, you will be invoking the wrath the mountain....

‘Don’t be scared of anything, my child. If you fear life, you will be miserable. You may have had a larger share of woes in life but you must bring forth the capacity to absorb everything. You must have the patience and believe that better days are ahead. Happiness and grief are mere illusions. Nothing stays on, nothing is permanent.’

Vasudhendra says he spent sleepless nights fearing law and society after he released the book. In this interview, Vasudhendra talks about his journey as a writer, gender issues in society and literature, the challenges of coming out of the closet, and the confidence and sense of freedom he has been experiencing thereafter.

I was struggling to come out of the closet and found literature the only means to reveal my identity to the world.

- Author's words